Whether you are a fitness freak looking for an energy-boosting pre-workout/post-workout food rich in vitamins and minerals, or an inherently petite person aiming to gain some body weight but in a healthy manner, Sabudana is the ultimate solution. Wondering how these tiny, white, spherical balls – sabudana, being very high on starch content, can actually work as a healthy wholesome food option in regular diet? Well, while sabudana is primarily renowned for being a calorie-dense food with ample carbohydrates, it also contains vital essential nutrients including fibers, proteins, calcium, for promoting digestion, building powerful muscles, strengthening bones and joints.
Commonly called tapioca pearls in English, as they are the small, desiccated, translucent white balls of tapioca, extracted from the roots of the cassava plant, sabudana or Indian sago is packed with calories and carbohydrates – simple sugars and starch. Not surprisingly then, it is a staple food eaten widely in India, in the form of a khichdi, thalipeeth, dosa, vada and even a sweet kheer, to break a prolonged fasting period. Moreover, a porridge made from sabudana is often fed to babies 1 year of age and older, to aid in their physical development and ensure the optimal height, weight, growth of tissues, organs in the body.
Although it is high on starch content, sabudana as a food confers a plethora of health benefits, including improving digestion, strengthening muscles, uplifting heart functions, preventing birth defects and is ideal for restricted diets, being naturally gluten-free. This wholesome food, extracted from the cassava root, is also an excellent organic beauty ingredient, possessing a treasure trove of tannin, flavonoid antioxidants, moisturising qualities, for use as an effective home remedy to rectify skin and hair woes, such as acne, dandruff, dark spots.
