Top 10 Proven Benefits Of Arrowroot For your Health

Updated on December 10th, 2019
arrowroot benefits

Arrowroot starch, or arrowroot, is a powdery product derived from Maranta arundinaceous, the roots of the arrowroot plant.

Also known as Ararot, the arrowroot plant belongs to South America. It is a perennial, small herb with oval-shaped, broad, and has flat leaves. Arrowroot can grow up to a height of 3-5 feet. It is typically a cylindrical-shaped, small light red or cream-white tube like root, which is mostly covered with scales.

Arrowroot is a derivative of the word ‘aru-root’ as used by the Arawak community in South America to identify this plant.

Arrowroot was extremely used by the ancient Mayans as well as the people of Central America for neutralizing the effects of poison-tipped arrows. Even today, arrowroot is widely used for soothing the stomach along with resolving the symptoms of diarrhea.

What is Arrowroot?

Arrowroot is a starch. The root, a conventional native to the United States, is widely preferred around the world for its incredible health benefits. Numerous studies have defined arrowroot as a significant source of diverse and dense nutrition(1), with carbs being its principal constituent.

Arrowroot offers several incredible health benefits such as improving cognition, reducing risk of congenital disabilities, promoting cardiovascular health, preventing celiac disease, fighting off bacteria, boosting metabolic rate, strengthening the immune system, supporting the digestive system, promoting proper circulation, improving skin condition, and promoting weight loss.

[Also Read: Benefits of Burdock Root]

Arrowroot Nutrition Facts

Arrowroot is an excellent source of vitamin B9, carbohydrates, and several minerals such as magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, calcium, potassium. It also contains iron and zinc, along with vitamin B6 and B1. Also, arrowroot consists of various saturated as well as unsaturated fatty acids in a minimal amount. Arrow is also an excellent source of proteins and dietary fibers

Including arrowroot into your daily diet may well provide you a natural and abundant source of metabolic and digestive tonic. Nutritionists recommend adding organic veggies to your diet since they are rich in nutritional value(2), and contain minimal fat or calories. As such, fresh foods like arrowroot can offer a wide range of essential proteins, minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients to keep you healthy and high on energy.

Incredible Arrowroot Benefits For Health

While arrowroot offers a wide range of health benefits, the following ten stand out:

1. Supports cognition

Supports cognition
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Arrowroot helps improve cognitive abilities. Essential nutrients such as magnesium, potassium, zinc, and sodium are vital constituents of arrowroot. All of these nutrients are associated with the development and functioning of the brain. Dieticians suggest that adding arrowroot into your child’s daily diet can enhance his/her cognitive capabilities, thence boosting the growth of the mind.

2. Supports Cardiovascular Health

A rich source of potassium, arrowroot is one of the safest ways to keep various heart disorders, stroke, heart attack, etc. at bay. Scientists reveal that potassium is an incredible vasodilator that helps in relieving tension in your blood vessels and arteries and prevents high blood pressure.

However, if you often suffer from burning or throbbing pain in your chest or an inflammatory chest condition, it is recommended that you consult a registered medical practitioner to rule out the possibility of some severe underlying cause.

3. Reduces Birth Defects

Folate is one of the major constituents in arrowroot that helps strengthen your internal body. Consequently, pregnant women are advised to include folate-rich foods such as arrowroot to their daily diet. Arrowroot supports healthy development of the fetus. Also, proper regular intake of folate, along with vitamin B complex and phosphorus, helps avoid the risk of congenital disabilities in infants.

4. Antibacterial properties

This root exhibits incredible antibacterial properties that help in speeding up the recovery process after an injury. Arrowroot powder can be combined with water and applied to cuts, bruises, and wounds to get quick relief. Moreover, arrowroot possesses exceptional antiseptic properties that prevent the risk of infections to our body.

5. Avoids Celiac Disease

Avoids Celiac Disease
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Dieticians indicate that a gluten-free diet can prevent the risk of developing celiac disease. Arrowroot has zero gluten and therefore, helps in preventing pain as well as the discomfort associated with various gastrointestinal issues.

6. Boosts Immunity

Arrowroot has the right combination of several essential minerals and nutrients(3) that helps boost your immunity and therefore, avoid the risk of several acute and chronic health conditions. Nutrients such as copper, magnesium, potassium, and zinc support our immune system and ward off infections along with destroying toxins and bacteria.

These essential vitamins and minerals help strengthen your immune system by warding off standard external as well as internal factors. Adding arrowroot into your daily diet enables you to stay away from infections such as common cold, flue, and more in a safe, cost-effective, and a  natural manner.

7. Boosts Metabolic Rate

A powerhouse of essential folate that it is, arrowroot enhances your metabolism and maintains proper hormonal activity. An improved metabolic rate not only helps you manage your weight, but it also proves beneficial in preventing the symptoms of poor appetite and weak digestion.

8. Promotes Circulation

With the goodness of copper, the arrowroot herb helps improve blood circulation in the body. As such, when our organs receive oxygenated blood with no hurdles, they carry out several essential functions smoothly, thence helping our body stay active and energized.

9. Boosts Digestive System

Arrowroot is rich in folate content that works as a laxative and adds bulk to the stools, thence avoiding various symptoms associated with poor digestion such as constipation, acid reflux, bloating, heartburn, cramps, etc. It also supports regular bowel movement.

[Also Read: Treat Constipation Using Natural Remedies]

10. Helps Lose Weight

weight loss-
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Arrowroot offers the right combination of essential nutrients, minerals, and vitamins to help boost our metabolism. It is low in calorie and therefore, doesn’t trigger weight gain. Doctors recommend eating high-nutrition, low-calorie meals to avoid unwanted weight gain, and that’s where arrowroot comes in handy.

Other than its incredible benefits in preventing unnecessary weight gain, arrowroot also comes in handy in keeping various skin disorders at bay.

The internal and external factors have a high potential in impairing our skin cells, thence leading to premature aging along with other skin disorders such as acne. An appearance of sun spots, fine lines, and wrinkles can surely be infuriating and equally embarrassing. Arrowroot can aid in the treatment of various skin disorders. With the goodness of protein and vitamins, arrowroot not only treats skin irritation, blemishes, and pigmentation but it also delays the early onset of aging.

You can also add arrowroot powder to your favorite face pack depending on your preferences and skin type. Arrowroot has incredible potential to rejuvenate dead tissues, unclog pores, reduce marks, as well as nourish your skin cells. Arrowroot can also offer sufficient moisture to the skin, making it look active, fresh, clear, and younger for an extended period.

[Also Read: 8 Super foods For Weight Loss]

Side Effects and Precautions to be undertaken

There are no potential adverse effects associated with regular use of arrowroot if taken as a dietary supplement. Therefore, it can quickly and safely be blended with fruit juices, milk, lemon, sugar, and even wines.

However, overconsumption of arrowroot can cause side effects in some people and therefore, it is recommended not to increase its suggested dose. In a 2009 study carried out in Korea, the overuse of arrowroot juice was reported to cause toxic hepatitis in a few subjects. Arrowroot is also safe when used by pregnant or nursing women.

With no proven side effects as such, when consumed in moderation, arrowroot seems to be a great supplement to our daily diet. Being rich in various essential nutrients, minerals, and vitamins, it helps to improve our metabolism, boosts immunity, and helps us stay away from the risk of several critical acute and chronic disorders.

Also, arrowroot is also low in calorie and therefore, it becomes a great food option for weight-conscious individuals. When used in the suggested quantity, it is also safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women and helps improve the brain functioning and proper growth of the fetus.

You can certainly treat a wide range of debilitating health issues with the arrowroot benefits. Therefore, do not forget to bag some arrowroot on your next outing to the grocery store.

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