Cassava appears to have originated in Brazil and Paraguay, but has spread throughout tropical areas of South and Central America long before the arrival of Columbus. It is now one of the most important food crops in tropical countries throughout the world. It ranks as the 6th most important food crop worldwide, even though in western countries it is little known or used. Cassava, also known as yucca or manioc, is the third largest source of carbohydrates in the world and is a staple food for more than 500 million people. Among crop plants, the cassava plant provides the highest yield of food energy per cultivated area per day, next to sugarcane. Cassava root is very rich in starch and contains significant amounts of calcium, dietary fibre, iron, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin b6 and vitamin C. Dietary fibre has been associated with lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases, colon cancer, and helping control diabetes.