Yacon, its foreign name, means "God's Fruit" in the local language. It is a delicate plant that grows underground. In China's Sichuan province, it is known as "Wan Gen Shao." It is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family, genus Smallanthus, and is also called Yacon. It is native to the Andes Mountains of South America and has been a traditional root vegetable for the local indigenous people for 500 years.
Benefits and Effects of Yacon
1. Promotes Bowel Regularity
Yacon acts as a prebiotic, promoting the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria and producing bifidogenic factors. It aids digestion, regulates, and improves digestive system issues. It significantly promotes gastrointestinal motility, moisturizes the intestines, and relieves constipation. It can also prevent and treat diarrhea, making it a nemesis of gastrointestinal diseases. Yacon is also an antioxidant that eliminates free radicals, which can reduce or prevent the occurrence of stones.
2. Boosts Immunity
It promotes the synthesis of B vitamins in the body, enhances metabolic rate, and strengthens the immune system and disease resistance. It also aids in the absorption of essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, and iron.
3. Detoxifies and Reduces "Internal Heat"
It rapidly cleanses intestinal toxins and expels toxins from the body, improving symptoms like bad breath. It can also help prevent acne and blemishes, serving as a natural health supplement for beauty and skincare.
4. Regulates Blood Sugar and Blood Pressure
It is rich in water-soluble fiber, high in fructooligosaccharides, and contains more than 20 essential amino acids for the human body. It also has trace elements like calcium, iron, zinc, and abundant minerals. It is a low-calorie food and is also beneficial for hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity.
Reminder: Yacon is considered "cold" in nature, so those with a "cold stomach" or allergies should not consume it in large amounts.
Yacon Recipe for Lowering Blood Pressure
Ingredients: 1 Yacon, 1/2 a silver ear fungus (tremella), 1 pear, and an appropriate amount of goji berries rock sugar.
Method: Peel the yacon and place it in water to prevent oxidation. Soak the silver ear fungus until it rehydrates. Bring water to a boil, then add the yacon and fungus. Reduce heat and simmer for one hour. Finally, cut the pear into pieces and add it to the pot along with goji berries and rock sugar. Simmer for another 20 minutes.
Benefits: In addition to yacon, silver ear fungus protects the cardiovascular system and has anti-thrombotic properties. The pear can clear heat, calm the mind, and increase blood vessel elasticity, making it particularly beneficial as a supplementary treatment for patients with hypertension due to hyperactive liver yang or liver fire blazing upward.
Yacon Pore Mask
Preparation: 1 yacon, egg white, an appropriate amount of brown sugar, and one Vitamin E capsule (to be crushed).
Method: Wash and peel the yacon, then blend it into a pulp. Mix in the egg white, a spoonful of brown sugar, and the crushed Vitamin E. After cleansing your face before bed, apply the yacon pulp, leave it on for 15 minutes, then rinse with water.
Benefits: This mask can provide hydration and help reduce the appearance of dark spots!
Furthermore, you can get creative to maximize the benefits of yacon. For example, you can make a delicious Chicken Feet and Yacon Soup with yacon, carrots, lean meat, and chicken feet to help lower blood sugar. Or, you can make a Yacon Chicken Soup with yacon, old hen, ginger slices, and salt to aid digestion, regulate the gastrointestinal tract and blood, and clear high blood lipids.