Quantcast
I have heard that eating yams can... | Almanac.com

I have heard that eating yams can...

Print Friendly and PDF
I have heard that eating yams can increase fertility. Is there any research to support this?
Answer
Well, we couldn’t find confirmation of this, but we did find that Dioscoreaceae, which is the whole family of yam tubers, produces chemical compounds called saponins, which are similar to human sex hormones. These compounds are being extracted from tubers and used as the principal raw material in the manufacture of birth control pills, and are also used in fertility drugs, female hormones, cortisone, and hydrocortisone. So eating a lot of yams may enhance fertility, inhibit it, or act as a steroid. Best to consult a doctor on that one.