Good for Your Gut

Taro root may be advantageous to intestinal health due to its high fiber and resistant starch content. Fiber and resistant starch are not digested or absorbed by your body, so they remain in your intestines. They become food for the microbes in your gut and boost the growth of healthy bacteria once they reach your colon. When your gut bacteria ferment these fibers, they produce short-chain fatty acids, which nourish and strengthen the cells that line your intestines.

In one pig trial, meals high in resistant starch improved colon health by increasing short-chain fatty acid synthesis and reduced colon cell damage. Human investigations have revealed that persons with inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis, have lower levels of short-chain fatty acids in their bowels. Consuming fiber and resistant starch may help boost these levels and protect against inflammatory bowel illness and colon cancer, according to some studies.