It's in the Bag: Yacon Root

 

Each Wednesday, I’ll be posting about a different super-food… my first spotlight: The Yacon Root.

 

Most people probably haven’t heard of this root before.  The yacon root is native to the lower Andean region of Columbia, Ecuador, and Peru.  This root is best known for it’s crisp, sweet-tasting flavor and is also one of the KEY prebiotic ingredients in Shakeology - hence the title of this blog series...it's in the bag!

What is a prebiotic?

Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that stimulate the growth and/or activity of good bacteria (probiotics) in the digestive system.

Why do you need a prebiotic?

Prebiotics help maintain good intestinal health and digestion. They help to increase your body’s ability to extract nutrients from the food you eat. So first and foremost, your body is getting more of the nutrients it needs.  As an added bonus, if your body can absorb more nutrients from nutritious food, you may feel less hungry and won't be tempted to eat as much, which helps with weight loss!

The yacon root is known for its natural sweetness and is used as a syrupy sweetener.  It contains more than 50% fructooligosacharides (or FOS), a super-long word that means “a type of sugar that the stomach doesn't easily digest” – which means that it settles into the intestine and aids in digestion. This is great for diabetics because it does not spike blood sugar levels.

A few other Yacon Root facts:

- It has antioxidant properties that help fight free radicals in your body (fighting aging and disease)
- It promotes the elimination of toxins (good for kidneys)
- It has the highest concentration of prebiotics of any plant in the world
- It may help to reduce cholesterol levels
- It helps support a strong immune system

You can buy yacon root online, but you can also get it in your bag of Shakeology wrapped up in chocolaty, greenberry or tropical strawberry goodness! Click here for a complete nutrient profile of Shakeology.

Reminder: Shakeology comes with a "Bottom of the Bag" guarantee. That means if you aren't 100% satisfied, you can mail an empty bag back to Beachbody for a complete refund. So you REALLY don't have anything to lose...except maybe a little weight! Buy your bag here!