Yams nutrition facts

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15 April 2018

Yams nutrition facts

Yams are carbohydrate rich, staple tuber vegetables of West African origin. Botanically it belongs to the family Dioscoreaceae, in the genus, Dioscorea.

There exist several hundred cultivars of Dioscorea; however, only a few of them worth of commercial importance. Traditional yam tuber types grown are Dioscorea rotundata (white guinea), D. alata (yellow), D. bulbifera (aerial potato), D. opposita (Chinese), D. esculenta (Southeast Asian) and D. dumenterum (trifoliate).

Besides their use as food, yams have long been symbolically associated with the culture and ritualism in some parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin Americas.

Yam plant is a perennial vine cultivated for its large, edible, underground tuber, which can reach up to 120 pounds in weight and 2 meters in length. They are one of the conventional tropical crops requiring hot, humid climates and may cease to grow when the temperature dips below 68 degrees F.

Yam tubers in a market
Yam tubers (Dioscorea rotundata) put for sale in a market. (Photo courtesy:Nick Hobgood)

Yams are similar in appearance to sweet potatoes. However, they are not at all related to it. Some major differences that set them apart from sweet potatoes: yams are monocotyledons, larger in size, features thick, rough, dark brown to pink skin depending upon the cultivar type. Whereas, sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are dicotyledonous, relatively smaller size and possess thin peel.

Although yams are grown all over the African continent, Nigeria is the world’s largest producer and exporter, accounting for over 70 percent of the total global production.

Health benefits of yams

  • Yam is a good source of energy; 100 g provides 118 calories. It's crunchy edible root chiefly composed of complex carbohydrates and soluble dietary fiber.
  • Dietary fiber help reduces constipation, decrease bad (LDL) cholesterol levels by binding to it in the intestines and lower colon cancer risk by preventing toxic compounds in the food from adhering to the colon mucosa. Additionally, being a good source of complex carbohydrate, it regulates steady rise in blood sugar levels. For the same reason, yam recommended as low glycemic index healthy food.
  • The tuber is an excellent source of the B-complex group of vitamins. It provides adequate daily requirements of pyridoxine (vitamin B6), thiamin (vitamin B1), riboflavin, folates, pantothenic acid, and niacin. These vitamins mediate various metabolic functions in the body.
  • Fresh root also contains good amounts of antioxidant vitamin, vitamin-C; providing about 29% of recommended levels per 100 g. Vitamin-C plays some important roles as anti-aging, immune function booster, wound healing, and bone growth.
  • Yam contains small amounts of vitamin-A, and β-carotene levels. Carotenes convert into vitamin-A inside the body. Both these compounds are powerful antioxidants. Vitamin-A has many functions like maintaining healthy mucosa and skin, night vision, growth and protection from lung and oral cavity cancers.
  • Further, the tuber indeed is one of the good sources of minerals such as copper, calcium, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus. 100 g provides about 816 mg of Potassium.Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids which helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure by countering hypertensive effects of sodium. Copper is essential for the production of red blood cells. The body uses manganese as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Iron is required for red blood cell formation.
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