Cycas revoluta Thunb is inherent to southern Japanese islands of Ryukyu, Kyushu, Satsuma and Mitsuhama. It is distributed in colonies on steep to precipitous stony sites on hillsides. Sago Palm is a slow growing cycad forming a crown of leaves about 50-150 cm long on stem which is usually short. The older specimens develop a stem which is about 200 mm across and upto 6 meters tall. It has arborescent trunk 1–8 m high and 35–95 cm diameter with numerous suckers arising the base.  Leaves are semi-glossy, deep green 0.7–1.4(−1.8) m × 20–25(−28) cm. Leaflets are 60-150 pairs and straight to subfalcate, 10–20 cm × 4–7 mm, leathery. Leaflets are 60-150 pairs and horizontally inserted at 45° above rachis. It is not glaucous when mature, straight to subfalcate and 10–20 cm × 4–7 mm. Seeds are orange to red. Seeds are orange to red, obovoid or ellipsoid, compressed and 4–5 × 2.5–3.5 cm.

Health Benefits of Sago Palm

1. Weight gain

Sago is an inexpensive way to gain weight. 100 grams of serving provides 350 calories. It’s starchy substance which can be made into calorie dense puddings and shakes and offers energy to function normally and regain weight.

2. Healthy Blood Pressure

Sago has small amount of potassium which helps to maintain healthy blood pressure. Potassium acts as a vasodilator which helps to relax tension in blood vessels. It lowers blood pressure and reduces overall strain on cardiovascular system.

3. Digestive health

Sago is helpful for digestive issues and inflammation in stomach. The fiber content speed up digestive process and helps to rebalance the bacterial environment in the gut.

4. Offers energy

Calories are the main source of energy for human beings which offer power for all processes. It helps to keep energy levels and regulated over course of the day.

5. Bone mineral density

It has small content of iron, copper and calcium. It helps in creation of bone tissues that strengthen bone mineral density, prevent onset of osteoporosis and prevent inflammation throughout the body.

6. Assist muscle growth

It has some compounds which assist speed recovery of muscle. The daily intake of sago helps the muscles to work for longer and fasten repair as well as growth.

7. Neural Tube Defects

The moderate amounts of folic acid help to prevent the occurrence of neural tube defects in infants. The deficiency of this vitamin causes serious effects on pregnancy as well as new born. So adequate amount of folic acid is essential.

8. Nerve health

Sago helps to promote the nervous system functions. Nervous system requires electrolytes to be balanced to effectively communicate messages from the brain to every part of the body including muscles.

9. Promotes circulation

Sago has iron which is associated to red blood cells production in the body as well as circulation. It improves red blood cells, it promotes blood flower to extremities in the body that promotes healing and repair and boost energy levels.

Traditional uses

• It is used for treating rheumatism.
• In China, fruit is used to inhibit growth of tumors and leaves are used to treat cancer and hepatoma.
• Seeds and stems are used for treating high blood pressure, rheumatism, headaches, bone pain and congestion.
• The whole plant is used for indigestion, paralysis and snakebites in Bangladesh.
• It is used for painful urination in Assam.

Culinary uses

• Seeds are consumed raw or cooked.
• Dried seeds are grounded into powder and mixed with brown rice and fermented into date miso or sotetsu miso.

Precautions

• The daily intake of plant causes severe health problems and even death.
• The raw fruit causes headache, severe gastro-intestinal irritation such as nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting.
• Coma, liver damage and death are very few severe cases.

Other facts

• It is a slow growing plant which takes 50 years to attain full height.
• The plant produce large, cone like structures after 15 years of growth.
• The specimen of sago palm can live for 100 years.

References:

https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=183258#null

https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Cycas+revoluta

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycas_revoluta

http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Cycas+revoluta

http://www.stuartxchange.org/Oliba.html

https://www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/poisonous-plant-cycas-revoluta/

https://dengarden.com/landscaping/sago-palm-cycas-revoluta

https://ezinearticles.com/?Information-and-Facts-on-the-Sago-Palms&id=4774814

https://www.organicfacts.net/sago.html

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