How many times have you come across a vegetable that is the theme of an annual food festival? In Hawaii, Taro is the staple food. It is referred to as a life giving food and as a “spiritual brother of mankind”. This root plant is practically an international superstar, available in every country’s whole foods and pantry. In some countries it is a traditional staple, in other’s it’s a delicious foreign vegetable. All of us have drank the refreshing bubble tea before. Have you ever wondered what made the drink so delicious? Our friendly neighborhood vegetable taro root of course! Taro root is used in the flavoring of bubble teas. You name it, they can be cooked from recipes ranging from A to Z. Curried, steamed, pureed, roasted, boiled, cake and even fried for chips!
If that’s not a convincing statement, let us astound you in how this vegetable should be every runner’s best friend.
“This root plant is practically an international superstar.”
Energizer Bunny
Low in glycemic index, taro root should be placed at the top of every runner’s shopping list. You might have heard the term “low glycemic index’, but what does it really mean? Food with low glycemic index are broken down and absorbed more slowly into the bloodstream. This helps in providing the body with a continuous supply of energy making it the excellent vegetable for runners. It is slightly higher in calories but by having a low glycemic index, it doesn’t cause the blood sugar level to spike up unlike the potato.
Ow, Cramp!
Every runner, seasoned or just trying out, has experienced cramps during their years participating in running events. Muscle cramps are of the common side effects of decreased potassium levels. Consuming foods high in potassium has been correlated with decreased muscle cramping and improved muscle strength. Taro root once again proves to be the super vegetable by consisting of 615mg of potassium. Runners can obtain potassium through dietary supplements, but it is proven safer and more effective to get your potassium through your diet. Furthermore potassium supplements could place you at risk of side effects such as hyperkalemia which is excess potassium in the blood.
Oh, Omega-3!
Here’s a fun fact. Our body is unable to synthesize Omega-3 and Omega-6. Every runner would be familiar with DOMS or delayed onset muscle soreness. How does Omega-3 play a role here? DOMS can prevent optimum performance and by consuming food high in Omega-3 and 6, it helps reduce the levels of perceived pain. Taro root has a total of 18.5mg of Omega-3 fatty acids and whopping 42.2mg Omega-6 fatty acids. The presence of these essential fatty acids also helps make the muscles stronger. Omega-3 fatty acids speed up protein synthesis and help prevent brittle bones.
Stop Those Sneezes
You just completed a marathon and then the next morning you wake up with a cold. Wait, wasn’t running supposed to be beneficial for the health? Interestingly a 30 to 45 minute run does kick off the immune system; the severity of long distance running often temporarily exhausts the body. Why does this happen? During long runs, the stress hormone known as cortisol is expressed and released and this associates in a suppression of the immune function in copious amounts. Hence, transmission of cold viruses is unavoidable. Fortunately, this is where the taro root comes in.
Broaden your Starch Cookbook!
Getting bored of your usual potatoes or peas? Shake up those starchy recipes with homemade taro chips. You’ve had banana pancakes, chocolate chip and buttermilk pancakes. What about taro pancakes? Kids will go crazy for this bright, purple pancakes and you don’t have to worry since is “pancake-full” of nutrients.
Super food Fun Facts!
- Never consume taro in its raw form. Raw taro contains tiny crystals of a substance called calcium oxalate which just happens to be a natural pesticide. Consuming raw or half cooked taro can cause an uncomfortable itching in the mouth and throat.
- Taro can actually be purchased in powder form which is the key ingredient in bubble teas and taro pancakes.
- In Hawaii, taro is known as “kalo” and in ancient Hawaiian culture, only men were permitted to work with taro!
- Hawaiians have cultivated over 300 varieties of taro!
