Health Benefits of Jicama, Uses And Its Side Effects

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.

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 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.

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.

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 has proven anti-homocysteine properties and helps to lower the level of amino acids. Homocysteine is one amino acid that is responsible for causing heart and renal diseases. By lowering levels of homocysteine, jicama thus helps to lower risks of cardiovascular diseases.

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 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 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.

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.