What is yams used for?

Answer 1

they can be:

boiled plain: White or yellow yams are peeled, sliced up, usually into pieces about 3 centimeters, and boiled in water with salt

fried: White or yellow yams are cut up into long thin squares and fried in vegetable oil or palm oil

asaro: White or yellow yams are peeled, sliced, and diced into small cubes, then cooked with ground tomatoes, peppers, sometimes meat, other spices, and comes out reddish in color.

ikokore: It is similar to asaro but made with a different type of yam called 'water yam' that is softer in texture, and when cooked, usually comes out more brownish in color.

iyan (pounded yam): The yams are peeled, and ground up on a mortar. Then this 'powder' is placed into boiling water until it has a thick smooth structure. Nowadays, you can bypass the grounding stage by buying the 'pounded yam flour', and putting this in boiling water to make something which is close enough for some people, but not for others.

amala: dish made from yams, but first, the yams are ground and dried to form a powder. This powder is then put into boiling water, and stirred/beaten until it has a thick smooth structure. The cooked product ends up being very dark brown in color.

Answer 2

• Wild yam has been used as a form of traditional herbal Chinese medicine for a long time. It is mainly used for the proper functioning of the renal and the female endocrine system. For instance, its root has been traditionally given to lactating women. However, there is no clear evidence to support this theory and studies are still going on to establish a connection between diosgenins (a chemical substance found in yam) and the female endocrine function.
• Wild yam also helps decrease water retention and alleviates nausea during pregnancy.
• Yams have high levels of Vitamin B6, which is a popular supplement for women suffering from depression due to premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Regular intake of Vitamin B6 is also beneficial against a number heart conditions and stroke, as they help in the breakdown of a chemical substance called homocysteine. High levels of this substance cause direct damage to the walls of the blood vessels, leading to a number of health problems.
• The rate of conversion of the complex carbohydrates and fiber, present in yam, into sugar is very slow and their absorption rate into the blood stream is also very slow. Thus, they help maintain the blood sugar level. In addition, due to their high fiber content, yams help control the body weight, by the uniform distribution of weight without transferring extra weight to the hip area or the waistline.
• Yams are rich in manganese, which is an essential factor for the metabolism of carbohydrate and antioxidant defenses. It is also a co-factor in a number of enzymes that are related to the production of energy.
• Mexican wild yam is a very effective antispasmodic and is used in conditions like menstrual cramps, pain, improper circulation, neuralgia, nerve tension, muscle tension, abdominal and intestinal cramps and even in inflammatory stages of RA.
• Yam supplies elements that are important for optimal glandular function and benefits the respiratory, urinary and nervous systems.
• Another positive trait of yam is that it helps control high blood pressure or hypertension. This is because of the fact that yams are a good source of potassium, which helps maintain the blood pressure level.
• Yams also aid the process of digestion, by dilating vessels and stimulating bile flow.

Answer 3

Mostly for us, Yams are used for a Thanksgiving food but, in other parts of the world, Yams are used for different reasons. The Native Americans used yams for medical reasons.

Answer 4

In yams, Y is a consonant.