Manihot esculenta (commonly called cassava, Brazilian arrowroot, manioc, and tapioca) is a woody shrub native to South America of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. It is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous root, a major source of carbohydrates. Some of the health benefits of cassava include its ability to help in healthy weight gain, increase circulation and red blood cell count, protect against birth defects, improve digestion, lower cholesterol, prevent diabetes, improve metabolic activities, protect bone mineral density, prevent Alzheimer’s disease, protects heart health, and maintains fluid balance within the body.
Cassava has a high B17 component. Here is what happens when a cancer patient eats cassava (manioc):
Once the manioc is consumed, the manioc’s Vitamin B17 combines in the normal human cell with an enzyme called Rhodanese, which breaks down the B17 into three sugars. The cancer cell, which is an immature cell, has a different enzyme, beta-glucosidase, which breaks the B17 into glucose, benzaldehyde and hydrocyanic acid. The hydrocyanic acid acts like an “LTTE “cyanide capsule, killing the cancer cell.
Why is cassava so important?
Let’s check out some of the nutritional aspects that make cassava such a wonderfully healthy and useful food. Cassava is enjoyed throughout the world and is relied on as an essential part of certain cultural diets due to its unique composition of carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and organic compounds. These include a very low level of saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium. It is also a rich source of dietary fiber, “good” cholesterol, and protein. Furthermore, tapioca contains members of the vitamin B-complex, including pantothenic acid, folate, and B6, as well as iron, manganese, calcium, copper, and selenium. They are packed with carbohydrates as well, and 1 cup contains nearly 50% of your daily requirement of carbs. Cassava or manioc is a strong remedy for infertility.
Please note that there are precautions to be taken in the preparation of manioc.
Never, repeat never, eat ginger with manioc, or even after consuming manioc. If you have been eating manioc, do not take any form of ginger or ginger products, such as ginger beer and ginger-nut biscuits. The serious risks of mixing ginger with manioc are well known in Sri Lanka.
– When preparing manioc for eating, check whether the tuber shows a blue line when peeled for cooking. If there is a blue line, the manioc must be rejected. Manioc has cyanide in it and the blue line is an indication of cyanide emergency.
– Cook manioc in an earthenware pot. Fill the pot with water to completely cover the manioc, and well above the level of the manioc. When boiling, keep the pot open. Do not close the pot with a lid. Once the manioc is boiled, throw away the water in the pot.
Other than that, enjoy Cassava in all its many delicious varieties!