What are the benefits of singkamas?

Answer 1

Jicama ( Singkamas ) is a sweet, delicious tuber vegetable that belongs to the genus Pachyrhizusand family Fabaceae. It is a member of potato family and is commonly cultivated in Latin America, typically in Mexico and Central America. Also known as the Mexican potato or Mexican yam bean, jicama is as sweet as a fruit and has a light crunchy texture. It has a thin brown skin, a round, turnip-like form and tail, and smooth white flesh. Hence, at times it looks like a cross between a potato and a turnip.

Being a versatile vegetable, jicama can be either consumed in its cooked or raw form. In its raw form, it has a flavor similar to a pear or apple and has to peeled off before consuming. It also has a juicy texture and when left in open after peeling it does not get discolored or spoiled. Hence, it is often used as an accompaniment to many raw vegetable platters. Whereas when cooked, it tends to absorb flavors of the ingredients it is combined with. Therefore, it serves as an excellent complement to various stir fried dishes and recipes. After having a brief idea about jicama vegetable, let us now move on to jicama nutritional benefits and facts.

Jicama Nutritional Value

Jicama is loaded with different vitamins and minerals. In fact, it is an excellent source of vitamin C, fiber, potassium, iron, calcium and is also low in sodium. Moreover, it has no calories or fat, and so serves as an essential ingredient in many health food recipes. On an average, one cup of raw sliced jicama contains:

• Calories: 46
• Protein: 0.86 grams
• Carbohydrate: 10.6 grams
• Total Fat: 0.11 grams
• Fiber: 5.8 grams

Nutritional Benefits of Jicama

Due to its high nutritional value and low jicama calories, this vegetable offers numerous nutritional benefits, of which some are given below:

• Being low in calories and fat, jicama helps to control the cholesterol levels and reduces the risks of having any heart problems like heart attack, hypertension, etc.
• It is high in vitamin C, hence acts as a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Its anti-inflammatory properties benefit by subsiding the symptoms of asthma like wheezing especially in young children and being rich in vitamin C, it helps to cure common cold and flu.
• Deficiency of vitamin C can increase the incidence of bruising in some people. Hence, people who suffer easy bruising can overcome this problem by increasing their vitamin C intake by including jicama vegetable in their daily diet.
• Jicama also benefits by strengthening or supporting the structure of capillaries, thereby reducing the risks of having capillary fragility or damage.
• Being rich in folic acid, beta-carotene and many other vitamins, jicama is quite effective in lowering the homocysteine levels in the body. Homocysteine is an amino acid that affects the cellular metabolism and production of proteins in the body and can also increase the risks of Heart disease by damaging the lining of blood vessels. Moreover, studies show that people who eat jicama regularly, are found to have 11 percent lower homocysteine levels as compared to those who don't eat this vegetable.

To sum up, jicama basically boosts the body's immune system and helps in enhancing the overall body functioning. However, while purchasing jicama make sure you buy jicama having roots that are smooth skinned, firm and dry as the larger ones may not be as sweet. I am sure after understanding all these benefits, you will not forget to incorporate this delectable and nutritious vegetable in your daily diet.