Health Benefits of Ube

Rose May Pimentel in Health

Jun 02, 2022 • 3 min Read

Purple yam or ube in Tagalog is known as a good source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It’s delicious and highly nutritious. It’s an indigenous staple here in our country and is now cultivated and enjoyed worldwide.

Ube has a wide range of culinary uses – can be boiled, mashed, fried, or baked. They are often used in a variety of dishes in place of other starchy vegetables, including stews, soups, and stir-fries. Here, ube is made into flour which is used in many desserts. It can also be processed into a powder to make vibrantly colored foods, including rice, candy, cakes, desserts, and jams.

Here are some of the amazing health benefits of ube, from Healthline:

1. Rich in Antioxidants

Ube is rich in antioxidants, including anthocyanins and vitamin C. Antioxidants help protect your cells from damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals that are linked to many chronic conditions, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Ube is a great source of vitamin C, which acts as a potent antioxidant in your body. Studies have shown that consuming more vitamin C can increase your antioxidant levels by up to 35%, protecting against oxidative cell damage. The anthocyanins in ube are a type of polyphenol antioxidant. Regularly eating polyphenol-rich fruits and vegetables has been linked to lower risks of several types of cancers. Research suggests that anthocyanins in ube may reduce the growth of certain types of cancers, including colon, lung, and prostate cancer.

2. May Help Manage Blood Sugar

The flavonoids in ube helps lower blood sugar in those with type 2 diabetes. A study found that administering higher amounts of ube extract lowered appetite, encouraged weight loss, and improved blood sugar control. Another study reported that an ube supplement reduced the rate of blood sugar absorption with elevated levels, resulting in improved blood sugar control. Also, ube has a low glycemic index which can help prevent blood sugar spikes.

3. May Help Lower Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. Ube may have blood-pressure-lowering effects. Researchers believe that this is likely due to their impressive antioxidant content. A study found that ube contains antioxidants that may help lower blood pressure in a way similar to that of common blood-pressure-lowering medications called angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors). Another study showed that the antioxidants in ube could prevent elevated blood pressure.

4. May Improve Symptoms of Asthma

Research suggests that a high dietary intake of antioxidants like vitamins A and C is associated with a reduced risk of asthma. One study found that asthma in adults is associated with low vitamin A intake. Those with asthma were only meeting about 50% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin A, on average.  In addition, the incidence of asthma increased by 12% in those who had low dietary vitamin C intake. Ube is a good source of antioxidants and vitamins A and C helping you reach your daily intake levels for these vitamins.

5. Promotes Gut Health

Ube may help improve your gut health. It may even help reduce your risk of certain conditions, such as colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Ube also produces healthy fatty acids and B vitamins. One study found that ube had anti-inflammatory effects and decreased symptoms of colitis.

Go try ube halaya today and enjoy its benefits!

Stay healthy and safe!