Tapioca Day- The Nutritional Benefits of Tapioca
Most of the grain foods we eat contain gluten. It provides no essential nutrients and can contribute to diabetes and weight gain. Tapioca, a starch extracted from the cassava root, has become an increasingly popular gluten-free alternative to grains like wheat and rice.
National Tapioca Day is an annual celebration held on June 28 in the US dedicated to increasing awareness about the health benefits of tapioca.
Let’s discuss how National Tapioca Day is celebrated and why you should add tapioca to your diet.
National Tapioca Day: An Overview
Tapioca has become one of the most popular ingredients in American dishes. In the US, more than 40% of adults suffer from obesity, 10% of the population suffers from diabetes, and 45% of the population suffers from hypertension. A high-gluten diet can contribute to all these conditions.
Tapioca resolves this hurdle by allowing you to enjoy your favorite dishes without the risk of developing disabling chronic conditions. National Tapioca Day is held in the USA to increase awareness around the benefits of tapioca and promote its use in regular meals.
Various organizations and nonprofits that are working in the nutrition sector conduct activities on National Tapioca Day. Some of these activities are:
- Start a trend on social media
- Make your batch of tapioca from scratch
- Try tapioca in a form like never before
Why Should You Include Tapioca in Your Diet?
If you’re not sure whether you should include tapioca in your everyday diet, these health benefits of tapioca might help you make the right decision.
Heart health: Tapioca doesn’t contain saturated fats, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease. Several studies have shown that consuming saturated fats could have adverse cardiovascular effects.
Diabetes control: A study showed that consuming tapioca was associated with improved insulin resistance, which can help in diabetes control.
Improved digestion: Gluten is difficult to digest, and since tapioca is gluten-free, your stomach can digest it with ease. Thus, in addition to being great for people with celiac disease, gluten can be an excellent choice for those with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and other digestive problems.
Tapioca Nutrition Breakdown
Here’s a quick breakdown of tapioca’s nutritional value. One serving (20g) of tapioca contains:
- Calories: 100 cal
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fat: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Sugar: 0 g
- Fiber: 0 g
As you can see, tapioca now contains fat and sugar. If you’re looking for a food that contains nothing but pure, healthy carbs, tapioca is the right choice for you. In addition, it is also very low in sodium, which makes it good for your liver.
How to Prepare Tapioca?
If you haven’t tried tapioca before, why not try it on this National Tapioca Day? And it’s super easy to make. All you need to do is take some quick-cooking tapioca and combine it with milk, sugar, and salt. Once cooked, you can add the mixture to beaten eggs and a little vanilla for flavour.
Alternatively, you could use tapioca flour to make pancakes and other delicious treats!
Final Thoughts
Eating unhealthy foods is the major cause of so many underlying diseases like diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. By adding healthy ingredients like tapioca to your diet, you can make your food healthier and nutrient-rich. So, are you ready to make the change on this National Tapioca Day?
