Yucca Root

I was first introduced to yucca root as a part of the glider diet by some of the UK glider owners. I now use powdered yucca root in my staple mix and/or serving it raw as part of my veggie mix.

Yucca root is thought to be a powerful antioxidant that can lower cholesterol and improve joint health and colon health.

Mostly, I use it because gliders like it.

More info on yucca root:
http://www.ehow.com/list_6385175_health-benefits-yucca-root.html
http://www.livestrong.com/article/158692-yucca-root-health-benefits/

I feed yucca root often and my gliders absolutely love it.

Where do you buy it?

I get mine at the grocery store. You can typically find it in the produce section where they have the organic and "exotic" items.

Another thing I'll have to try!

How do you feed the yucca root? Do you just chop it up and give it to them or what?

Yucca root has a waxy outer layer on it so I use a carrot peeler to take off the skin over the part I want to use, then cut it. I just put some tinfoil over the cut end of what's left, put it in a plastic bag and in the fridge.

Thank you! I'll have to run to the grocery store this week and see if I can find some.

Can you take a photo of this root please. I have seem it I think in my store but it looks odd and I am chicken to feed it.

I think I need some root in my diet if it helps with joint pain.

It is an big, long, brown root....and made really weird looking by the wax that they coat it in! You could also google it....

Here you go, Brenda:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassava

Thank You that is what I saw at the store.

Do it. Drink the koolaid. LOL

I know I'm a little late to this thread but I'm currently on the search for a new diet as my babies aren't eating their Original HPW anymore so I feel like I'm having to learn all over again....

Yucca is on the Toxic list for gliders....since you guys feed it and all is fine I'm going to assume it's the leaves and flowers that are the toxic part. (?)

I was looking at how to freeze yucca. Well really, I was looking to see if the texture changes for the worst. I found this: Should we be cooking this?

Note: Peeled cassava (yuca) can be stored in the refrigerator covered with water up to four days or you may freeze it for several months.

Caution: Raw yuca root (cassava) should NEVER be eaten raw. It contains Prussic acid (hydrocyanic acid), which can cause cyanide poisoning. Thoroughly cooking the root removes the acid and makes it safe to eat.

This too on Wiki:

Cassava, like other foods, also has antinutritional and toxic factors. Of particular concern are the cyanogenic glucosides of cassava (linamarin and lotaustralin). These, on hydrolysis, release hydrocyanic acid (HCN). The presence of cyanide in cassava is of concern for human and for animal consumption. The concentration of these antinutritional and unsafe glycosides varies considerably between varieties and also with climatic and cultural conditions. Selection of cassava species to be grown, therefore, is quite important. Once harvested, bitter cassava must be treated and prepared properly prior to human or animal consumption, while sweet cassava can be used after simple boiling.

I kind of remember something about this but I don't remember well.

Has anyone else fed this raw? I have fed it raw and it is readily eaten here. Now I am not sure if we should be feeding it raw??
If we have fed it raw would we see any side effects of it? Would it be immediately or over time that we would see ill effects?

Could this be something to be nervous about? I haven't fed it yet and am not going to. Now I'm too scared.

http://extoxnet.orst.edu/faqs/natural/cya.htm

Soaking: Soaking of cassava root resulted in a decrease in total cyanogen content of 13- 52% after 24 hours, 73-75% after 48 hours and 90% after 72 hours ((Agbor-Egbe and Lape Mbome, 2006; Kendirim et al., 1995).

Well, I say let's not panic over what's been done in the past.

Soak it in the future or cook it. Or skip it, whatever you feel most comfortable with. I know that in the wild, animals aren't soaking or cooking the stuff. However, I'm sure they have a tolerance built up.

Agreed.  I haven't seen any gliders dying of it, but I agree that it is better safe than sorry.
To be honest, I have not used it in raw form in about 2 years.  I use the powder form primarily, and that not even very often.

Now that you have peaked my curiosity, I'm going to reach out to the UK owners that first introduced me to this and ask a few questions about how they prepare it and what, if any, health issues they might be seeing that could be related.

Love that this type of information is shared here and that our knowledge base keeps growing.   

Me, too!  Let us know what they say.  :)

Like. Lol

Reflex. Stupid FB.

I know!  I keep wanting to "like" posts, too...lol.