Did you know that jicama is a legume that can be consumed either raw or cooked and is a good source of starch? And how aware are you of the fact that jicama comes with a lot of other benefits as well?

This post talks about jicama and the many benefits it offers. Would you like to know more? Keep reading!

Jicama – An Overview:

Jicama is a crispy, sweet, edible tuber that looks like a turnip in appearance, but in reality is different from it. Jicama is native to Mexico and is widely used in Mexican cuisine. It is also called as Mexican yam or Mexican turnip. It belongs to the legume family and only the root of this plant is edible, and all the other parts of this plant, including the skin, are poisonous.

Following are the health benefits of jicama that show you why you should include it in your diet:

1. Healthy Immune System:

A strong immune system prevents many health problems and keeps your body healthy. Jicama has a good source of Vitamin C that helps to improve body immunity. Jicama also contains high anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that are helpful for relieving asthma and breathlessness.

2. Lowers Blood Cholesterol Levels:

Jicama is an excellent source of fiber and has very high water content – around 80 to 90 percent. It is proven that people who eat more fiber have a lower risk of high blood cholesterol levels. The content of water and soluble fiber in jicama helps to reduce blood cholesterol. Along with that, it is also high in vitamin C, which acts as an anti-oxidant and helps in reducing blood cholesterol levels. It has very low sodium levels, thus supporting heart health.

3. Aids Weight Loss:

Jicama is a tuber that has very low calories (about 35 calories per 100 grams) and a high fiber content. So, it is considered to be an excellent source for people who want to reduce weight.

4. Natural Phytoestrogens:

Women who are in the stage of menopause will start getting wrinkles, and their skin will tend to age. This is because of the amount of phytoestrogens that gets reduced. Phytoestrogens are necessary for women when they get into the menopause stage, where estrogen is not produced in the body. Jicama contains plant based estrogen that balances hormones and will make the older women more fresh and attractive.

5. Good For Diabetes Mellitus:

Jicama contains dietary fiber – oligofructose inulin, which is a soluble dietary fiber. The dietary fiber present in jicama helps to control diabetes as it gets absorbed slowly. Jicama also has a very low glycemic index, and so it is great for treating diabetes.

6. Contains Vital Nutrients:

Jicama contains important vitamins like folates, riboflavin, pantothenic acids, and thiamine. It also has a good amount of potassium that helps to maintain heart health. It also contains minerals like magnesium, copper, iron, and manganese.

7. Fiber Content:

Jicama has high fiber content – oligofructose inulin, which enhances the absorption of calcium from food, thus strengthening the bones.

8. Skin Health:

Regular consumption of jicama is believed to improve skin health, improve skin tone, help heal wounds easily, and make skin healthy and fresh.

9. Alkaline Properties:

Jicama has alkaline properties that help to cool or absorb stomach acid quickly. It is also believed that eating jicama as such without adding any salt or sauce cures stomach acid quickly.

10. Nose Bleeding:

Weak capillaries cause nose bleeding. Jicama contains a high quantity of vitamin C that strengthens capillaries and lowers the incidents of nose bleeding. Deficiency of vitamin C can cause bruising and swelling problems in some people, and since jicama contains a good amount of vitamin C, it helps to reduce deficiency problems.

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by Chetana via STYLECRAZE