Excess weight, especially obesity, diminishes almost every aspect of health, from reproductive and respiratory function to memory and mood. Obesity increases the risk of several debilitating, and deadly diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. It does this through a variety of pathways, some as straightforward as the mechanical stress of carrying extra pounds and some involving complex changes in hormones and metabolism. Obesity decreases the quality and length of life, and increases individual, national, and global healthcare costs.
Another important number to know is your waist size in inches. Having too much fat around your waist may increase health risks even more than having fat in other parts of your body. Women with a waist size of more than 35 inches and men with a waist size of more than 40 inches may have higher chances of developing diseases related to obesity.
The good news, though, is that weight loss can curtail some obesity-related risks. Losing as little as 5 to 10 percent of body weight offers meaningful health benefits to people who are obese, even if they never achieve their “ideal” weight, and even if they only begin to lose weight later in life.
Cocoyam also known as Taro root, is a nutritious root vegetable that is eaten across the African continent. Growing up to 6 feet tall, cocoyam (taro root) is a large perennial plant with large heart-shaped leaves, and turnip-sized corms. Cocoyam contains a wealth of organic compounds, minerals, and vitamins that can benefit our overall health in a number of ways. One cup (132 grams) of cooked cocoyam has 187 calories — mostly from carbs — and fewer than one gram each of protein and fat. It has a very significant amount of dietary fiber and carbohydrates, as well as high levels of vitamin A, C, E, vitamin B6, and folate, according to the USDA National Nutrient Database. There is magnesium, iron, zinc, phosphorous, potassium, manganese, and copper in it. The plant also provides some protein in your diet, but the amount is almost negligible.
Is Cocoyam Good For Weight Loss?
Cocoyam is calorie-sparse at 142 calories per 100g – around 13% of the possible calorie content. Your weight is a balancing act, but the equation is simple: If you eat more calories than you burn, you gain weight. And if you eat fewer calories and burn more calories through physical activity, you lose weight. Sparse calorie food like cocoyam can help in this regard.
Another way cocoyam can help your weight loss efforts is in delaying hunger. Eating too much food can lead to weight gain and increase the risk of developing a chronic condition, such as diabetes or heart disease. Regardless of whether you have an eating disorder, breaking the cycle of overeating can be challenging. There’s a lot of evidence that bulk — that is, fiber — reduces appetite. They are thought to impact on satiation (the satisfaction of appetite during feeding that marks the end of eating and satiety (inhibition of hunger as a result of having eaten), because of their properties of adding bulk (satiation) and producing viscosity (satiety).
The low-calorie and high “bulk” of tubers such as cocoyam has made them a staple in diets across the world as they will reduce hunger and make you feel “full” without too many calories. For this reason, Cocoyam can be an excellent food addition for those who are dieting, as one of the hardest parts of losing weight is getting past the feelings of hunger.
Conclusion
Everyone knows that eating a low-fat, low-calorie diet and getting regular exercise helps shed pounds, but a new study led by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has found that when it comes to losing weight and body fat, diet and exercise are most effective when done together as compared to either strategy alone. Read Does Agbo Jedi Work For Weight Loss?
