The Elephant’s Foot is an iconic plant in the yam family native to the tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. It is easily recognizable due to its large, bulbous stem and thick, leathery leaves. The Elephant’s Foot is considered to be one of the most nutritious and versatile vegetables, with a sweet and nutty flavor. It can be cooked in a variety of ways, from baked, boiled, or steamed to stewed, curried, or roasted. This blog post will explore the history and health benefits of the Elephant’s Foot yam, as well as a few ways to prepare it. We’ll start by discussing the plant’s origins and how it has been used traditionally in African and Asian cuisine. We’ll then move on to the many nutritional benefits of the Elephant’s Foot, such as its high fiber and Vitamin A content. Finally, we’ll provide a few delicious recipes for cooking the Elephant’s Foot yam, such as curried yam stew and oven-roasted yams.
Elephant’s Foot Yam Nutrition Facts and Calories Chart
Elephant’s foot is low in fat and calories, making it an excellent choice for those looking to lose or maintain weight. It is also an excellent source of fiber and complex carbohydrates, making it an ideal food for those who want to feel fuller for longer periods of time. Additionally, it provides a good source of folate, which is an important nutrient for pregnant women. Elephant’s foot can be cooked in a variety of ways, such as steaming, boiling, roasting, or baking. It can also be eaten raw, in salads or as a side dish. Its mild flavor and crunchy texture make it a versatile ingredient that can be used in soups, stews, casseroles, and other dishes. Nutritional value per 100 g elephant’s foot yam:
- Biotin: 4.2 mcg
- Calcium: 3 mg
- Carbohydrates (Carbs): 18.2 g
- Chloride: 10 mg
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Choline: 11.6 mg
- Chromium: 0.5 mcg
- Copper: 0.2 mg
- Dietary Fiber: 4.3 g
- Energy (Calories): 92 kcal
- Fat: 0.3 g
- Iodine: 2.6 mcg
- Iron: 1.1 mg
- Magnesium: 36 mg
- Manganese: 0.2 mg
- Molybdenum: 0.7 mcg
- Pantothenic Acid: 0.2 mg
- Phosphorus: 34 mg
- Potassium: 310 mg
- Protein: 0.9 g
- Saturated fat: 0.1 g
- Selenium: 0.3 mcg
- Sodium: 4 mg
- Sugars: 0.9 g
- Vitamin A: 19 IU
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamin): 0.1 mg
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): 0.1 mg
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin): 0.8 mg
- Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid): 0.2 mg
- Vitamin B6: 0.1 mg
- Vitamin B9 (Folate / Folic Acid): 9 mcg
- Vitamin B12: 0 mcg
- Vitamin C: 0 mg
- Vitamin D: 0 mcg
- Vitamin E: 0.1 mg
- Vitamin K: 0.1 mcg
- Water: 79.4 g
- Zinc: 0.2 mg
Elephant’s Foot Yam in India
It is one of the biggest tuber that can weigh up to 10 kg. The name itself suggest that it looks similar to elephant’s foot. Elephant’s foot is an annual herb grown in tropical regions and distributed in the Philippines, Japan, India and the United States.
- Scientific Binomial: Amorphophallus paeoniifolius
- Common English: Elephant Foot Yam / Fiji Arrowroot / Tahiti Arrowroot / Whitespot Giant Arum
- Ayurvedic: Suurana
- Unani
- Sanskrit: Arsaghna / Arshoghna / Arsoghna / Bahukanda
- Hindi: Oal / Gandira / Jangli suran / Kanda / Madana Masta
- Urdu: Zamin-kand
- Bengali: Ol
- Marathi: Suran
- Telugu: Daradakandagadda / Ghemikanda
- Tamil: Karachunai / Anaittantu / Boomi Sallaraikilangu / Camattilai
- Gujarati
- Kannada: Gandira / Suvarna-gadde
- Malayalam: Cinapavu / Karunakarang / Kizhanna
- Oriya
- Punjabi / Sindhi
- Assamese
- Kashmiri
- Konkani
- Manipuri
- Dogri
- Bhojpuri
Home Remedies
Elephant’s foot is an excellent source of nutrition and can be used as an alternative to potatoes or other starchy vegetables. Its low-calorie and high-fiber content make it a great choice for those looking to maintain or lose weight. Additionally, its nutrient profile makes it an ideal food for pregnant women. Elephant’s Foot is a nutritious root vegetable native to South America. It is a tuber with a thick, fleshy stem and large, fleshy leaves. It contains high levels of dietary fiber and protein, as well as vitamins A, B, and C, iron, magnesium, and potassium. No matter how you decide to prepare it, the Elephant’s Foot yam is sure to be a flavorful addition to your next meal. So why not give it a try and enjoy the nutritional benefits and unique flavor.
- Though corm is the main drug, the root is applied the boils and prescribed as an emmenagogue. The fermented juice of petiole is used to treat diarrhea. A paste of the seeds is applied on rheumatic swelling.
- According to Indian Ayurveda, elephant’s foot yam tuber was prescribed as a part of diet for treating piles, rectal polyp formations and condyloma.
- The tuber, firmly closed inside the well-kneaded clay lump, is cooked by closed heating. The clay is removed after the baking is over and the tuber is recovered and a medicinal ash is prepared. The ash is prescribed with oil and salt in hemorrhoids.
- The ash mixed with clarified butter and jaggery is applied externally on tumors. The paste of the tuber mixed with honey and clarified butter is applied to alleviate filaria.
- In Unani medicine, elephant’s foot is given as a vegetable in sluggish liver, deranged digestive system and for astringent properties in piles and hemorrhoids, also prescribed as expectorant in asthma and bronchitis.
- The corms are found efficacious as anti asthmatic, antiemetic, carminative, antidysenteric and are used in piles, enlargement of spleen, diseases due to vitiated blood, elephantiasis. The corms and seeds are applied externally as an irritant to treat acute rheumatism. The paste is prepared with clarified butter or honey for external application.
- A bitter extract, prepared by washing the grated tubers in running water, is a rubefacient; and is also given in diarrhea and dysentery.