Taro

Taro is extensively used in South Asia. In South India's Kerala state, it is used as a staple food, as a side dish, or as a component in various side dishes. As a staple food it is steamed, and eaten with a chutney of green pepper and shallot onions. The leaves and stems of certain varieties of taro are used as a vegetable in Kerala. A tree-growing variety of taro is extensively used in the western coast of India to make "patrade" or "patrada", literally "leaf-pancake". These are either made like fritters, or are steamed and eaten. In Nepal, it is considered a health food with variety of cooking styles. Most common style is boiling it in salty water in iron cooking pots till it becomes like porridge. Another style is to steam the young leaves called 'gava', sundry and then store it for later use. For another variety of the taro leaves and stems are used raw as an ingredient for pickle. The leaves and stems are mixed with black lentil and then dried as small balls and used later on. The stems are also sundried and stored for later use. On One special day, women worship 'saptarshi- seven sages' and have rice with taro leaf vegetable only.

Taro root Nutrition Facts: Calories, Carbs, and Health Benefits

Taro root is 70.64% water, 26.46% carbohydrates, 1.5% protein, 4.1% dietary fiber, 1.2% ash and 0.2% fat. If you consume one taro root you will get 56.36 grams of carbohydrates. It is equal to 43.35 percent of the 130 grams of carbohydrates you should include in your daily diet. That same it has an energy value of 469 kJ (112 Calories) in a 100 g (3.5 Oz) amount and is a very good source of Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) (21.77% of the Daily Value). So if your diet contains taro roots, it helps your body to produce red blood cells (RBCs) and neurotransmitters, maintain metabolism of fats and carbohydrates into monosaccharides, break down peptides into amino acid monomers so that it can be used in the body and it is effective against mood disorders like depression, because vitamin B6 is responsible for creating neurotransmitters and regulates emotions through hormones like serotonin and dopamine, Alzheimer’s disease with the help of other vitamins and anemia. In addition it contains a considerable amount of Manganese attaining 21.28% of the Daily Value in a 100 g (3.5 Oz).