Health Benefits Of Tapioca: Properties – Nutrients & Preparation

What are the health benefits of Tapioca? Due to the belief that it has properties that can assist in the weight loss process, tapioca has become popular in recent years and is now in high demand.

Because it is a food derived from cassava, tapioca has a high content of carbohydrates and calories. Its properties in relation to weight loss are still being studied, however, so far, with information such as its amount of calories, we know that there are better options for weight loss diets.

Tapioca can be consumed in a variety of ways, from breakfast to pre-workouts, and is a good option for those trying to avoid foods with a lot of sodium.

TAPIOCA BENEFITS

The benefits of tapioca are:

  • It can be prepared without the use of oils;
  • Because it has a large amount of carbohydrates, tapioca can be a good pre-workout option;
  • It is a food with a high glycemic index; tapioca is an instant source of energy;
  • It is a practical and quick meal to be prepared.

TAPIOCA PROPERTIES

Among the proven properties of tapioca, we have:

  • It has low amounts of sodium
  • In certain cases, it can be used to lower the body’s pH, helping to decrease intestinal acidity.
  • Because it is a gluten-free food, it is indicated for celiacs.

TAPIOCA NUTRIENTS

Tapioca has the following nutrients:

  • Sodium;
  • Phosphor;
  • Potassium;
  • Calcium (most abundant nutrient in tapioca);
  • Iron;
  • Magnesium;
  • Copper;
  • Zinc;
  • Selenium;
  • Manganese.

Among these nutrients, calcium, potassium and phosphorus are found in greater quantities. In very small quantities, we have manganese, zinc, selenium, copper and iron.

HOW TO MAKE TAPIOCA

Tapioca can be prepared from home and easily, however, is a lengthy process.

Ingredients needed to make homemade tapioca:

  • 6 cups of sweet sprinkles
  • 1 cup of water

For the preparation of tapioca:

  1. Leave the equivalent of 3 cups of sprinkles to soak with 1 cup of water for about 12 hours.
  2. Put a pot on the fire and cook it, while cooking you are expected to stir it until you are satisfied with its texture.
  3. Add milk either evaporated or powdered to it including a sweetener like sugar or honey.
  4. You can also optionally add grated coconut.
  5. Serve while hot or warm.

There is no need to grease the pan with oil or butter.

TAPIOCA FATTENING

Many people believe that tapioca is fattening due to its amount of carbohydrates and calories. This belief has a certain basis, because between tapioca and other snack options, for example breads, tapioca turns out to be more caloric.

However, it is important to know that consuming tapioca, even though it is a more caloric option, will not make you fat. The processes of gaining fat do not depend only on a single food but on other food as a whole.

HOW TO CONSUME TAPIOCA

Tapioca can be consumed in several ways, either as an ingredient for recipes or in its pure form. Among the best-known recipes, tapioca can be used for the following preparations:

  • When accompanied by cheeses and other savory ingredients, tapioca can be used to make cheese breads, skillet pizzas and even crepes.
  • As for sweet recipes, tapioca can help in the preparation of puddings, pancakes, cakes and ice cream.

Due to its neutral flavor, tapioca is tasty with countless different fillings, from the classic savory snacks such as cheese and meats to the less sought-after ones like the filling of spinach or tuna. It is also a great option to be combined with sweet fillings, such as chocolate, banana with cinnamon or grated coconut.

Due to its low amount of nutrients, it is indicated that tapioca is consumed as a breakfast or snack option in the morning or afternoon shifts, not being the best choice for lunches or dinners.

BREAD X TAPIOCA

Every day there are more doubts about which food to choose, bread or tapioca. In order for us to decide, it is important to note the following points:

  • As for the number of carbohydrates: bread has fewer carbohydrates than tapioca.
  • As for the protein content: bread is more proteinous than tapioca.
  • As for the fibers: tapioca has approximately half of the fibers present in bread. However, both have a very small amount of fiber.
  • Regarding the amount of calories: for every 100 grams of tapioca, there are about 341 kcal. In the same amount of bread, there are approximately 285 kcal.
  • In bread, there is a greater amount of sodium, however, there is also a greater amount of other nutrients, such as calcium, selenium, potassium and phosphorus.

Neither food, in isolation, can be responsible for our weight loss or for putting on weight. However, knowing its characteristics, we can analyze which of the options would best fit our diet. We can also conclude that the fact that tapioca is cited as the best option for weight loss diets, maybe an erroneous measure, as it has more calories and carbohydrates than bread.

Now that you know the health benefits of tapioca we hope you will add this to your meal list. If this post is of great importance to you kindly hit the social media share buttons below.

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