From: https://www.diseasewiki.com
What is the difference between hair yam and vegetable yam, and how to pick them?
Yam is a food that is highly recommended by people because of its high nutritional value and significant effect of nourishing the body. After eating yam, it can help with the lubrication of intestines and defecation, so yam is one of the more popular ingredients in daily life. There are many types of yam, mainly hair yam and vegetable yam. Let’s take a look at the difference between hair yam and vegetable yam, and how to pick them.
Distinguish from the nutritional and medicinal value: The difference between iron rod yam and vegetable yam: Iron rod yam contains saponins, mucilage, choline, yam alkaloids, starch, glycoproteins, free amino acids, polyphenol oxidase, vitamin C, iodine, 16 kinds of amino acids, as well as selenium, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, calcium and many other trace elements. It has the effects of invigorating the spleen, nourishing the lung, consolidating the kidney, benefiting the brain, nourishing the essence and beautifying the face, anti-aging, anti-tumor, anti-fatigue, anti-harmful substance stimulation, regulating metabolism, enhancing immune function, promoting growth, regulating endocrine, regulating cardiovascular and respiratory function, exciting the blood system, and regulating the nervous system. The nutritional and medicinal value of vegetable yam is much lower than that of iron rod yam, and it is generally used for cooking.
How to choose:
1. First, weigh it. Among yams of the same size, the heavier one is better.
2. Next, look at the roots. For yams of the same variety, the more roots, the better. Yams with more roots have a more floury texture, contain more yam polysaccharides, and are more nutritious.
3. Finally, look at the cross-section. The flesh of the yam’s cross-section should be snow white, indicating that it is fresh. Do not buy yam that is yellow like rust.
Attention: Do not buy yam with abnormal spots on the surface, as it may have been infected with diseases. Also, pay attention to the yam’s cross-section, which should have a sticky substance and the skin should not be damaged. Yam is afraid of cold and heat, so when buying yam in winter, you can hold it in your hand for about 10 minutes. If the yam sweats, it means it has been frozen. When you break it open, the yam that has been frozen will have its cross-section sticky substance melt into water, with a hard core and red flesh, indicating poor quality.
