Health Benefits of Yucca
Did you know that you can consume Yucca Root as you would a potato? Bake the Yucca Root in the oven, boil it, fry it or add it to your favorite soup and substitute it for potatoes to increase your intake of Vitamins C, B and A as well as calcium, phosphorus, potassium and iron. The properties of Yucca which help in arthritis and rheumatism are due to the plants’ high content of steroid saponins, which are precursors to cortisone. Diuretics and emetics are commonly made from both the root and leaves of the Yucca.
Yucca is native to South America, in the Amazon Basin of Brazil, and was one of the first cultivated plants in the western hemisphere.
This tropical vegetable is also called cassava, manioc, yucca, sweet potato tree and tapioca plant. It is now also widely cultivated in California, Arizona, Nevada, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and parts of Africa.
Native Americans and Mexicans have used it for centuries to treat a wide variety of maladies, especially headaches, gonorrhea, arthritis and rheumatism. Indians used the yucca plant for many products. The strong fibers from the plant made cord, cloth, baskets and sandals. Raw flowers were eaten in salads, or boiled as vegetables. The immature pods were roasted and peeled before eating.
We hope you enjoy the “Yucca fries” at FuegoMundo with our special homemade garlic dip.
