Pounded yam (Dioscorea spp.) are a good source of vitamin C – 27% of the daily value for fighting infections such as colds and flu and quick wound healing, anti-aging, strong bones, and healthy immune function. It also provides good amounts of fiber, potassium, manganese, and metabolic B vitamins.
Pounded Yam, a culinary masterpiece hailing from West Africa, isn’t just a dish, it’s a cultural emblem, a celebration of tradition, and a canvas for the rich flavors of the continent. Imagine a meal that transcends sustenance, bringing people together in a harmonious dance of texture and taste.
At its essence, Pounded Yam is a beloved staple that goes beyond mere sustenance, it’s a culinary symphony. Yam, a starchy tuber, is transformed into a smooth, elastic dough through an artful process of pounding and kneading.
The result is a fluffy, stretchy mound of goodness that serves as the perfect accompaniment to a myriad of flavorful and aromatic dishes.
This West African delight is more than just a side, it’s the heartbeat of the meal. Picture a communal setting, where the rhythmic pounding of yam resonates in the air, signaling the preparation of a feast.
The process of making Pounded Yam is not just a culinary technique; it’s a social event, a time for storytelling, laughter, and the sharing of family secrets that elevate the dish to a cherished tradition.
The beauty of Pounded Yam lies in its versatility. It acts as a neutral canvas, ready to absorb the vibrant flavors of soups and stews. Whether paired with the spicy warmth of Egusi soup or the tangy kick of Okro soup, Pounded Yam is the unifying force that ties together the diverse tapestry of West African cuisine.
Beyond its gustatory delights, Pounded Yam is a symbol of resilience and resourcefulness. It embodies the spirit of turning humble yams into a culinary work of art, showcasing the creativity and ingenuity deeply rooted in West African culture.
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Brief History on the Benefits of Pounded Yam
Centuries ago, Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine made this great statement saying “Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine, your food”. So you see, food especially real natural food has become an important component of great health.
Yam is a carbohydrate-rich, staple tuber vegetable, with many therapeutic properties. Being a good source of complex carbohydrates, consuming yam promotes energy in the body.
Yams’ complex carbohydrates and fiber make them ideal food for those that want to control their blood Sugar, reduce elevated cholesterol, especially bad cholesterol levels as fiber binds the bad cholesterol in the intestines and is then eliminated through the feces
The high fiber content of yam also makes it ideal for those that want to achieve ideal body weight and also control constipation. Yam is a good source of potassium, a mineral that helps to control blood pressure. Eating yam is therefore ideal for preventing hypertension
Yam is a good source of B-complex group of vitamins ie vitamin B6. High intake of vitamin B6 has also been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Vitamin C in yam has some important roles in anti-aging, immune function, wound healing, and bone growth. Eating natural foods like yams, therefore, is a primary way of promoting good health and healing in your body.
Health Benefits of Yam and Pounded Yam
Actually there are a lot of health benefits of yam that most people are not aware of aside from its good taste and high nutrients.
Here are some very important health benefits of yam you should know about:
1. Pounded Yam is a Good Source of Energy
Yam has a high percentage of carbohydrates which makes it a good source of energy, the presence of dietary fiber in yam aids in digestion and prevents any form of constipation as well as suppressing the side effect of weight gain and diabetes.
2. A Good Source of Vitamin
The presence of the vitamins in yam gives it an edge over other foods that do not have it, though some of these vitamins are in little quantity, it is still beneficial to health when prepared well.
The presence of vitamin C provides the body with the necessary things needed to fight against some common diseases. Vitamin C also helps smoothens the skin and improves hair texture, due to collagen it contains.
Vitamin B-complex which is also in yam provides the body with necessary nutrients for bodybuilding and also makes us healthy.
Vitamin A is good for bright eyes and improves vision, and not only that since it is a powerful antioxidant, eating yam will help to improve the functions of the brain and reduce inflammation as well.
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3. Pounded Yam Help To Build Up Body Minerals
The intake of yam will also provide the body with minerals such as iron which aid blood formation and prevent clotting, potassium which maintains normal blood pressure, and other numerous minerals that are good for the body.
4. Pounded Yam is very Good for Pregnant Women
Yam is essentially good for pregnant women as it contains many nutritional elements that is good for the baby and the mother as well. It contains Folate which is absolutely necessary for the brain and the central nervous system.
Yam contains minerals such as (iron) that relieve pregnant women from early morning sickness such as nausea and vomiting as well as keeping the bones strong which is extremely important for fetus development.
Frequent consumption of yam during pregnancy also helps to prevent birth defect which is caused by a lack of red blood cells. The calcium content is essentially good for pregnant women as it helps in developing the fetus.
5. Pounded Yam helps to Lower Blood Pressure
Yam contains the highest amount of potassium nutrient alongside with folate among other food which helps to lower hypertension and modifies the blood vessel for proper blood flow so therefore it is advice that daily consumption of yam is good to the body as it controls the heart rate.
6. Pounded Yam Helps to Reduce Menstrual Pain for Women
So much research has been proved that consumption of yam helps to prevent severe pain for women during menstruation but this is what many ladies don’t know.
Yam contains many vitamin and mineral supplements that help reduce those disorders and depression in women during menstruation. It reduces hormonal imbalance in the female endocrine system and helps to stimulate the ovulation substance that can help boost fertility.
7. Pounded Yam is Rich in Carbohydrate
Yam is highly rich in carbohydrates and contains a lot of fiber which provides energy in the body and regulation of blood glucose. The carbohydrate also helps in breaking down fatty acids and the prevention of ketosis.
8. Source of Brain Functioning
Experiments carried out by scientist on memory booster proves that frequent consumption yam is increases the speed of which the brain functions due to the mineral contents it contains.
9. Pounded Yam is Rich in Antioxidants
The presence of vitamin C in yam which is a healthy antioxidant that helps the body to fight against infectious disease as well as killing the cancerous cell that causes free radicals in the body. It is also the best food to eat for those suffering from asthma and arthritis.
10. Balance the Digestive System and Bowel Movement
Yam is a great food for bowel movement and digestive system balance due to the potassium and fiber content that helps with the muscle contraction in the intestine and as well helps to get rid of constipation.
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11. Pounded Yam Helps in Skin Diseases and Respiratory Problems
Yam contains a chemical compound known as Allantoin which is an active moisturizer used to treat scaly, itchy, dry and rough skin, skin burns, boils and other skin diseases. Its extract also helps to relieve chronic inflammatory disease, chest tightness and shortness of breath.
12. Pounded Yam is a Very Good Source of Vitamin B6
A good source of vitamin B6 in the body helps to reduce the risk of developing heart diseases and it also helps the body to break down a substance called Homocysteine which damages the blood vessel walls and can as well lead to heart failure even when your body has low level of cholesterol.
13. Pounded Yam is a Good Supplement for Menopause
Yams contain some enzymes that help to nourish and balance some hormones that no function in the body of menopausal women. The lack of vitamin B6 and hormonal imbalance after menopause could lead to depression.
Menopausal women are advised to daily consumption of yam so as to help balance those certain hormones that are very essential in the body.
14) Pounded Yam can help in Weight Loss
Due to yam high fiber content, it helps in sugar reduction in the body during metabolisms thereby helping you from getting hungry in between meals and to lose weight. Supplementing your food with yam can help you stay fit since it is not fattening.
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Nutritional Content of Yam and Pounded Yam
The nutrient – carbohydrate is what yam is mostly known for but it contains other essential nutrients such as vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, phosphorus, manganese, vitamin B-complex, potassium, vitamin A, calcium, copper, iron, etc. and also contains dietary fiber, protein, and fats.
Components | Amounts |
Protein | 5g |
Total Fat | 2g |
Saturated | Fat 0g |
Sodium | 9mg |
Sugar | 5g |
Calories | 118g |
Polyunsaturated Fat | Fat 1g |
Dietary Fiber | 1g |
Cholesterol | 0 mg |
Monounsaturated | Fat 0 g |
Potassium | 816 mg |
Total Carbohydrate | 28 g |
Some of these nutrients such as vitamin B Complex and protein are contained on the skin of the yam, which means that peeling it off reduces these nutrients and so it is better to cook it first before peeling but it still depends on what you are preparing.
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Is There Any Side Effect of Pounded Yam?
Yam has no much side effect as long as you consume it in moderate amount. It is fully packed with carbohydrate which is the most important form of energy but the side effect includes weight increase and diabetes caused by too much glucose from carbohydrate.
Well as the case might be avoiding carbohydrate food is not the solution because human body needs carbohydrate for energy and yam is a food rich in carbohydrate but also high in dietary fiber which will help to suppress the side effect of weight gain and diabetes.
Where is Yam Grown?
Yams can be found in Africa, and also in the Caribbean. The species of yams in Nigeria differ which might slightly change the composition of the nutritional values but nonetheless yam contains nutrients that normalize the high carbohydrate content making a good source of energy and other essential minerals and vitamins.
Yams too naturally contains toxins like Dioscorine which is a storage protein that benefits the health of individuals suffering from hypertension and as well block Angiotensin that causes increased kidney flow and increase in blood pressure.
In summary, the nutritional and health benefit of yam includes good source of energy, good source of vitamin, help to build up body minerals, very good for pregnant women, helps to lower blood pressure, helps reduce menstrual pain for women.
Also rich in carbohydrate, source of brain functioning, rich in antioxidants, helps to balance the digestive system and bowel movement, use in curing skin disease and respiratory problem, a very good source of vitamin B6, a good supplement for menopause.
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