Proface

Yacon, Polymnia sonchifolia, also referred to as Peruvian ground apple, is a native of South America that is a relative of the sunflower. It produces juicy, edible roots, from which its name, translated as "watery root," is acquired. People in the Andes have actually enjoyed yacon as a food source for more than a thousand years. Yacon provides specific health advantages.

Blood Sugar Management

Syrup made from yacon root could help to decrease your blood sugar level, according to a research study published in the April 2009 issue of "Clinical Nutrition." Sugarlike molecules in yacon referred to as fructooligosaccharides, which are derived from a nondigestible carbohydrate called inulin, supply about half the sweetness of sugar without raising blood glucose levels. In the study, obese volunteers with insulin resistance, which is the unsuitable response of cells to the presence of insulin, were offered 2 daily dosages of yacon syrup containing 0.29 grams and 0.14 grams of fructooligosaccharides per kg of body weight. At the end of the 120-day study, the individuals had actually attained substantially lower fasting insulin levels. Nevertheless, fasting blood glucose levels were not affected. The study also revealed that yacon syrup promoted weight reduction and reduced cravings.

Cancer Cell Prevention

Potential anticancer advantages of yacon were shown in a cells culture study of human cervical cancer cells published in the October 2011 issue of the journal "Fitoterapia." Yacon compounds prevented the growth and reproduction of cancer cells and promoted very early cell death. In a cells culture study published in the December 2010 publication of the journal "Chemistry and Biodiversity," a fungus that grows on the roots and leaves of yacon showed anticancer advantages versus skin, colon, nerve and blood cancers cells.

Liver Health

A combination of yacon and silymarin, which is the active part in milk thistle, enhanced cholesterol and blood sugar levels in patients with metabolic syndrome in a research study published in the March 2008 publication of "Food and Chemical Toxicology." Metabolic syndrome is a mix of conditions that increases threat for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In the study, individuals eaten 2.4 grams of yacon and 0.8 grams of silymarin a day for 90 days. Outcomes revealed the mix supplement enhanced cholesterol levels and prevented fat build-up in the liver, leading analysts to conclude that yacon and silymarin could advertise healthy heart and liver function.

Dietary Uses

Fresh yacon has a slightly sweet taste and a crispy texture just like that of an apple, while its flavor is close to that of watermelon. South Americans eat the roots, which can range from yellow to purple, as a fruit, with lemon juice and honey, or they add it to fruit salad. You can also stir-fry, roast or bake yacon as a vegetable. Use yacon leaves, also high in inulin, to cover other foods as you would cabbage or grape leaves, or brew them to make an organic tea. Yacon syrup and powdered yacon supplements are also readily available.