What are kudzu root benefits and side effects every ethical consumer must know? Here are kudzu root pros and cons and how buying them will impact your health, the environment, animals and laborers.
Food is something we consume every day and if you’re like me, you do all the research you can to make sure you don’t hurt yourself, the planet, animals or others when shopping. As an ethical consumer myself, I am giving you all the info I’ve found on kudzu root benefits and side effects.
You are going to learn all about kudzu root benefits and side effects. This will include kudzu root benefits for your health and potential risks, kudzu root water footprint and carbon footprint, sustainability, if kudzu root is vegan or impact animals in other ways, and much more.
After learning if kudzu root is good or bad for you, the environment, animals and human rights, you will be able to make the best choices you can the next time you buy food.
This post is all about kudzu root benefits and side effects that every ethical consumer should know.
Must-Know Kudzu Root Benefits And Side Effects
Health
Kudzu root health benefits may include:
- eased menopause symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats
- regulated hormones
- reduced symptoms of PMS and menopause
- metabolic syndrome symptoms
- treat alcoholism
- lower risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer
- reduced inflammation
- muscle building
Kudzu root is…
- Alkaline 8.5 pH level once digested
- Gluten Free
- Not a common Food Allergen
★★★★★
- Easy cooking.
- Delicious results.
- Reduce your oil intake.
- Best of pressure cooking and air frying all in one pot!
- Nesting Broil Rack, 5 Quart, Stainless Steel
- We love it!
Environment
Water footprint: low, it takes 387 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of starchy roots / 46 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of starchy roots
Carbon footprint: low, 0.4 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of starchy roots, a car driving equivalent of 1 miles or 1.5 kilometers
Destruction: medium-high, kudzu root itself is relatively destructive, known as the “vine that ate the south” it is an invasive plant that quickly grows out of control, kudzu kills and overtakes anything in its path including native grasses and fully grown trees, the means of kudzu root production and its containment management or invasiveness is uncertain
Kudzu root is…
- Sustainable or destructive
Animals
Kills: none, kudzu production does not require any animals to be killed
Harms: none, kudzu production does not require any animals to be used
Indirectly killed or harmed: ecosystems and biodiversity, being invasive, kudzu kills native plants and habitats, harming insects and animals that need them, negatively effecting ecosystems and creating a loss in biodiversity
Kudzu root is…
★★★★★
- Perfect for children ages 2-8.
- Available in paperback, ebook, audio formats.
- Suitable for vegan kids and vegan families (does not include farm animals, animal food products or byproducts).
- Written + Illustrated by HEALabel's Adriane Marie.
Laborers
Health and safety: varies, overall, agriculture continues to be one of the most dangerous industries, farmworkers may be subject to dehydration, heat stroke, unprotected exposure to harmful, toxic chemicals and pesticides, unsafe machinery and clean drinking water may not always accessible
Living conditions: varies, laborers are often exploited, they may face tough working conditions including long hours in the sun and heat performing physically exhausting tasks, labor laws and rights may or may not be in place, even if worker protection exists, employer violations may go unreported, refugees and migrant workers are especially vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment, fearing consequences of job loss or deportation
Wages: varies, generally farmworkers earn meager wages, there are many cases of underpaid agricultural workers, wage theft and no overtime payment or benefits
Additionally, kudzu root…
- May have labor issues
Is kudzu root nutritious? 🥗
Kudzu root is high in isoflavones, such as daidzein, as well as isoflavone glycosides, such as daidzin and puerarin.
kudzu root is alkaline.
Is kudzu root alkaline or acidic?
Kudzu root is alkaline.
What is the pH level of kudzu root?
Kudzu root has an 8.5 pH level once digested.
When you eat food, it breaks down to an ash residue that can be neutral, acidic or alkaline. Minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, silver, copper and iron produce an alkaline ash; whereas sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine and iodine, which are in meat, coffee, dairy and alcohol, leave an acid ash.
Going alkaline easier than ever with this: Acidic and Alkaline Foods List
kudzu root is gluten free.
Is kudzu root gluten free?
Yes, kudzu root is naturally gluten free.
While celiac disease may not be as rampant as many marketing trends lead us to believe, you may have a gluten sensitivity…
Celiac and gluten sensitivity symptoms are similar and may include:
- recurring abdominal pain
- chronic diarrhea
- constipation
- tingling
- numbness in hands and feet
- chronic fatigue
- joint pain
- unexplained infertility
- low bone density (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
There are hundreds of potential symptoms, many of which are also symptoms of other conditions.
Going gluten-free easier than ever with this: Gluten and Gluten Free Foods List
kudzu root is not a common food allergen.
Is kudzu root a common food allergen?
No, kudzu root is not a common food allergen. Some people may experience allergic reactions to kudzu root but it is relatively rare by comparison.
A group of the eight major allergenic foods, AKA the Big-8, include:
Severe food allergies can be life threatening. Following ingestion of a food allergen, a person with food allergies can experience a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.
Persons may still be allergic to and have serious reactions to foods other than the eight foods identified by the law.
Be aware of common dietary restrictions and food allergens with this: The Big 8 Most Common Food Allergens List
kudzu root has a low water footprint.
Does kudzu root have a high or low water footprint?
Kudzu root has a relatively low water footprint compared to other foods.
What is the water footprint of kudzu root?
It takes 387 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram of starchy roots / 46 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of starchy roots.
Did you know that water is a finite, non-renewable resource? Once it’s gone, it’s gone!
How much water does it take to produce an apple? A serving of rice? A steak dinner?
We need to be aware of something referred to as a “water footprint”. That is, the amount of fresh water utilized in the production or supply of goods we consume. As it turns out it takes significantly more water to yield foods that come from animals than foods that come from plants. Imagine how much water a cow needs to consume to generate a piece of beef. Not only how much water a single cow drinks, rather all the water that went into producing the crops that the cow ate.
Find out how much water your food consumes with this: Water Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
kudzu root has a low carbon footprint.
Does kudzu root have a high or low carbon footprint?
Kudzu root has a relatively low carbon footprint compared to other foods.
What is the carbon footprint of kudzu root?
It takes around 0.4 kg CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of starchy roots, a car driving equivalent of 1 miles or 1.5 kilometers.
Food not only has a water footprint but also a carbon footprint, known as CO2e, which stands for carbon dioxide equivalent. Since carbon measurements are a bit more difficult to comprehend, it is common to equate CO2e to the distance which a car drives in miles or kilometers.
When calculating carbon emissions, some factors may include…
- farm equipment
- animal feed production
- hothouses (greenhouses)
- food processing
- packaging
- transport
- refrigeration
- freezing
- package waste and more
But that’s not all!
It’s best to keep the following in mind when grocery shopping:
- shopping locally reduces transportation emissions
- food without packaging reduces waste as well as the carbon footprint
- refrigerated and frozen foods increase carbon emissions
- seasonal foods reduce carbon emissions from hothouses (greenhouses)
- growing plant-based foods at home is the most environmentally sustainable method with zero carbon footprint
Find out how much carbon your food emits with this: Carbon Footprints of Foods and Ingredients List
kudzu root may or may not be sustainable.
Overall, is kudzu root eco friendly? Is kudzu root sustainable?
Kudzu root production may or may not be sustainable…
- Kudzu root itself is relatively destructive, known as the “vine that ate the south”
- It is an invasive plant that quickly grows out of control
- Kudzu kills and overtakes anything in its path including native grasses and fully grown trees
- The means of kudzu root production and its containment management or invasiveness is uncertain
kudzu root is vegan.
Is kudzu root vegan?
Yes, kudzu root is vegan. Kudzu root is a medicinal root and not an animal product or byproduct, therefore making it a vegan food.
Animals of factory farming are suffering. They live in horrific conditions that often include confinement, physical abuse and unnatural environments…so much so that they need to receive antibiotics to keep from getting ill or spreading disease. Growth hormones allow all kinds of animals to become fatter faster and live short lives.
Because we cannot see for ourselves how these animals live and what they endure does not mean it isn’t happening. The meat, poultry and dairy industries do everything they can to distance us from knowing how our food comes to be in order to keep us in the dark about what we support each time we buy animal derived products and byproducts.
Go vegan for animals!
It’s the best way to help animals and it’s not as difficult as you may think. Speak for animals with your actions, for they cannot speak at all.
Going vegan is easier than ever, at a glance with this: Vegan and Non-Vegan Foods List
kudzu root is a product that may or may not have labor issues.
Is kudzu root a product with laborer concerns?
At this time there have been no major concerns with kudzu root production but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening!
It’s important to stay aware of human rights concerns and worker exploitation that may come with specific brands.
Did you know the single largest employer in the world is agriculture? The labor involved behind each and every product cannot go unrecognized.
Some known problems include workplace health and safety, child labor, gender inequality, inadequate pay, wage theft and exploitation. Workers can even experience harassment, humiliation and violence and unfair employers often fail to provide laborers with access to shade, drinking water, restrooms and breaks.
Such mistreatment is like modern day slavery. Workers are often afraid to report issues because they fear it will result in losing their jobs or deportation.
Fair trade organizations fight to ensure better social, environmental and economic standards.
We can improve people’s lives with foods we eat every day simply by buying products that are certified fair trade.
Sources:
Kudzu Inspection Instructions | Agricultural Marketing Service
Kudzu root: traditional uses and potential medicinal benefits in …
