The heart of palm is a vegetable yield from the inner core and growing bud of some palm trees, like palmetto, jucara, and Acai palm. The colors of the heart of the palm are pristine ivory–white. The heart of the palm has minerals, like selenium, manganese, copper, zinc, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, and calcium. The heart of the palm has vitamins, like Vitamin C, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B9, and folate. The heart of the palm is light, mild, and crunchy.
It resembles white asparagus and it can be marinated, blanched, sautéed, or baked. The heart of the palm has been considered a dietary staple for thousands of years in Central and South America. Some people can experience allergic reactions after the consumption of the heart of the palm. If you experience allergic reactions, such as swelling, hives, or itching, then you should discontinue using it and talk with your doctor as soon as possible. Canned heart of palm can have high sodium content, up to 622 mg of sodium in each cup, so you should be careful if you have high blood pressure or following a low sodium diet.
You can serve the heart of palm in raw form or cooked. You can add the sliced heart of palm to your grains, salads, fresh salads, and pasta. You can use the thin slices of the heart of the palm as pizza toppings. You can add the heart of palm to quiche, casseroles, stews, and chowders. Here are some health benefits of the heart of the palm:
Carbohydrate source
Contents
The heart of the palm has calories that come from carbohydrates. In a serving size of one ounce, there are 7 grams of carbohydrates with complex carbs and natural sugars. Also, it will ensure a stable flow of energy. The heart of the palm is required to lower the spike in blood sugar levels.
Improves energy levels
The heart of the palm is loaded with beta–carotene, which is giving it a lot of health benefits. It can balance hormones and it can improve the energy levels of the body.
Cancer prevention
The heart of palm has tocopherols which are a type of Vitamin A and they are considered natural antioxidants. It is acting as a strong defense mechanism, which can prevent the free radicals from forming cancer cells. Free radicals can make healthy cells into cancerous cells. This is a reason why the heart of the palm should be added to your diet.
Healthy vision
The heart of the palm has ample amounts of beta–carotene, which can help to promote vision. Also, it has different antioxidants and it acts as a defense mechanism for the body. Free radicals can lead to vision damage, so this is a reason why you should add the heart of palm to your diet.
Balance blood sugar
High blood sugar can cause serious side effects, such as kidney damage, increased risk of infections, and nerve damage. The fiber and manganese content can help to maintain normal blood sugar, so you will avoid all the symptoms and complications.
Strengthen immunity
The heart of the palm has a lot of vitamins and minerals, which are required for the proper functioning of the immune system. It has Vitamin C, zinc, and manganese, which can help to ward off against diseases and infections and they can enhance better health. In some studies are said that when you consume good amounts of Vitamin C and zinc in your diet, then this can help to lower the symptoms and reduce the duration of respiratory tract infections. Also, it can help to improve conditions, such as diarrhea, pneumonia, and malaria. Manganese can help to prevent oxidative stress and it can combat free radicals, which could lead to chronic disease.
Anemia prevention
Anemia is a condition that is characterized by a lack of healthy red blood cells in the body. This is leading to anemia symptoms, such as brain fog, fatigue, and lightheadedness. There are different factors that could lead to anemia, but iron deficiency is the biggest. In a cup of the heart of palm, there is 25% of the iron required in a day, which can help in the prevention of many diseases, including anemia. Also, the heart of the palm has Vitamin C, which can enhance iron absorption.
