Why does digestive discomfort from jicama's inulin usually happen relatively quickly after eating it?
Answer
Inulin is highly fermentable, creating a high immediate digestive load.
The speed at which digestive issues like cramping or bloating manifest after eating jicama is directly linked to the nature of its primary fermentable fiber, inulin. Inulin is characterized as being highly fermentable. This characteristic leads to a high immediate digestive load once it reaches the large intestine, resulting in a rapid onset of fermentation by gut flora and subsequent gas production. This contrasts sharply with slow-digesting structural fibers, such as those found in celery stalks, where discomfort might be delayed because the fermentation process occurs gradually over a longer duration.

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