6 Health Benefits of Jicama You Must Know
Jicama is widely used in Mexican cuisine. The benefits of jicama are due to its unusually rich nutrient content. Its nutty and sweet taste makes it very popular with consumers. You might also call this root vegetable yam beans, Mexican radishes, or Chinese potatoes. It's delicious when eaten raw or cooked. Eating this low-carb vegetable has many health benefits.
1. Reduce the risk of disease
The fiber in jicama can help manage weight and reduce the risk of inflammation, depression, and cardiovascular disease. It contains calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and iron, which are important for improving bone strength. They also act as co-factors for many enzymes used to carry out various chemical reactions in the body.
Iron maintains the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. The vitamin C in jicama is an excellent antioxidant that boosts the immune system and prevents infection and disease.
2. Reduce the risk of congenital anomalies
Folic acid plays an important role in fetal development, and jicama contains 4% of the recommended daily intake of folic acid. During pregnancy, insufficient folic acid intake may lead to congenital heart defects, obstructive urinary tract abnormalities (diseases affecting the structure of the kidneys and urinary tract), limb defects, orofacial clefts, and congenital hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (blockage of the gastric passage).
Getting enough folic acid can help reduce the risk of these congenital abnormalities. Adequate intake of folic acid in adults is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.
3. May help with diabetes management
Jicama is rich in inulin, a soluble fiber that lowers blood sugar levels after meals. Jicama also improves insulin sensitivity by inhibiting gluconeogenesis in the liver and maintaining plasma insulin levels. This may help with diabetes management.
4. May reduce the risk of cancer
Animal studies have shown that inulin has potential cancer-fighting properties that can significantly reduce the risk of colon cancer. In human cells, inulin-derived metabolites inhibit tumor cell growth and reduce other cancer risk factors. Jicama extract also contains inulin, which may have cancer-fighting properties. However, more research is needed to confirm this claim.
5. Improve bowel movements
The insoluble fiber in jicama may help regulate bowel movements and reduce the risk of related conditions such as constipation, hemorrhoids, and other gastrointestinal disorders. Dietary fiber also reduces the risk of coronary heart disease, obesity, stroke, high blood pressure and ulcers.
6. May Improve Skin and Hair Health
Jicama contains vitamin C, an antioxidant that improves skin and hair health when eaten. It prevents free radical damage, slows premature aging, reduces hair loss and promotes healthy hair growth.