What the heck is Jicama?! -

Jicama pronounced (HICK-E-MA) is a root vegetable and actually part of the legume family. It grows on vines and is native to Central America and the Caribbean!

Jicama has a texture of the cross between a turnip and an apple; it’s slightly crispy and has a pretty plain taste, taking on the flavor of anything you pair it with.

Jicama falls into the category of food called prebiotics. These fibers are important for feeding the good gut microbes in your belly, so that they are strong and fueled to perform their role in keeping your overall wellness wheel spinning!

Jicama is unique, in that it’s fiber contains inulin, which doesn’t metabolize in the body – meaning it’s not utilized as an energy source. In the intestines, inulin has a prebiotic role and promotes that “good” bacteria growth mentioned above. This helps you maintain both a healthy colon and a strong immune system, a revving metabolism and smooth sailing when we’re speaking of digestive and regularity. Due to it’s low glycemic index score, jicama is great for diabetics or those sensitive to sugar, making it a great tool for weight management.

Jicama also enhances the absorption of calcium from other foods, keeping your bones healthy and strong. It’s a great source of antioxidants and vitamin C to rid free radicals that you encounter on the daily from the environment and life’s stressors.

Jicama is profound in potassium which is crucial for you inner systems to function in sync, prevent muscles soreness and maintain a correct electrolyte balance. It’s high in B vitamins: folate, riboflavin, thiamin, as well as, the minerals magnesium, copper, iron, and manganese to aid your carbohydrate metabolism.

HOW TO JICAMA?!

Jicama goes decent as an addition to salads, yet i’ve come across a brilliant way to add jicama to your nutrition regime that has become my new favorite for more than the taste!

When consuming sugar of any source, it’s a good idea to pair it with a source of fiber to create a slow release of that sugar into the body, in turn preventing blood sugar and insulin spikes.

In Dessert in Disguise, my latest e-book full of indulgent-free dessert bowls that also double as a healthy dinner option, I’ve strategically paired jicama and other fibrous sources with the bowls that contain fruit, to allow you to enjoy nature’s candy without any sugar crashes or insulin spikes!