Chayote is a type of plant that grows well in cold weather and is a very familiar dish in Vietnamese families. Chayote is very easy to prepare, the top and most parts of the fruit can be eaten, including the skin and seeds. It can be eaten fresh or cooked. When eaten fresh, chayote can be processed into smoothies or salads. In addition, chayote is also easily steamed, grilled or fried. Add it to soups, stews and casseroles to increase the nutrition of the dish.
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Is the latex of chayote squash poisonous?
Many people often think that chayote is not good for health because it has very toxic latex. But in fact, it is not as many people think. According to published research results, chayote is a fruit that contains many nutrients and chayote latex is not toxic. It is a normal fruit component, just like the latex of cucumbers.
To avoid getting the sap on your hands and causing itching, it is best to wear gloves to limit contact. After peeling, wash off the sap, doing so will make your dish tastier and also more secure.
How much chayote should I eat?
The flesh of chayote contains 94% water, 0.85% protein, 3.7% glucid, 4mg vitamin C. These nutrients have diuretic effects, regulate the cardiovascular system and have anti-inflammatory, cooling, and anti-swelling properties. Moreover, chayote also contains little energy but a lot of fiber, which is good for supporting the maintenance of a healthy weight.
Accordingly, 1 chayote provides about 39 kcal and 4 grams of fiber. Therefore, many women have chosen to make it the main dish, completely replacing fat and starch from their diet.
However, chayote is like other foods, you should only consume a maximum of about 400gr of chayote per day to be safe. If you regularly eat more than this amount, your body will face unpredictable consequences.
6 amazing health benefits of chayote
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Digestive support
Chayote helps enhance digestive function because it contains many flavonoids, plant compounds that support the digestive tract.
Research shows that foods rich in flavonoids support digestive enzymes, eliminating and excreting toxins in the digestive tract. Furthermore, foods rich in fiber can support intestinal function and maintain beneficial bacteria in the gut.
Helps lose weight
Chayote is a low-calorie fruit that is rich in fiber. The fiber contained in chayote slows down the rate of digestion and makes you feel full for a longer time. Consuming fiber can increase satiety hormones such as GLP-1 and peptide YY. Therefore, you should add chayote to your diet for better weight control.
Helps treat fatty liver
In one particular experiment, mice fed a high-fat diet and supplemented with chayote extract showed significantly reduced levels of cholesterol and fatty acids in the liver compared to mice that did not receive the extract. This result was linked to changes in the activity of enzymes that regulate fat metabolism.
Research has shown that chayote extract has the ability to fight the storage of excess fat in the liver, helping to prevent or possibly treat fatty liver disease.
Blood sugar control
The soluble fiber in chayote helps slow down the digestion and absorption of carbs, thereby reducing the sugar response after meals. At the same time, chayote also supports the process of maintaining stable blood sugar levels by enhancing the effects of insulin. Insulin is the hormone that helps regulate blood sugar, and insulin resistance occurs when the body's cells become less sensitive to insulin, causing a state of prolonged high blood sugar, which can lead to diabetes.
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Cardiovascular protection
Chayote helps reduce the risk of heart disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and poor blood circulation. The nutrients in chayote help dilate blood vessels, thereby helping blood flow well and reducing blood pressure.
Myricetin contained in chayote has been shown to lower cholesterol. Furthermore, chayote also provides fiber which helps reduce the risk of heart disease.
Helps fight inflammation
Chayote contains antioxidants that help protect the body from cell damage, reduce inflammation and reduce stress. Chayote provides antioxidants such as quercetin, morin, myricetin and kaempferol. The content of antioxidants brings many benefits to the health of users.
Myricetin, the antioxidant with the highest content in chayote, has the ability to help the body fight cancer, prevent diabetes and is a very good anti-inflammatory.
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