Jicama: A Healthy and Nutritious Root

Overview

What is Jicama?

Jicama is a delicious root vegetable from the Fabaceae (pea family). The edible root is round-shaped with a white interior and thick brown skin. The white crispy fleshy part is sweet, juicy with a nutty aroma and has the same texture as apple or pear. The plant is an herbaceous creeper (climber), producing beans like lima beans but is inedible and toxic. Jicama is a versatile vegetable that goes well with various dishes, and one can enjoy it in raw and cooked form.

This article will glimpse its nutrition, potential health benefits, risks, safety, and tips to include in the diet.

Here are some quick facts about Jicama

• Jicama is indigenous to Mexico, Central, and South America, but now it is grown in some parts of Asia and the Philippines too
• The other common names of Jicama are yam bean, Mexican turnip, Chinese potato, Mexican potato, and Mexican water chest
• Jicama needs at least nine months of frost-free climate for a good size tuber harvest.
• With proper support, the Jicama vine can grow upto a height of 16 to 20 feet
• The commercially grown species of Jicama is Pachyrhizus erosus ¹Overview| Researched based study from Sciencedirect.com

Types

Types of Jicama

Jicama has two main cultivated varieties:

Jicama de leche

• It has elongated roots and milky white juices and is, to some extent, less tasty.

Jicama de agua

• It is the most commonly grown variety in the United States and the most frequently seen variety in North American markets ¹Types| Researched based study from Sciencedirect.com

Nutrition

Nutrition in Jicama

130 grams of raw Jicama consist of the following nutrients:

• Calories-49
• Fat- 0.1gm (gram)
• Fiber- 6.4 gm
• Protein-1 gm
• Carbohydrate-12 gm
• Iron-4% of RDI (recommended daily intake)
• Vitamin C-44% of RDI
• Folate-4% of RDI
• Potassium-6% of RDI
• Manganese-4% of RDI
• Magnesium-4% of RDI ²Nutrition| Researched based study from Usda.gov

Recommended daily intake is the regular daily intake of a particular nutrient in a food serving to meet the nutrient necessity of an individual.

Jicama is low in calories but high in fiber, making it a good alternative for people who opt for a low-calorie diet.

Other vitamins and minerals in Jicama

• Vitamin E
• Vitamin B6
• Thiamine
• Riboflavin
• Pantothenic acid
• Calcium
• Phosphorus
• Copper
• Zinc²Nutrition| Researched based study from Usda.gov

Bioactives in Jicama

Beta-carotene

• Beta-carotene is the coloring pigment found in plants
• It acts as an antioxidant, reduces the risk of infection, and promotes eye health.

Flavonoids

• Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds in plants and vegetables
• It has antioxidant properties ³Nutrition| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Properties

Properties of Jicama

Jicama has the following properties:

• Antioxidant properties
• Anti-diabetic properties
• Anti-carcinogenic properties
• Anti-inflammatory properties
• Heart protective properties
• Anti-inflammatory properties
• Anti-fungal properties ³Properties| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Health Benefits

Health benefits of Jicama

Jicama has the following health benefits:

• Rich in antioxidants
• Improves digestion
• Reduces the risk of cancer
• Helps with weight loss
• Regulates the blood sugar
• Strengthens the bone health
• Improves the brain health

Rich in antioxidants

• Nutrients in Jicama help prevent cell damage by nullifying the body’s free radicals.
• It decreases the possibility of chronic diseases such as cardiac diseases and diabetes ⁴Benefits| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Enhances the heart health

• Nutrients in Jicama lower the total cholesterol in the body
• It decreases blood pressure and reduces the risk of stroke
• It helps blood circulation and reduces the risk of blood clots ⁵Benefits| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Improves digestion

• Dietary fiber viz; inulin in Jicama promotes the growth of useful bacteria.
• It improves the bulk of the stool and helps in easy movement through the gut.
• It regularizes the bowel movement ⁶Benefits| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Reduces the risk of cancer

• Nutrients in Jicama prevent the abnormal cell growth
• In animal studies, it improved the immune response and reduced the risk of colon cancer ⁷Benefits| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Helps with weight loss

• Nutrients in Jicama keep the stomach full
• It reduces hunger and decreases calorie intake in subsequent meals ⁸Benefits| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Regulates the blood sugar

• Nutrients in Jicama increase the insulin sensitivity
• In animal studies, it prevented the spikes in blood glucose levels after meals ⁹Benefits| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

However, further research is warranted to prove its effect on humans

Strengthens the bone health

• Nutrients in Jicama prevents the bone loss
• It reduces the risk of bone breakage¹⁰Benefits| Researched based study from Sciencedirect.com

Improves the brain health

• Nutrients in Jicama improve the mental abilities
• It reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease ¹¹Benefits| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Side effects

Side effects of Jicama

Most people can tolerate Jicama flesh well when taken in food amounts. However, some people might encounter the following side effects:

• Intense itching
• Hives
• Skin reddening
• Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, throat and tongue
• Trouble breathing
• Diarrhea or constipation (when eaten in massive amounts)
• Abdominal discomfort ¹²Side effects| Researched based study from Nlm.nih.gov

Other risk of Jicama

• The flesh of Jicama is safe for human consumption, while other parts, such as leaves, stems, seeds, and Jicama’s skin, are poisonous and unsafe for animal and human consumption.
• Jicama skin, seeds, and stems contain a natural toxic compound called rotenone. Rotenone is utilized as an insecticide to kill fish.

Selection

Buying & Selection of Jicama

One can buy Jicama from supermarkets and grocery stores throughout the year, but it is finest between October to March.

Selection

• Select dry, firm Jicama with smooth, blemish-free outer skin. Avoid Jicama, which is soft to the touch and has bruises. Choose Jicama that is medium size as larger ones have less taste.

Tips

Tips to include Jicama in the diet

• Add sliced cubes of Jicama to vegetable salad for additional munch
• Add Jicama to tropical fruit salad along with mango, papaya, and pineapple
• Add to other vegetables of your choice and have it as a side dish
• Add to salsa with black beans and corn or use it in spring roll stuffing and have it as evening snacks
• Fry thick slices of Jicama in sesame oil and enjoy it as a snack
• Sprinkle lemon juices, chili powder, salt, and pepper on raw pieces of Jicama and relish the taste.
• Jicama also tastes excellent when pickled

Storage

Storage of Jicama

• Store unpeeled whole Jicama in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for around 14 days or in a cool dark place for about seven days
• Store peeled sliced Jicama in water in an airtight container in freeze for up to 3 days.

Takeaway

Key Takeaways

• Jicama is a nutritious, delicious root vegetable with numerous health benefits. It is low in calories but high in vitamins, fiber, and minerals.
• Only the Jicama root is edible while the other parts, viz; bean and flowers are inedible and toxic.
• One can eat Jicama in cooked or raw form and easily add it to various dishes. Jicama can be a superb addition to a healthy balanced diet.