Sometimes called a starch and other times a powder, arrowroot is more desirable as a thickener than often- genetically engineered (GE) flour, cornstarch or rice. Completely safe and with no side effects, it’s known to be safe even for baby formula although there are far superior foods to feed an infant.
Currently, many bakers use flour and cornstarch for cakes, bread, and pasta. Anyone looking for an alternative recipe for any of these is likely to find arrowroot powder to be a superior ingredient. Additionally, arrowroot has no odor or flavor to speak of.
Arrowroot contains several B vitamins, including thiamine, niacin and pyridoxine, and minerals such as copper and iron, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc, all providing necessary nutrients for your body.
Although it is a starch, it contains no gluten, and studies show it to be highest in protein compared to other native starches and flours.
As gluten intolerance becomes more and more common, a naturally gluten-free arrowroot is a welcome option for preventing the bloating and stomach pain prevalent in this condition.
Individuals with celiac disease must eliminate gluten to improve their condition, so arrowroot offers possibilities for eating similar foods without discomfort. Arrowroot was also found to be effective for treating diarrhea in people with irritable bowel syndrome. Some people wonder about the nutritional aspects of arrowroot.
Fresh tender arrowroot can be eaten raw, and in cooking, as you may use it in a way like any other tubers. However, mature roots are exceedingly fibrous and thus, less appetizing.
Prepare deliciously crunchy, homemade sweet potato fries by tossing them into a mixture of salt, pepper and arrowroot powder before placing them in the oven.
In desserts, arrowroot is a great substitute for packaged puddings, custards and chocolate sauces. It blends equally well with coconut milk to produce the perfect consistency.
Arrowroot powder is an ingredient in a plethora of delicious, gluten-free bread recipes, often along with coconut flour, almond flour, flax seed meal or all of the above.
For black bean, quinoa burgers or meatloaf that may have a tendency to fall apart, arrowroot powder helps hold them together, sometimes better than eggs, but you can use both.
To put a little body into stir-fries or vegetable stew, arrowroot powder fills the bill beautifully. Create a slurry by whisking a few tablespoons of arrowroot powder into a one-half cup of cold liquid or shaking them together in a sealed jar, and watch it thicken as you stir it into your hot broth.
When cooking with arrowroot powder, it’s best to add it toward the end of cooking so the nutrients aren’t diminished and the mixture isn’t broken down by the heat.
Due to these and other valuable compounds in arrowroot, your body obtains multiple health benefits.
Balanced pH — Calcium ash, the sole starch in arrowroot, comes in the form of calcium chloride, a compound that’s central to maintaining the proper balance between your acid and alkali.
Digestion — Fiber helps push foods through your system efficiently while simultaneously allowing nutrients to be absorbed. This process can prevent constipation, and also helps control blood sugar and subsequent diabetes.
Circulation — Copper and iron in arrowroot are vital red blood cell components, preventing fatigue, weakness and decreased cognitive function, all symptoms of anemia. Also, increased circulation conveys higher levels of oxygenation to your organs and other areas, which provides energy.
Lowers cholesterol —Arrowroot promotes bile production, which increases cholesterol uptake by your gallbladder for necessary bile synthesis. In this way, arrowroot can help optimize cholesterol levels.
Healthy weight — Compared to potatoes and other starches, arrowroot provides fiber and other nutrients, and there’s less chance of between-meal hunger.
Metabolism — Vitamin B in arrowroot optimizes your enzyme function and regulates your metabolic processes, such as your circadian rhythm and glucose oxidation.
Growth, development — Arrowroot contains more protein than other root vegetables and starches. Plant protein, arguably one of the most essential nutrients, optimizes healthy growth and development and it’s easier to digest.
Birth defect prevention — Folate (vitamin B9) is a B vitamin amply provided in arrowroot, providing 84 percent of the folate needed in one day in 100 grams (128 grams equals 1 cup). A woman who ingests vitamin B9 during pregnancy help prevents neural tube defects in their unborn children.
Heart health — High amounts of potassium in arrowroot help soften your blood vessels and arteries, benefiting several areas of your body, including helping to prevent heart attacks, high blood pressure, and strokes, and promoting oxygen flow to your brain to stimulate brain health.
Multiple accounts associate arrowroot with its effectiveness as a poultice packed on poison-dart wounds, septic sores, scorpion bites, gangrene, and even smallpox.
The same healing principles may be in play for your hair and skin. Applied in place of talcum powders or chemically laced moisturizing creams, arrowroot is recognized as an herbal treatment to make your skin softer and smoother, and oil absorbent.
Arrowroot flour has been known to contribute to many medicines and health-related substances because of its moisture-absorbing properties. Arrowroot is anti-inflammatory and also can work as an antiseptic, making it perfect for irritated areas such as burns, rashes, and sores. In some countries, it is even used with water as a paste to apply to open wounds.
Arrowroot powder is also useful as a deodorant ingredient. Just blend 3 tablespoons each of arrowroot powder, baking soda, and coconut oil and add a few drops of your favorite essential oil or a pinch of clove powder. You may never touch potentially toxic antiperspirant again.