Taro leaves, raw
Taro leaves, raw is a vegetable, providing just 42.0 calories per 100g. It is an excellent source of Vitamin K1 and Vitamin C, providing 90% and 58% of the Daily Value respectively. This vegetable is a useful source of fiber, virtually fat-free. Vegetables provide essential vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber with relatively few calories. They are a cornerstone of virtually every dietary guideline worldwide. Our database tracks 66 nutrients for this food, plus glycemic index, insulin index, environmental footprint data.
Top Nutrients
Data for 66 of 150 tracked nutrients
Nutrient Fingerprint
How this food scores across key nutrient categories, as a percentage of the daily recommended value per 100 g. Based on USDA DRIs for adults.
Complete Nutrient Profile
Macronutrients 9
| Nutrient | Per 100g | Unit | Per Serving | % DV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water SR | 85.7 | g | — | 2% |
| Calories SR | 42.0 | kcal | — | — |
| Energy (kJ) SR | 177 | kj | — | — |
| Protein SR | 5.0 | g | — | 9% |
| Total Fat SR | 0.74 | g | — | — |
| Carbohydrate SR | 6.7 | g | — | 5% |
| Fiber SR | 3.7 | g | — | 10% |
| Total Sugars SR | 3.0 | g | — | — |
| Ash SR | 1.9 | g | — | — |
Minerals 10
| Nutrient | Per 100g | Unit | Per Serving | % DV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calcium SR | 107 | mg | — | 11% |
| Iron SR | 2.2 | mg | — | 28% |
| Magnesium SR | 45.0 | mg | — | 11% |
| Phosphorus SR | 60.0 | mg | — | 9% |
| Potassium SR | 648 | mg | — | 19% |
| Sodium SR | 3.0 | mg | — | 0% |
| Zinc SR | 0.41 | mg | — | 4% |
| Copper SR | 0.27 | mg | — | 30% |
| Manganese SR | 0.71 | mg | — | 31% |
| Selenium SR | 0.90 | µg | — | 2% |
Vitamins 24
| Nutrient | Per 100g | Unit | Per Serving | % DV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A (RAE) SR | 241 | µg | — | 27% |
| Vitamin A (IU) SR | 4,825 | IU | — | — |
| Retinol SR | 0 | µg | — | — |
| Beta-Carotene SR | 2,895 | µg | — | — |
| Alpha-Carotene SR | 0 | µg | — | — |
| Beta-Cryptoxanthin SR | 0 | µg | — | — |
| Lycopene SR | 0 | µg | — | — |
| Lutein + Zeaxanthin SR | 1,932 | µg | — | — |
| Vitamin C SR | 52.0 | mg | — | 58% |
| Vitamin D SR | 0 | µg | — | — |
| Vitamin D (IU) SR | 0 | IU | — | — |
| Vitamin E SR | 2.0 | mg | — | 14% |
| Vitamin K1 SR | 109 | µg | — | 90% |
| Thiamin (B1) SR | 0.21 | mg | — | 17% |
| Riboflavin (B2) SR | 0.46 | mg | — | 35% |
| Niacin (B3) SR | 1.5 | mg | — | 10% |
| Pantothenic Acid (B5) SR | 0.08 | mg | — | 2% |
| Vitamin B6 SR | 0.15 | mg | — | 11% |
| Folate SR | 126 | µg | — | 32% |
| Folic Acid SR | 0 | µg | — | — |
| Folate (food) SR | 126 | µg | — | — |
| Folate (DFE) SR | 126 | µg | — | — |
| Vitamin B12 SR | 0 | µg | — | — |
| Choline SR | 12.8 | mg | — | 2% |
Fatty Acids 8
| Nutrient | Per 100g | Unit | Per Serving | % DV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturated Fat SR | 0.15 | g | — | — |
| Monounsaturated Fat SR | 0.06 | g | — | — |
| Polyunsaturated Fat SR | 0.31 | g | — | — |
| Trans Fat SR | 0 | g | — | — |
| Cholesterol SR | 0 | mg | — | — |
| Omega-3 EPA SR | 0 | g | — | — |
| Omega-3 DPA SR | 0 | g | — | — |
| Omega-3 DHA SR | 0 | g | — | — |
Amino Acids 12
| Nutrient | Per 100g | Unit | Per Serving | % DV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tryptophan SR | 0.05 | g | — | — |
| Threonine SR | 0.17 | g | — | — |
| Isoleucine SR | 0.26 | g | — | — |
| Leucine SR | 0.39 | g | — | — |
| Lysine SR | 0.25 | g | — | — |
| Methionine SR | 0.08 | g | — | — |
| Cystine SR | 0.06 | g | — | — |
| Phenylalanine SR | 0.20 | g | — | — |
| Tyrosine SR | 0.18 | g | — | — |
| Valine SR | 0.26 | g | — | — |
| Arginine SR | 0.22 | g | — | — |
| Histidine SR | 0.11 | g | — | — |
Nutrient Density Score
The NRF9.3 score measures overall nutritional quality per 100 kcal. It rewards 9 nutrients to encourage (protein, fiber, vitamins A, C, E, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium) and penalizes 3 to limit (saturated fat, added sugars, sodium). Higher is better; negative scores indicate the food is high in limit nutrients relative to its beneficial content.
NRF9.3 index: Fulgoni et al. (2009), J Nutr 139(8). DVs based on FDA 2020 reference values.
Nutrient Interactions in This Food
Nutrients in this food that enhance or compete with each other during absorption.
✔ Synergies — nutrients that help each other
Vitamin C dramatically enhances non-heme iron absorption by reducing Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺ in the gut. Adding 75 mg vitamin C to a meal can increase iron absorption 3–4 fold.
Hallberg et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 1989
Vitamin A is fat-soluble and requires dietary fat for absorption. Adding fat to a meal significantly increases beta-carotene and retinol absorption.
Ribaya-Mercado et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 2007
Vitamin E is fat-soluble and absorbed alongside dietary fats via micelle formation in the small intestine. Low-fat diets reduce vitamin E absorption.
Traber, Free Radic Biol Med, 2007
Vitamin K is fat-soluble. Absorption increases significantly when consumed with dietary fat, particularly for phylloquinone (K1) from plant sources.
Gijsbers et al., Br J Nutr, 1996
Vitamin C regenerates oxidised vitamin E (tocopheroxyl radical) back to its active form, extending its antioxidant function in cell membranes.
Niki, Free Radic Biol Med, 2014
⚠ Antagonisms — nutrients that compete
Calcium inhibits both heme and non-heme iron absorption when consumed in the same meal. The effect is dose-dependent, with significant inhibition at 300+ mg calcium.
Hallberg et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 1991
Very high calcium intake can reduce magnesium absorption by competing for shared intestinal transport pathways. A calcium:magnesium ratio above 2.6:1 may impair magnesium status.
Rosanoff et al., Nutr Rev, 2012
Phytates in high-fibre foods (whole grains, legumes) bind non-heme iron and reduce its bioavailability. Soaking, sprouting, and fermentation reduce phytate content.
Hurrell & Egli, Int J Vitam Nutr Res, 2010
Oxalates (in spinach, rhubarb) and phytates (in bran) can bind calcium, reducing absorption. However, the net effect of high-fibre diets on calcium status is modest.
Weaver et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 1999
Manganese and iron share the DMT1 transporter and compete for absorption. High iron status reduces manganese absorption and vice versa.
Erikson et al., Pharmacol Ther, 2007
Amino Acid Profile
Essential amino acid composition compared to the WHO/FAO adult reference pattern. The Amino Acid Score indicates protein quality — 100 means all essential amino acid requirements are met.
✓ Complete protein — all essential amino acids meet or exceed WHO reference levels.
All Amino Acids (12)
| Amino Acid | g / 100g | mg / g protein |
|---|---|---|
| Tryptophan | 0.05 | 9.6 |
| Threonine | 0.17 | 33.5 |
| Isoleucine | 0.26 | 52.2 |
| Leucine | 0.39 | 78.7 |
| Lysine | 0.25 | 49.4 |
| Methionine | 0.08 | 15.9 |
| Cystine | 0.06 | 12.9 |
| Phenylalanine | 0.20 | 39.2 |
| Tyrosine | 0.18 | 35.7 |
| Valine | 0.26 | 51.4 |
| Arginine | 0.22 | 44.2 |
| Histidine | 0.11 | 22.9 |
Fatty Acid Profile
Breakdown of fat types per 100g. A healthy fat profile favours unsaturated fats (mono + poly) and a balanced omega-3 to omega-6 ratio.
How Cooking Changes Nutrients
Estimated percentage of each nutrient retained after cooking, based on USDA retention factors for the “Other Vegetables” food category. Values of 100% mean no loss; lower values indicate nutrients lost to heat, water, or oxidation.
Source: USDA Table of Nutrient Retention Factors, Release 6 (2007). Retention values are category-level averages — actual retention depends on cooking time, temperature, and water volume.
Glycemic & Insulin Response
The Glycemic Index (GI) measures how quickly a food raises blood sugar on a 0–100 scale. The Insulin Index (II) measures the insulin response directly, which can differ from GI — notably, dairy and high-protein foods often trigger a higher insulin response than their GI suggests. White bread = 100 for both scales.
GI data matched from: “Taro, boiled” · ●●● high confidence
Source: International Tables of Glycemic Index (Sydney University, 2021) · Holt et al. 1997; Bao et al. 2016; Bell 2014
Environmental Impact
Environmental footprint per kilogram of food produced. Data represents the global average for the “Cassava” category.
- Global averages: These figures are production-weighted averages from a meta-analysis of ~38,700 farms across 119 countries (Poore & Nemecek, 2018). Actual impact varies enormously by farming method, geography, and supply chain.
- System boundary: Cradle-to-retail only — does not include consumer transport, home cooking energy, or food waste.
- Soil carbon not included: This data does not account for soil carbon sequestration. Some argue that well-managed regenerative grazing partially offsets ruminant emissions; however, full lifecycle accounting — including methane, land-use change, and the opportunity cost of using land for grazing vs. reforestation — typically makes the net footprint of ruminant meat higher, not lower. This is especially relevant in temperate grassland regions like Ireland.
- Not gospel: This data is informational and illustrative. It is useful for understanding relative magnitudes, but should not be treated as precise measurements for any individual product or farm.
Source: Poore & Nemecek (2018), Science 360(6392). Meta-analysis of ~38,700 farms, 119 countries, 46 product categories.
Global Supply: Vegetables
Top 10 countries by per capita supply of the “Vegetables” food group (kcal/capita/day, 2023). This is food group–level data from FAO Food Balance Sheets, not specific to this individual food.
Global Supply Trend (1961–2023)
+76%Source: FAO Food Balance Sheets (2023). Supply = production + imports − exports − waste, converted to kcal/capita/day.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many calories are in Taro leaves, raw?
Taro leaves, raw contains 42.0 kcal per 100 grams, making it a low-calorie food. The energy comes from 5.0g of protein (47% of calories), 0.74g of fat (16%), and 6.7g of carbohydrates (64%). Carbohydrates are the primary energy source.
What is Taro leaves, raw most nutritious for?
The standout nutrient in Taro leaves, raw is Vitamin K1, providing 109 µg per 100g (90% of the Daily Value). It is also a notable source of Vitamin C (58% DV). Our database tracks 66 individual nutrients for this food, allowing detailed comparison across vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fatty acids.
Is Taro leaves, raw high in protein?
Taro leaves, raw contains 5.0g of protein per 100 grams. While not a high-protein food, it can contribute to daily protein needs as part of a varied diet.
How much fiber is in Taro leaves, raw?
Taro leaves, raw contains 3.7g of fiber per 100 grams — a moderate amount. This contributes to the recommended daily intake of 25-38g. Pairing with other fiber-rich foods like vegetables, legumes, or whole grains can help meet daily targets.
What is the glycemic index of Taro leaves, raw?
Taro leaves, raw has a glycemic index of 53, which is classified as low (≤55). Low-GI foods cause a slower, more gradual rise in blood sugar levels, which may be beneficial for blood sugar management. The glycemic load, which accounts for typical serving size, provides additional context for real-world blood sugar impact.
What is the insulin index of Taro leaves, raw?
Taro leaves, raw has a high insulin response (II: 64) (estimated from macronutrient composition) on the insulin index scale (white bread = 100). Foods with high insulin scores stimulate significant insulin release, which may be relevant for blood sugar management. Note that the insulin index can differ substantially from the glycemic index — dairy products and high-protein foods often have higher insulin responses than their GI would suggest.