In daily life, many people seek out functional foods or natural herbs to improve their health. One of the popular folk dishes known for its many benefits for the body is kudzu powder. So is it good to drink kudzu powder every day? This is a question that many people still wonder about when choosing to use this food in their daily diet.
Kudzu powder, with natural ingredients from kudzu root, has long been known as a folk medicine with many health benefits. However, not everyone clearly understands the benefits and potential harms of using kudzu powder every day. Is drinking kudzu powder every day good or will it cause unpredictable consequences? Let’s find out together to have a more comprehensive view of this food.
What are the benefits of kudzu powder?
Here are the outstanding health benefits of drinking kudzu powder:
Effective weight loss
Kudzu powder contains a special type of carbohydrate called resistant starch, which the body cannot break down to use as energy. This starch is not digested in the small intestine but moves down to the large intestine, where it is fermented by beneficial bacteria. The fermentation process creates short-chain fatty acids such as acetate, propionate and butyrate, which help boost metabolism, reduce inflammation and support a longer feeling of fullness. Thanks to that, drinking kudzu powder helps you limit the amount of food you take in, thereby supporting effective weight loss.
Drinking tapioca starch helps the body cool down and supports weight loss.
Cooling the body
Kudzu powder has a natural cooling effect, helping to reduce the feeling of heat on hot days. Thanks to its good water absorption ability, kudzu powder can cool the body, especially in cases such as fever, sore throat, mouth ulcers or boils. The minerals in kudzu powder also help regulate body temperature, cooling from the inside.
Improve metabolism
Drinking kudzu powder helps slow down the digestion of food and improve cell sensitivity to insulin. This helps the body metabolize more effectively, while preventing diseases related to metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Improve intestinal health
Resistant starch in kudzu powder is not digested in the small intestine but goes down to the large intestine to ferment, promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria. This not only supports the digestive process but also helps to improve intestinal health, prevent problems related to digestive disorders and protect the body from diseases related to intestinal hygiene.
Is it good to drink cassava starch every day?
Is it good to drink cassava starch every day is a question that many people wonder. Cassava starch is cold, so it has a very good cooling effect. However, you should not overuse this food just to relieve the feeling of heat in the body. The cold nature of cassava starch can cause bloating and indigestion. In particular, young children, people with poor health, low blood pressure, or people who have just recovered from illness, if they drink too much cassava starch, will easily experience abdominal cramps or diarrhea.
Is it good to drink cassava starch powder every day is a question of many people.
Therefore, you should only drink one glass of water mixed with kudzu root every day and should not use it continuously for many days. There should be breaks so that the stomach can recover and absorb nutrients from meals well. When the weather is hot and the body has to move a lot, you only need to supplement enough water and electrolytes if the body loses a lot of sweat or urine. Besides, change your taste with other natural drinks, instead of just using kudzu root continuously.
Harmful effects of kudzu root
In addition to the benefits that kudzu root brings, if not used properly, kudzu root can cause some harmful effects such as:
Liver damage
A scientific study published on Pubmed conducted an experiment on mice for 4 weeks to evaluate the liver toxicity caused by kudzu root extract. The results showed that after mice were treated with kudzu root extract, serum ALT and AST indexes increased, along with histopathological changes in the liver. This shows that kudzu can be toxic to the liver if used for a long time in high doses. Therefore, to protect our health, we should not abuse kudzu powder but need to diversify other drinks to ensure adequate nutrition.
Be careful with pregnant women
Kudzu powder can be used for pregnant women, especially on hot days, when the pregnant woman’s body needs to cool down. However, due to the cold nature of kudzu, drinking too much can cause bloating, indigestion and affect the ability to absorb nutrients needed for the fetus. In addition, kudzu can increase uterine contractions, causing the risk of miscarriage. Therefore, pregnant women should consult a doctor and only use kudzu powder with caution and should not abuse it.
Pregnant women should consult their doctor about using tapioca starch.
Reduces the effectiveness of diabetes medications
Puerarin, an active ingredient in kudzu root, has the effect of reducing blood sugar, improving insulin resistance and protecting pancreatic function. However, this can also lead to interactions with diabetes medications. Therefore, people with diabetes who are taking medication should be careful when combining it with kudzu powder to avoid unwanted side effects. Although scientific research is limited, it is very important to consult a doctor or traditional medicine specialist to ensure safe health.
How should kudzu powder be used?
Drinking kudzu powder at night, especially close to bedtime, can cause the digestive system to work continuously, putting pressure on the stomach and negatively affecting health if done for a long time. Therefore, the ideal time to drink kudzu powder is after lunch or dinner, preferably about 30 minutes to 1 hour after eating.
Whether to drink raw or cooked tapioca starch depends on personal preference, each person’s constitution and purpose of use. Here are some points to note to help you make the right decision:
- Raw tapioca starch: Provides many nutrients because it is not destroyed by high temperatures. However, it can cause discomfort for some people due to the strong sweetness and slightly mushy texture of raw tapioca starch.
- Cooked tapioca starch: Easier to digest and has a mild sweetness, easier to drink than the raw form. Cooking helps eliminate some enzymes that can cause discomfort or allergic reactions for some people.
You should drink arrowroot powder after lunch or dinner, preferably about 30 minutes to 1 hour after eating.
Is it good to drink cassava starch every day is a question that many people still wonder. Although cassava starch brings many health benefits, such as cooling, supporting digestion and weight loss, if abused or used incorrectly, it can also cause unwanted side effects, such as bloating, indigestion, or affecting the liver. Therefore, to ensure safety and maximize the effects of cassava starch, you should use it in reasonable doses, combine it with a balanced diet and consult a medical expert when necessary. Only when used properly, cassava starch is truly a healthy drink.