Yucca Root Benefits
TL;DR Yucca root powder comes from the Yucca schidigera plant and has a long history of traditional use. Its notable compounds are saponins. It is used in fibre blends to support digestive comfort, and most of what you will read about it online goes well beyond the evidence.
Yucca Root Benefits and Traditional Use
Yucca root powder, from the root of the Yucca schidigera plant, has been used in food and traditional practice for centuries.
It turns up today mostly as an ingredient in digestive blends, which is where we use it. Here is what it is, how it has been used, and what we will not claim about it.
Where yucca comes from
Yucca schidigera grows in the arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
Native American peoples used various parts of the plant for food, for washing, and for crafting materials. The root was valued particularly, and the reason is chemistry: it is unusually rich in saponins.
What are saponins?
Saponins are plant compounds that foam in water, which is why yucca root was historically used as a soap.
They are also the compounds researchers are interested in nutritionally, and they are what distinguishes yucca from an ordinary fibre.
What Is Yucca Root Powder Used For?
In a modern supplement, yucca root is used as part of a blend to support digestive comfort. It is traditionally used for that purpose, and that is the claim we make: no more.
Yucca root and digestive comfort
Yucca root contributes some plant fibre, and its saponins are the reason it has traditionally been included in preparations for digestive comfort.
It works best as one component of a blend rather than on its own, which is why you will usually find it alongside fibres like psyllium husk and inulin rather than sold by itself.
What We Are Not Going to Claim
Yucca root is marketed for a long list of things and we want to be straight with you.
You will find sites presenting it as a remedy for arthritis, as an anti-inflammatory, as a treatment for joint pain or swelling, as something that regulates blood sugar or helps with diabetes, or as a wound healing and antimicrobial agent for skin. We make none of those claims. Propel Health products are foods sold under an Australian food licence, the human evidence does not support those statements, and a food cannot lawfully be advertised on that basis in Australia.
If that is what you came looking for, your GP or a pharmacist is the right place to take the question.
How to Use Yucca Root Powder
As a single powder, a common culinary or supplemental amount is around 1 to 2 teaspoons per day mixed into food or drink.
If you are taking it as part of a formulated blend, follow the serving on the pack instead. The yucca content of a blend is set deliberately alongside the other ingredients.
Precautions
Yucca root is generally well tolerated in normal food amounts. Taking too much can cause digestive discomfort, including bloating and loose stools.
If you have a health condition or take regular medication, speak with your doctor or pharmacist before adding it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is yucca the same as yuca or cassava?
No, and this is the most common mix-up. Yuca, spelled with one C, is cassava, a starchy root vegetable. Yucca is a different plant entirely and is not eaten as a staple food.
What does yucca root taste like?
Mild and slightly earthy. In a blend at normal inclusion levels it is barely noticeable.
Is yucca root a fibre?
It contributes some plant fibre, but it is not a concentrated fibre source the way psyllium husk or inulin is. It is included for its saponin content as much as its fibre.
Can I take it every day?
It is used as a daily ingredient in blends. Follow the serving on your pack.
Our Daily Fibre Blend with Yucca Root
Propel Health Gut Health Support combines psyllium husk, yucca root, slippery elm bark, organic inulin and sunflower lecithin. Gluten free, vegan and non-GMO, with no artificial preservatives. Buy our daily fibre blend.
About the Author
Grant Jenkins is the founder of Propel Health Australia and a high-performance coach and physiologist with over 25 years of experience working with elite and developing athletes. He has formulated nutritional supplements used by athletes, families and health professionals across Australia.
Disclaimer
This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always consult your Health Practitioner before starting any new supplement.
