Health Benefits of Bitter Yams

Yams (Dioscorea) are a tuber vegetable indigenous to Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. It contains a fleshy, potato-like root (tuber) that can be used for food or medicine in times of famine. Bitter yams found in the wild are likely to contain toxins, thus they must be soaked and cooked before eating. Farmers’ bitter yams, on the other hand, are normally free of poisons since safer varieties are produced deliberately. Bitter yam (Dioscorea dumetorum) is generally confused with wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) or air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera). Bitter yam is a term used to describe all the three. Bitter yam has a variety of health benefits.

Contents

Other names of Bitter yam include:

African Bitter Yam, Dioscorea dumetorum, Esuru, Helmia dumetorum, Esuri Yam, Igname Am&egravere, Igname Trifoliolée, Name Amargo, Ikamba, Inhame-bravo, Name de Tres Hojas, Ono, Trifoliate Yam, Cluster Yam, Igname Sauvage, Three-leaved Yam.

Here are some of the nutritional and health benefits of bitter yams:

Bitter yam is used to treat diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), colitis, menstrual issues, and schistosomiasis. Schistosomiasis is a parasitic worm-borne illness. Chemicals in bitter yam help to reduce blood sugar levels.

Improves brain function:

Diosgenin, a unique component found in yams, has been demonstrated to increase brain function and neuron growth. In several maze tests, diosgenin boosted mice’s memory and learning capacities.

Alleviates Menopause symptoms:

Some menopausal symptoms may be relieved by yams. In a 30-day experiment, 24 postmenopausal women switched from rice to yams in two out of three meals (390 grammes total) each day. Their levels of estrone and estradiol in their blood increased by 26% and 27%, respectively. Estrone and estradiol, two oestrogen hormones, are known to decline in blood levels following menopause. Menopause symptoms may be alleviated by increasing oestrogen levels. Another six-month trial revealed that when compared to a placebo, topically applied wild yam cream had very little effect on menopausal symptoms including flushing and night sweats.

Contains Anti-cancer properties:

Yams include a number of antioxidants that have cancer-fighting abilities. A yam-rich diet dramatically decreased colon tumour development in animal research. These results were linked to the antioxidants found in yams, indicating that these tubers offer cancer protection. Furthermore, extracts from Chinese yam, especially the peel, were found to suppress liver tumour development and had antioxidant characteristics in a test-tube investigation.

Aids in inflammation reduction:

The antioxidants in yams have the potential to decrease inflammation. Chronic inflammation has been related to an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, among other things. Anti-inflammatory foods like yams aid in the management of chronic inflammation. In rat tests, yam powder was found to decrease inflammation associated with a variety of diseases, including colon cancer, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and stomach ulcers.

Controls blood sugar level:

Bitter yams may help you maintain a healthy blood sugar level. When compared to the control groups, rats fed with yam powder or yam water extract had lower fasting blood sugar and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels. HbA1c is a measure of blood sugar management over time. In another research, rats given higher doses of purple yam extract had lower appetites, lost more weight, and had better blood sugar management than the control group.

Lowers the rate of blood sugar absorption:

The resistant starch and fibre in bitter yams are responsible for lowering the rate of blood sugar absorption, resulting in better blood sugar management. Resistant starch travels undigested via your intestines. This form of starch is related to a variety of health advantages, including weight loss, better blood sugar levels, and enhanced insulin sensitivity.

Bitter yams are frequently confused for sweet potatoes. Yams, on the other hand, are less sweet and more starchy. They have a dark, bark-like appearance. Depending on the yam’s maturity, the flesh can be white, yellow, purple, or pink. These tubers are nutrient-dense and adaptable, and they have the potential to improve your health in a number of ways.

Image by Daniel Dan outsideclick from Pixabay

For more details on herbs & its remedies realted educational videos subscribe to our channels

https://www.youtube.com/@trustherb

https://www.instagram.com/trustherb.india/

Ayurvedic products and herbs