Tapioca is a starch that comes from the cassava plant (Manihot esculenta). It is used to thicken foods such as puddings, noodles, bread, and others.
Tapioca starch is prepared by cooking cassava, drying it, processing it, and then cooking it again. When eaten, tapioca takes longer for the body to break down into sugar when compared to other grains or carbohydrates. This might help lower blood sugar levels after eating.
People use tapioca for prediabetes and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Don't confuse tapioca with cassava. These are not the same.
Is It Effective?
There is interest in using tapioca for a number of purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.
Is it Safe?
When taken by mouth: Tapioca is commonly consumed in foods. It is possibly safe when used in larger amounts as medicine, short-term. Side effects might include stomach pain, bloating, gas, and vomiting.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Tapioca is commonly consumed in foods. There isn't enough reliable information to know if tapioca is safe to use in larger amounts as medicine when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.
It is not known if Tapioca interacts with any medicines.
Before taking Tapioca, talk with your healthcare professional if you take any medications.
There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.
There are no known interactions with foods.
Tapioca is commonly consumed in foods. As medicine, there isn't enough reliable information to know what an appropriate dose of tapioca might be. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult a healthcare professional before using.
Tapioca pearls, cassava starch.
Information on this website is for informational use only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. While evidence-based, it is not guaranteed to be error-free and is not intended to meet any particular user’s needs or requirements or to cover all possible uses, safety concerns, interactions, outcomes, or adverse effects. Always check with your doctor or other medical professional before making healthcare decisions (including taking any medication) and do not delay or disregard seeking medical advice or treatment based on any information displayed on this website.
© TRC Healthcare 2024. All rights reserved. Use and/or distribution is permitted only pursuant to a valid license or other permission from TRC Healthcare.