What Is Jicama?
Scientific name – Pachyrhizus erosus
Health benefits of Jicama include lowering cholesterol levels, faster digestion, brighter skin, less frequent constipation and maintaining blood sugar. It has a myriad of other benefits too, such as calming the nerves and muscles, maintaining a healthy metabolism, preventing cancer, strengthening the immune system and promoting a healthy pregnancy.
The deficiency of nutrition is found in almost every person these days. The fast-paced world we live in makes us so busy that we skip our meals to get other things done. While we may be giving our everything to our jobs, we are putting our health at great risk.
A healthy life requires proper exercise and proper diet. People walk miles without realizing that they are hungry, and even when they do feel hungry, they turn to unhealthy fast food. Most of the foods consumed nowadays do not contribute to the natural growth of the body, it simply sustains it. Eating healthy food is a need these days and one of the healthiest food available easily in the market is Jicama.
Jicama is grown largely in China where it is eaten both raw and cooked. Jicama is beans made of yam. It is very rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Potassium and also contains folate.
11 Health Benefits of Jicama
Below are some surprising health benefits you probably didn’t know about!
#1 Lowers Cholesterol Levels
Jicama is known to be beneficial towards lowering an unhealthy rise in cholesterol levels. The fibers that are present inside jicama help in preventing the intestines from absorbing more cholesterol than is needed, thereby reducing our everyday intake of it. The excess cholesterol is therefore driven out through urine.
#2 Promotes Good Digestion
Insulin is widely known to aid digestive problems faced by anyone. Jicama contains a good amount of insulin and fiber which helps in combating any digestive problems you face. Fiber helps in absorbing the remaining nutrients in the intestines so the body can benefit from them and the insulin helps heal the stomach against any kind of inflammation.
#3 Brightens skin
As stated in the ancient Chinese traditions, Jicama has been used for skin remedies for very long. Jicama is high in Vitamin C content which helps in rejuvenation of the body.
Other than simply consuming it, you can also mix jicama with a little turmeric to make a paste and apply it on your scars or other marks on your body. You will be surprised to see its results in due time.
#4 Prevents Constipation
One of the most difficult times is when you are going through constipation and the recurrent surge of pain becomes unbearable. Since Jicama is quite useful in preventing indigestion, it also helps with constipation. Constipation happens because there is an unhealthy movement of food in your body, through the intestines in clusters that are not digested properly. If you consume jicama which is quite rich in fiber, you can prevent the occurrence of constipation.
#5 Strengthens Immune System
Jicama is an excellent source of Vitamin C and has healing properties for the damaged cells and tissues in your body. It can also boost immune systems. This aids your body in fighting off the harmful diseases that might spread in the body. All of it, eventually, leads to better immunity.
#6 Maintains Blood Sugar
An unstable blood sugar level can be very harmful, especially to those with diabetes. Jicama is one of the finest remedies for unstable sugar levels to avert diabetes from happening or merely reducing its effects. As stated before, jicama contains insulin which has almost no calories and can help sustain a person’s sugar needs without exceeding the required amount. The excess sugar is simply removed from the body through urine.
#7 Helps in the Prevention of Cancer
Jicama has many antioxidant properties that can benefit your body in a myriad of ways. Early research conducted recently found this Chinese vegetable to be the key ingredient in combating the free radicals that gradually lead to cancer cell formation. Jicama not only saves you from the toxins causing smaller problems both within and outside your body but also, prevents problems that in the long run can risk your life.
#8 Maintains Healthy Metabolism
Jicama has such nutritional compositions that allow it to improve and boost metabolism. Jicama includes riboflavin, folate and Vitamin B complex which help in stabilizing the stomach from any sort of aches. They also help in breaking down the nutrients into pieces that can be absorbed into the bloodstream and then release energy which is very important for your stomach.
#9 Calms Muscles and Nerves
In a challenging world that we live in today, stress is one of the biggest causes of nervous breakdowns and muscle aches. Stress negatively affects the body cells leading to poor performance in personal and professional life. One of the greatest benefits Jicama provides is the relaxing of muscles. You do not need to resort to any drugs or pills to calm yourself. All you need to do is add jicama into your daily diet to observe changes in your lifestyle.
#10 Promotes Healthy Pregnancy
Females tend to take pills for folate during pregnancy and pills like these have side effects which could be harmful to expecting mothers. A more natural way for a healthy pregnancy is to consume two jicamas every day. This will help in replenishing your daily necessity of folate, thereby helping you to move on towards the development of the fetus inside the mother. Folate present in jicama also helps in the prevention of any defects that could occur while the baby moves through its natural growth patterns.
#11 Guards against scurvy
Scurvy mostly happens to those whose bodies are deficient in Vitamin C. Some of the most evident and earliest symptoms of scurvy are sore arms, weakness, sore legs, pain in the back area. These symptoms are so severe that a person exhibiting these signs should be immediately taken to a healthcare professional for medical consultation. Consuming Jicamas in adequate amounts can help in prevention against inflammation and also prevent scurvy from occurring at all, owing to its abundance in Vitamin C. Therefore, jicama is a great cure for the symptoms of scurvy.
Bottom Line:
Amongst the many benefits mentioned above, Jicama has many other benefits that can contribute to the growth of our body. Several recipes are available online to try and include jicama in your dishes. The vegetable not only tastes good but also ensures that the daily nutritional needs are met. Nutrition is very necessary if you do wish to keep problems that hinder growth at the bay.
