Effect and function of yam

The cooked yam is soft and silky, and tastes slightly sweet Raw yam has rough texture Although it can be eaten all year round, the best harvest season is October to December There are about 200 different varieties of yam, the color of meat is from white to purple Yam is a good source of vitamin B6 to prevent cardiovascular disease Vitamin B6 is essential for the body to break down homocysteine, which can directly damage blood vessel walls People with heart disease, whether cholesterol levels are low or normal, will find high levels of homocysteine in their bodies Since high levels of homocysteine are significantly associated with increased heart disease and stroke, it is particularly important for the body to have an adequate supply of vitamin B6 It has been proved that high intake of vitamin B6 can effectively reduce the risk of heart disease Yams are a good source of potassium, a mineral that helps control blood pressure People who usually eat less fruits and vegetables and often consume a lot of processed foods containing sodium salt are more likely to lack potassium Low potassium food intake, especially in the case of high sodium intake, can lead to high blood pressure In a study of high blood pressure prevention foods, a group of people replaced snacks and sweets with fruits and vegetables, and also ate low-fat dairy products This diet provides more potassium, magnesium and calcium Another group of participants ate regular American food, with fewer fruits and vegetables and more fatty foods After 8 weeks, the mean blood pressure of the first group decreased by 5.5 (systolic pressure) and diastolic pressure by more than 3.0 Preliminary studies show that yam can inhibit ace, so it can increase renal blood flow and reduce blood pressure There are many wild yams or their extract nutritional supplements on the market of Chinese yam for menopause symptoms, which can be used as natural hormone substitutes to help menopause women relieve symptoms Some of these products are emulsion forms that can be externally applied Although health products companies do not advocate the use of natural yams, the efficacy of yams and their relationship with menopause have aroused great interest Yams contain unique substances called steroidal saponins Due to the similarity between steroidal saponins and progesterone, the original research topic is the body's ability to convert steroidal saponins into progesterone, but the research results are negative However, steroidal saponins can affect animal hormones and have the potential to reduce the risk of osteoporosis Wild yam has a long history as a traditional Chinese medicine, which can affect the function of human organ system Although yam has the effect of Tonifying the kidney, it can also be used to support the female endocrine system For example, it has traditionally been used to nourish lactating women Many studies have also found that wild yams can have a positive effect on menopausal symptoms.