Taro is a tropical plant originally from Southern India and Southeast Asia. It’s usually consumed as a root vegetable or as its leaves vegetables. Both its root and leaves have many health benefits for the body because it is rich in nutrients.
Taro Leaves nutrition
Per 1 cup (145g) steamed taro leaves (without salt) contain the nutrients as follow:
| Calories 35 | Calories from fat 5 |
| % Daily Value | |
| Total carbohydrate 5.8g | 2% |
| Dietary fiber 2.9g | 12% |
| Total fat 0.6g | 1% |
| Omega-3 fatty acids 74mg | |
| Omega-6 fatty acids 170mg | |
| Protein 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A 6145 IU | 123% |
| Vitamin C 51.5mg | 86% |
| Thiamin (vitamin B1) 0.2mg | 13% |
| Ribovlavin (vitamin B2) 0.6mg | 32% |
| Niacin (vitamin B3) 1.8mg | 9% |
| Vitamin B6 0.1mg | 5% |
| Folate 70mcg | 17% |
| Calcium 125mg | 12% |
| Iron 1.7mg | 10% |
| Magnesium 29mg | 7% |
| phosphorus 39.2mg | 4% |
| sodium 3mg | |
| zinc 0.3mg | 2% |
| copper 0.2mg | 10% |
| manganese 0.5mg | 27% |
| cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
From its nutrient contents, we can get the taro leaves benefits as follow:
- Act as an antioxidant to prevent cancer.
Taro leaves are rich in vitamin C which acts as an antioxidant. This will help to prevent many diseases and fight again free radicals that cause cancer.
- Boost your immune system.
Vitamin C in 1 cup of taro leaves (145mg) can reach 86% daily value that the body needs. You can boost your immune system effectively with this plant.
- Keep the healthy eyes.
Besides the vitamin C, taro leaves are rich in vitamin A. It reaches an amazing daily value until 123%. It is very good to keep your eyes stay healthy, maintain the visual acuity, and prevent the eyes diseases such as cataract, myopia, and blindness.
- Help the digestive process and treat the digestive problems.
Taro leaves are high in dietary fiber which helps to absorb and digest the food well. Taro leaves can make you stay away from the digestive problems such as indigestion, constipation, and also diarrhea.
- Reduce the cholesterol level.
Taro leaves have no cholesterol and have only 1% of total fat. This is the best diet for reducing cholesterol. The dietary fiber and methionine contained in taro leaves can reduce the cholesterol effectively by binding and break down of fat and cholesterol especially triglyceride.
- Aid to weight loss diet.
Taro leaves are low in fat and high in protein. This is the best choice for diet menu to reduce your fat and get your muscle mass.
- Help to reduce inflammation.
Omega 3 in taro leaves play the role in inflammation process which can inhibit the release of inflammation substances. It can help to treat diseases like arthritis, gastritis, or lupus disease.
- Control the blood pressure.
Taro leaves contain omega 3, an essential fatty acid which provides making material hormones to control the contraction and relaxation of arteries wall. If this mechanism is going well, the blood pressure can be controlled in normal level.
- Protect the nervous system.
Taro leaves contain vitamin B complex including thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin B6 which have the action to protect the nervous system. If you feel the symptoms like tingling, numbness, or pain in your limb, you can eat taro leaves to reduce those symptoms. They will boost your immune system also.
- Help the development of the fetal brain and nervous system.
If you are in pregnant, it is good to consume taro leaves. Besides its rich in nutrition, it contains folate which is essential for the development of your fetal brain and nervous system. However, you should cook the taro leaves well before you eat them.
- Keep the healthy bone.
The calcium contained in taro leaves bring the health benefits for the healthy bone. It helps the bone formation and it works with phosphorous to strengthen the bone and teeth.
- Help in the fetal bone and teeth development.
Besides its folate content which is beneficial for the fetus, taro leaves contain also manganese. This mineral helps in the fetal cartilage, bone, and teeth formation during pregnancy.
- Help to prevent anemia.
Taro leaves contain iron mineral which helps in red blood cell formation. In addition, its vitamin C content helps to absorb the iron well. This will meet the need of red blood cells in the body and anemia can be prevented.
- Help to prevent preeclampsia in pregnancy.
The magnesium mineral in taro leaves helps to prevent preeclampsia during pregnancy. Magnesium has the mechanism in muscle relaxation so it can be used to prevent preeclampsia.
- Help to treat diarrhea quickly.
Taro leaves contain zinc, a mineral that protects intestine mucosa. When diarrhea happens, the intestine wall will lose its mucosa. Zinc help to relieve the mucosa quickly so diarrhea can stop immediately.
- Help to reduce wrinkle in the skin.
Taro leaves contain the amino acid called threonine. This protein compound aids the formation of elastin and collagen which are good for the healthy skin. It will prevent the skin from wrinkle and rejuvenate skin as well.
- Bring the best energy source.
Taro leaves bring the best energy source for the body through its essential amino acid called isoleucine. This protein regulates the blood sugar and increases the muscle strength and energy levels. This is the best diet for people who love to work out.
- Promote the bone and skin healing.
An essential amino acid called leucine is contained by taro leaves. It promotes the bone and skin healing by releasing the natural painkiller called enkephalins. It does not only facilitate the bone healing but also relieve the pain as well.
- Help to enhance the memory and mood.
Taro leaves release dopamine which acts in the brain and nervous system. It is synthesized by phenylalanine to enhance your brain memory and control your mood.
- Help to treat nicotine addiction.
Taro leaves contain tyrosine, a crucial amino acid in the human body. It becomes an adaptogen substance which helps to minimize the effect of nicotine, cocaine, and coffee addiction.
- Increase the sperm production.
Taro leaves are good for men because of its arginine content. This amino acid can help to increase the sperm production.
- Act as the detoxification agent.
Histidine, one of the essential amino acids is contained in taro leaves. It acts as detoxification agent that helps to remove the heavy metals from the body and protect the body from radiation damage.
22 taro leaves benefits have been explained above in a scientific way. However, you can’t consume taro leaves in a raw condition because it has a dangerous toxin. You should soak them first in the clean water before you cook about 10-15 minutes. After that, you have to cook them well to remove its toxic substance.