Whether cooked, in the form of mashed potatoes, gnocchi, or even hidden, the cassava has entered the healthy menu in recent years, but it has been consumed for much longer, especially in Brazilian cuisine. Also called parsley potato and yellow carrot, it is a tuberous root full of good nutrients and health benefits.

Cassava is an excellent source of energy (it contains about 20 g of complex carbohydrates), of potassium , from calcium and vitamin C e B-complex vitamins (niacin and thiamin).

Benefits of Cassava

Fights fatigue

Source of energy, the root It is also an excellent option to be consumed before the practice of physical exercises, which can improve the athlete's performance.

Read more: 6 foods that contain more potassium than bananas

Helps with weight loss

By promoting the feeling of satiety, cassava helps you lose weight. It also contains fiber, which promotes better bowel function, thus fighting bloating. In addition, it is a healthier alternative to potatoes.

Read more: Tubers: What they are and why to eat them

Strengthens immunity

Abundant in vitamin C The root, containing approximately 17.1 mg of this vitamin when cooked, promotes the strengthening of immunity, thus making it difficult for infections to weaken the immune system and damage the body's health.

Read more: Foods to boost immunity

How to consume cassava

• Boiled, baked, or sautéed;
• Mashed;
• Sauteed or grilled in butter;
• Gnocchi;
• Soups, creams and broths.

In addition to these more common recipe options, the root can be used to make flour and also be included in alternative, healthy sweet recipes.

Read also: Potato vs. sweet potato: Which is better for your health?