Jicama is one vegetable that you would love to include in your diet. And it is more so because it offers a whole lot of health benefits. Jicama also known as Singkamas, try to include in your diet to manage your weight , improves your digestion. It helps in preventing various types of cancer, and diabetes problem and also takes care of your bones. In addition to all these, it also helps to regulate blood circulation, lowers blood pressure and is even good for your brain.
Benefits of jicama
Jicama offers several health benefits. Some of them are:
- It helps to improve the functioning of the heart
- It helps in the digestion process
- It keeps a check on chronic diseases
- It helps in losing the excessive weight
- It provides important nutrients to the body
Nutritional Value of Jicama
Jicama is low in calories but high in a few vital nutrients. It provides one quarter of our body’s daily fiber requirement. It is also a very source of Vitamin C which protects our body against various diseases. It contains healthy amounts of potassium which is responsible for keeping our heart in good shape.
In addition, jicama contains vitamins like folates, riboflavin, pyridoxine, pantothenic acid, thiamine and minerals like copper, manganese, magnesium and iron. However, like potatoes, jicama is rich in carbohydrates.
Nutritional facts Per 100 Grams
38
Calories
0.1 g
Total Fat
4 mg
Sodium
150 mg
Potassium
9 g
Total Carbohydrate
0.7 g
Protein
Vitamins and Minerals
Health Benefits of Jicama
To know how eating singkamas can be helpful for you, mentioned below are the best health benefits of eating Jicama. You can make various dishes from it, even you can add in your salad. You already check out jicama nutrition facts and benefits which is good for pregnent woman also. You can use jicama root or you can make jucie from it.
Jicama helps the formation of good bacteria
The fiber that is present in jicama often contains oligofructose inunlin. This fiber has zero calories and cannot be easily metabolized in our body. Inulin helps the formation of good bacteria and thus helps to maintain a balanced immunity and a healthy colon.
Jicama good for digestion
The high levels of dietary fiber in jicama helps to add bulk to stool and facilitates its smooth movement through the digestive tract and thus prevents constipation. Moreover, it contains oligofructose inulin which is a sweet, inert carbohydrate that does not break down into simple sugars. This allows people with diabetes to have sweetfood without worrying about their blood sugar levels. People who are facing gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes also consume Jicama.
Jicama regulates blood pressure
Jicama is a good source of potassium which is a good vasodilator. So it helps to regulate blood pressure by reducing the tension on blood vessels and arteries, and thereby lowers stress on the entire cardiovascular system. Potassium present in Jicama also helps to maintain fluid balance in our body in opposition to sodium.
Jicama good for your brain
Vitamin B6, present in jicama, is a nutrient that helps to increase cognitive abilities and brain functionalities. Vitamin B6 also helps to break down all the body proteins into other proteins and amino acids that helps to improve the metabolic processes and functioning of various organs. Thus incorporating jicama in your diet can help to boost the functioning of your brain.
Jicama health benefits for weight loss
It is important for people trying to lose weight to incorporate food which is low in calories in their diet for that you can add jicama recipes in your weight loss plan. Jicama is low in calories but rich in nutrients. It also contains a healthy content of dietary fiber that fills you up and prevents you from overeating and, hence, helps you to lose weight.
Jicama reduces the risk of cardiovascular problems
Jicama has proven anti-hom*ocysteine properties and helps to lower the level of amino acids. hom*ocysteine is one amino acid that is responsible for causing heart and renal diseases. By lowering levels of hom*ocysteine, jicama thus helps to lower risks of cardiovascular diseases.
Jicama improve blood circulation
Copper and iron, two important elements of red blood cells, are found in jicama. They help to maintain the proper circulation of blood through the blood vessels. Jicama aids the formation of red blood cells and thus helps to prevent anemia and stimulates proper functioning of body organs.
Jicama improves your mood
Jicama has Vitamin-B6 that has a direct effect on the transmitters responsible for controlling our mood. They help in preventing depression, anxiety, fatigue and pain. Thus consuming jicama helps to meet our bodily requirement of Vitamin B6 and thus elevates our mood.
Jicama keeps your bones healthy
Jicama is rich in minerals like manganese, magnesium, iron and copper which help to improve our bone density. Thus consumption of jicama helps to keep our bones strong and even prevents any damage to them.
Jicama strengthens your immune system
Vitamin C, which stimulates the production of white blood cells in our bodies, is present in good quantities in jicama. Vitamin C has antioxidant properties that enable it to fight against the disease causing free radicals in our bodies and prevent the onset of cancer and heart diseases. Vitamin C helps to prevent bacterial, viral, pathogenic and fungal diseases and hence helps to boost body immunity.
Uses of Jicama
Jicama is a versatile vegetable and is great to use in stir-fries, salads, slaw, soups and in dishes with other vegetables and fruits like oranges, apples, carrots and onions. You can consume it in a variety of ways. You can chop it, cube it, slice it into fine sticks, eat it raw or even cook it.
Side-Effects & Allergies of Jicama
Other than the roots, other parts of the jicama plant like leaves, vines and flowers contain a toxic substance called rotenone. So it is advisable not to consume anything other than the roots. Jicama contains huge fiber content and so excessive consumption leads to digestive disorders like constipation and stomach ache. It is not advisable for people to eat the outer peels of jicama as it contains a highly toxic compound.
Cultivation of Jicama
Jicama is native to Mexico and South America and this legume has been consumed across Central America for centuries. Spaniards brought jicama from Mexico to the Philippines and from there it spread to China and other parts of South East Asia. It has been cultivated and consumed for dietary and medicinal requirements for a long time.
Jicama plant requires 6-8 months of frost free growth time and so it is mainly cultivated in warm weather. Thus Mexico and its surrounding areas are perfect for cultivating this vegetable. The seeds of this plant grow best in an area that receives minimum 6-8 hours of sunlight per day. Well-drained and alkaline soil is required for this plant.
