14 Amazing Health Benefits of Chayote You Must Know

Chayote Health Benefits

It is very important to eat green vegetables to keep the body healthy. Regular use of these green vegetables rich in different nutrients protects our body from different diseases or helps in curing many diseases. One such vegetable rich in various nutrients is Chayote.

Chayote is a nutritious vegetable. The chayote plant belongs to the ‘Cucurbitaceae’ family. It is mainly native to central Mexico and different parts of America but is now cultivated all over the world. Chayote is loaded with nutrients and antioxidant compounds that provide many potential health benefits. The entire plant, including fruits, stem and leaves, contains multiple nutrients and has anti-inflammatory properties that can help treat high blood pressure, kidney stones and indigestion. Chayote can help with weight loss efforts, as it is low in calories.

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Health Benefits and Uses of Chayote

Chayote is a fast-growing climbing vine characterized by tendrils. This plant has heart-shaped leaves, 10-25 cm wide, and tendrils in the stem. It has a small white sex flower and green leafy-shaped fruit. Each fruit is about 7.5 to 10 cm (about 3 to 4 inches) long and contains a seed that is embedded in green to green-white meat. Some types contain dyed or round fruit.

Further, this article describes the health benefits of Chayote and related things to it.

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Nutritional value of per 100 g Chayote

• Energy: 80 kJ (19 kcal)
• Carbohydrates: 4.51 g
• Sugars: 1.66 g
• Dietary fiber: 1.7 g
• Fat: 0.13 g
• Protein: 0.82 g
• Vitamins
  • Thiamine (B1): 0.025 mg
  • Riboflavin (B2): 0.029 mg
  • Niacin (B3): 0.47 mg
  • Pantothenic acid (B5): 0.249 mg
  • Vitamin B6: 0.076 mg
  • Folate (B9): 93 μg
  • Vitamin C: 7.7 mg
  • Vitamin E: 0.12 mg
  • Vitamin K: 4.1 μg
• Minerals
  • Calcium: 17 mg
  • Iron: 0.34 mg
  • Magnesium: 12 mg
  • Phosphorus: 18 mg
  • Potassium: 125 mg
  • Zinc: 0.74 mg

Different Regional Names of Chayote

• Assamese: Squash
• Hindi: Chow- chow
• Tamil:Seemai Kathirikai
• Telugu: Seema Vankaya
• Odia:  Phuti kakudi
• Malayalam: Seema Kathirikai

Scientific Classification of Chayote

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Clade: Tracheophytes
• Clade: Angiosperms
• Clade: Eudicots
• Clade: Rosids
• Order: Cucurbitales
• Family: Cucurbitaceae
• Genus: Sechium
• Species: S. edule
• Scientific name: Sechium edule

Health Benefits of Chayote

1. Maintains Heart Health

Phytochemical-rich, Chayote vegetables play a major role in improving blood flow, thus controlling high blood pressure. The presence of myricetin, antioxidants not only reduces cholesterol levels but also fights inflammation, thus preventing chronic cardiovascular disease. Add this vegetable to your daily diet to protect your most important organ, heart health.

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2. Improves Liver Functions

Fatty liver is a dangerous condition, and can also occur in people without alcohol. Various studies indicate that regular consumption of these nutritious vegetables significantly reduces fat accumulation in the liver and also reduces the level of bad cholesterol in the LDL. Regular lying in Chayote triggers metabolic activity and improves liver capacity in fat processing.

3. Regulates Blood Sugar

Low in sugar and rich in dietary fiber, Chayote should be part of a diabetic diet plan. Chayote not only makes your body warm for a long time, but the presence of fiber in it also prevents the rapid absorption of carbohydrates and thus regulates blood sugar levels. Studies reveal that the presence of certain chemical compounds in Chayote improves insulin sensitivity, helping people suffering from Type-2 diabetes to better control blood sugar levels.

4. Support Healthy Pregnancy

Folate is a basic nutrient any pregnant woman will need enough to deliver a healthy baby. It is also known as vitamin B9. Every woman who actually tries to get pregnant is advised to folate as it plays an important role in the healthy development of the fetus brain, spinal cord and proper development of the baby. Chayote vegetables have a 40% daily approved folate intake for a pregnant woman.

5. Rich In Antioxidants

Chayote contains a variety of antioxidants including quercetin, myricetin, campferol, morin that fight various chronic conditions including diabetes, cancer and inflammation. Thanks to the attractive presence of vitamin C, this vegetable is essential for you to fight various bacterial and viral infections common in the rainy and winter.

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6. Prevents Cancer

Chayote fights free radicals to prosper with antioxidants and thus reduces cancer cell progress, especially in people with leukemia and cervical cancer. The presence of flavonoids in the Chayote not only prevents anti-cancer activity but also restricts the growth of cancer cells and prevents metastasis. These compounds remove oxidant molecules responsible for rapid development of tumors and for these reasons, it is strongly recommended in the diet list of cancer patients.

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7. Slows down Aging

This vegetable can effectively reduce oxidative stress, which can negatively affect the cells in the body, thus making the skin dull and pale. Eating Chayote reduces the symptoms of metabolic symptoms, thus protecting the body from cell damage, causing the skin to glow from within.

8. Good for Gut

An excellent digestive function means you are healthy and eating Chayote for the best absorption of nutrients increases digestion, ensuring regular detoxification. Adequate presence of flavonoids, these plant compounds prevent constipation, control intestinal movements, maintain the growth of healthy intestinal bacteria and thus optimize various functions of the digestive tract.

9. Aids in Weight loss

If you make a strict diet, Chayote is your essential vegetable, hoping to lose that extra weight. Being low in calories it is extremely beneficial for weight monitors and for those practicing calorie-deficit meal plans. Being rich in dietary fiber it helps in preventing the pain of midday hunger and suppress hunger.

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10. Triggers Cognitive Function

Rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, and other plant compounds is extremely beneficial for those suffering from cognitive decline. Various studies prove that this vegetable is very effective in reducing the duration between contraction events, improving mood disorders, and preventing depression. It is also widely recommended to improve motor coordination in people with Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

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11. Treatment for Kidney Stones

The leaves of Chayote can be used to treat kidney stones. This is published in the results of a study conducted in ‘North Florida University’.

12. Prevents Constipation

By adding Chayote to the food we can provide our body with the necessary fiber. Fiber will help in digestion in the body so that it can prevent constipation.

13. Prevents Anemia

Vitamin B2 and iron deficiency can lead to red blood deficiency or anemia in a person. The Chayote contains two ingredients that can produce red blood cells and hemoglobin in the body, to prevent anemia.

14. Lowers Blood Pressure

Eating Chayote is believed to lower high blood pressure. This has been proved by a study at Purdue University. In the study, Chayote is used as a tea or consumed as a drink, and results show that it lowers blood pressure.

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Uses of Chayote

A variety of dishes are cooked with this delicious vegetable. Its tubras, roots, fruits, raw leaves, seeds and stems are consumed. Fruits, stems, tender leaves and roots are eaten as vegetables. This vegetable can be eaten by adding it to salads and lentils. 

Side Effects of Chayote

Basically, regular consumption of Chayote will not cause any side effects on health, but excessive intake can lead to side effects. 

However, you should be careful when peeling the Chayote, as a clear color juice emanating from it can stick like glue on the hands or fingers that can cause itching and stiffness হʼব.  

Chayote with certain drugs like aspirin in the treatment of cardiovascular disease can have side effects.

It should be used in the right quantity keeping in view the benefits and disadvantages of the Chayote as excessive use of any product can harm our health. The above mentioned information is provided only for general knowledge based on the information. It is advisable to consult a doctor before using Chayote in the medicinal field in curing the disease.

Conclusion

The above article discussed the health benefits of Chayote and provided important information you must know. In the case of medicinal uses, you must consult an expert first (especially, if you have some special health conditions). This information included in the article may benefit you in various ways. 

FAQ

1: What are the common names of Chayote?

Ans: The common names of Chayote are Chaco, Vegetable Pear, Chayote Chayote, Choko, Madeira Marrow, Choco, and Custard Marrow.

2: Does Chayote help in controlling blood pressure?

Ans: Eating Chayote is believed to lower high blood pressure. This has been proved by a study at Purdue University. In the study, Chayote is used as a tea or consumed as a drink, and results show that it lowers blood pressure.

3: What is Chayote beneficial for?

Ans: Chayote is loaded with nutrients and antioxidant compounds that provide many potential health benefits. The entire plant, including fruits, stems, and leaves, contains multiple nutrients and has anti-inflammatory properties that can help treat high blood pressure, kidney stones and indigestion. Chayote can help in weight loss efforts, as it is low in calories.

4: Chayote is a family-inclusive plant.

Ans: Chayote belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family.

5: What is the scientific name of Chayote?

Ans: The scientific name of the Chayote is ‘Sechium edule’.