For nutritional tonic and summer fatigue prevention. About wild yams, yam, and yam ~ Nutritionist's Column Vol.93

If you've recently been feeling tired, lethargic, or weak, or if you're feeling unwell, or if you want to improve your physical condition, it's recommended that you eat nutritious and invigorating foods.

Tonic means "replenishing weak parts of the body with nutrients, improving constitution and building a strong body," and the basis for this is to take in "nutrition," which corresponds to the "nourishment" part.

"Nurturing" = taking in nutrients and distributing them throughout the body.
"Tonic" = invigorates the body.

This time, we will introduce yam, a food that is particularly effective for nourishing and strengthening the body.

What is Yamaimo?

Yamaimo is a general term for tubers in the Dioscoreaceae family, which includes wild yam, Japanese yam, and long yam.
Both wild yam and nagaimo are vegetables from the same Dioscoreaceae family and Dioscorea genus.
It is said to be effective as a tonic, antidiarrheal, and cough suppressant, and has been used as a standard ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine since before the Common Era.
It was named "Yamaimo" because it originally grew wild in the mountains.

Yamaimo is a highly nutritious potato that can be eaten raw.
In addition to mineral components such as iron, potassium, and zinc, it contains a balanced amount of B vitamins and vitamin C, making it a highly nutritious food, and it is also known as "mountain eel" as a stamina food.

The effects of yam

● Protects the body's mucous membranes and aids digestion.

The slimy component unique to yamaimo moistens and protects the stomach lining.
In addition, many digestive enzymes, including starch-decomposing enzymes "amylase" and "diastase" contained in yamaimo, promote digestion and help a tired stomach. It also increases the absorption rate of nutrients, so it is expected to have effects on fatigue recovery and nutritional tonic.
However, the effectiveness of amylase and diastase is greatly reduced when heated, so it is best eaten raw, such as in the form of grated yam or shredded vegetables.

● Prevents sudden rises in blood sugar levels and suppresses insulin secretion

The sticky ingredients prevent carbohydrates from being absorbed too quickly.
This slows down the rise in blood sugar levels after a meal.
It also contains a lot of potassium, which helps expel excess water and salt from the body, so it can also help prevent and improve swelling and treat high blood pressure.

● Effective for improving bowel movements and beauty

Yamaimo contains both soluble dietary fiber, which dissolves easily in water, and insoluble dietary fiber, which does not dissolve easily in water, and is effective in regulating the intestinal environment and relieving constipation.

Yamaimo is extremely nutritious and is said to be good for nourishing the body and recovering from fatigue.
Next, we will introduce you to the wild yam, Kuga potato, which is particularly nutritious.

"King of Yams" Wild Yam

Since ancient times, it has been prized as a nutritious tonic food and is known as the "king of yams" for its unique flavor and strong stickiness.
This is a natural species native to Japan, and grows mainly in the mountains and fields.

Compared to other types, it is characterized by its strong tenacity and cold resistance, takes 3 to 4 years before harvesting, and can grow to a length of 60 cm to 1 m.
Because it is difficult to dig up, it is a rare ingredient to find on the market in the wild.

Wild yam is also known as "san'yaku" in Chinese medicine, and as its name suggests, it is known to be highly nutritious and contain many nutrients.
It is a superfood because it has excellent effects such as nourishing and strengthening the body, recovering from fatigue, improving a weak constitution, increasing appetite, and improving the immune system.

It is especially rich in arginine, a type of amino acid that is said to be effective in promoting the synthesis of growth hormone, improving immunity, and recovering from fatigue.

"The legendary Ryukyu wild yam" Kuga potato

A type of wild yam that has been growing in Okinawa for a long time and belongs to the Dioscoreaceae family and the Dioscorea genus. It is also included in GRØN's protein blend Golden Warrior . Its Japanese name is Togedokoro.

It is a subtropical plant that is weak to the cold, and Okinawa is the northernmost limit for outdoor cultivation.
Among these, the well-drained Ryukyu limestone soil, formed by the weathering of ancient coral that contains a lot of marine minerals, is particularly suitable.
Because Kuga potatoes grow in such limited soil, they have low yields and a short shelf life, so they are also called the "phantom Ryukyu wild yam."

A distinctive feature of Kuga potato is that it contains an extremely high amount of diosgenin , more than 200 times more than other yams.
"Diosgenin" is a component known as a natural steroid.

Diosgenin has a similar structure to DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), also known as the "rejuvenating hormone," and is therefore attracting attention as a safe plant hormone with extremely low side effects as an alternative to DHEA.

Diosgenin is expected to have various health benefits, including maintaining cognitive function that declines with age, improving motor function, and alleviating menopausal symptoms.

If you feel like you're not feeling well on a daily basis, why not try eating it as a nutritious and strengthening food?
It is also good for recovering from fatigue and for restoring the stomach, making it the perfect food for preventing summer fatigue during the hot summer months.

GRØN's protein blends, including Golden Warrior, are convenient and easy to use when you don't have an appetite or are short on time.
Purchase GRØN here .

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Nutritionist, Food Education Instructor, Food 6th Industrialization Producer Level 4
Ayako Ishihara

A nutritional advisor in the healthcare field and an agribusiness professional.
She is involved in a variety of activities specializing in the fields of beauty and health, including giving lectures to Miss World Japan candidates.

With the philosophy of "enriching the mind and body through food and realizing a vibrant society where people and communities are connected," he founded i-Field Co., Ltd. in 2013 and serves as its representative.
He is a core member of the food team for "DINING OUT," which opens outdoor restaurants in various regions, and also participates in fashion brand projects.
She is also involved in the promotion of local ingredients, product development and production specializing in "health" and "beauty," branding, concept design, food hygiene, sales promotion, training planning and management, etc. She is in charge of nutritional supervision for GRØN's product development, proposing ways to incorporate them more effectively into consumer health.

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