Deepa Balasubramanian
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Written By: Deepa Balasubramanian | Published : June 5, 2015 7:10 PM IST
Arrowroot powder is a lesser known herbal powder but has been used for its health benefits for centuries. For instance, most foods for infants contain arrowroot powder so do most pain relieving herbal ointments. In Hindi, it is known as araroot.
It is mostly made up of carbohydrates and proteins and has good amount of vitamins like vitamin B complex and minerals like potassium, calcium, zinc and magnesium. There is also plenty of dietary fibre which makes it a thickening agent.Here are a few health benefits that we can obtain from arrowroot powder.
Low in calories
It has amylopectin and amylose, two of the purest forms of starch yet it is low in calories and a rich source of protein. This makes it great for people trying to lose weight. The starch obtained from one arrowroot fruit has about 65 calories.
Extremely good for newborn babies and for expectant mothers
Arrowroot powder is a great source of folate a component that helps in the formation of new cells of the body. This is probably why expectant mothers consume arrowroot powder. It also helps in healthy growth of the foetus. It is also believed to prevent any foetal malformations.
Prevents digestive disorders
Arrowroot powder has been used to treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It helps ease the process of digestion and keeps the entire digestive tract healthy and keeps diarrhoea at bay. The fact that it is gluten-free helps deal with gluten related allergies that occur in the digestive tract.
Acts as a wound healer
One of the biggest and the most popular benefits of arrowroot is that it acts as a wound healer. Arrowroot powder can be rubbed over the wound to heal it in a short time and in an effective manner. It can also be used for healing bleeding gums.
Helps keep the heart healthy
The high amount of potassium that is present in arrowroot powder makes it great for heart health. It helps in maintaining blood pressure and keeping the blood flow smooth.
Remedy for UTIs
Urinary Tract Infections often come back even after using allopathic medicine. Arrowroot powder is a definite cure in most cases. When the powder is consumed at prescribed intervals, it can help in getting rid of it.
Soothes sunburns
Arrowroot powder is one of those ingredients that can provide almost immediate relief from sunburns.
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References:
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Ley AC, Dauby G, K hler J, Wypior C, R ser M, Hardy OJ. Comparativephylogeography of eight herbs and lianas (Marantaceae) in central Africanrainforests. Front Genet. 2014 Nov 19;5:403. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2014.00403.eCollection 2014. PubMed PMID: 25477901; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4237126.
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