Health benefits of cassava flour

HEALTH BENEFITS OF CASSAVA FLOUR

Good day

This is Romano from the Dare to Live Free Team. In this week’s blog we will focus on a food that is familiar to many of us who grew up in the Caribbean but one that is now receiving growing international recognition for its health benefits. Our topic this week is cassava flour.

The indigenous people of Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela understood the importance of cassava. Perhaps their ancient wisdom gave them some insight into some of its health benefits. Up to today many of the meals prepared by the descendants of the original people are based on cassava. We see this affinity for cassava in cassava bread, cassava pone and a number of traditional meals.

Here are some of the health benefits of cassava flour:

• cassava flour does not contain gluten, a protein that is commonly found in wheat, barley and rye.

• cassava flour is a versatile replacement for wheat flour. Its texture is not grainy. Unlike some other gluten free flours, such as almond and coconut, cassava flour has a mild taste so it can easily replace wheat flour in many recipes without the taste being noticeably different.

• cassava flour is high in vitamin C.

• cassava contains carbohydrate dietary fiber. Consuming fiber is linked to health benefits such as increased regularity (and therefore lower risk of constipation), reduced cholesterol levels , and lower risk of obesity.

• cassava flour is both grain and nut free so it can be used by persons with a wide range of allergies. It can also be a part of a vegan, vegetarian or paleo diet.

Dare to Live Free supplies the Jinca Foods brand of cassava flour. It can be found at leading supermarkets, gourmet stores and pharmacies in Trinidad as shown in the table below.

Central Trinidad

Organix and Beyond, Mc Bean

R & F Elahie’s Supermarket, Preysal

Yummy Mummy Gourmet Store , Orchard Gardens, Chaguanas

East Trinidad

Massy Stores, St. Augustine

Massy Stores, Trincity

Sweet Nothings, Trincity Mall

Tru Valu, Trincity Mall

West Trinidad

Be Free Limited, Mucarapo Road, St. James

Massy Stores, Diamond Vale

Massy Stores, Westmoorings

South Trinidad

Bhaggan’s Drugs, South Park Mall

Pharmacy World, Gulf View Link Road, La Romain

Your challenge this week is to share with us your best recipe using cassava flour.

If you dare, you can also take a photo of your cassava flour meal and post it on the Dare to Live Free facebook page.

Have a healthy week.

The Dare to Live Free Team.