Is Cassava Good for Weight Loss? The Facts

Is cassava good for weight loss? We make no weight loss claims for cassava or cassava flour. Here are the plain facts about what is in it, so you can decide with your doctor or dietitian.

What is in cassava

Per 100 grams of raw cassava root, USDA FoodData Central (record 169985) lists:

• Calories: 160
• Carbohydrate: 38.1 grams
• Fiber: 1.8 grams
• Protein: 1.36 grams
• Fat: 0.28 grams

In short, cassava is a starchy root. Most of its energy comes from carbohydrate.

Cassava flour vs other flours

Cassava flour is made from the whole peeled root, dried and ground. It has no gluten, which is why people who avoid gluten often bake with it. Read cassava flour vs wheat flour.

Whether any flour fits a weight loss plan depends on the plan and on how much you eat. That is a question for your doctor or a registered dietitian.

Never eat raw cassava

Raw cassava root contains natural compounds that proper processing removes. A 2009 review in Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety reports that making cassava into flour by crushing and sun drying removes 96 to 99 percent of them. Buy cassava flour from a seller you trust.

Ways to cook with cassava flour

• Baking: pancakes, flatbreads and tortillas. See how to cook with cassava flour.
• Thickening: soups and sauces.
• Swallow: stirred into hot water, the way many West African homes do.

Questions people ask

Is cassava flour fattening? No single food decides your weight on its own. Ask your doctor or a dietitian about your diet as a whole.

Is cassava high in carbs? Yes. Raw cassava root is about 38 percent carbohydrate by weight, according to USDA data.

Which flour is best for weight loss? We make no weight loss claims for any flour. Ask a registered dietitian.

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