“The Whole Plant is Edible”
Chayote is a relatively new veggie in US that comes from Middle and South America. Chayote has a wonderful mild flavor and has many health benefits, and the whole plant including the leaves and the roots are edible. And chayote was a staple food for the Aztec Indians for hundreds of years.
Where it Grows – Chayote or Sechium edulie originally came from Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil and other countries in Middle and South America. But now they grow in the US, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Asia, Vietnam, India, Australia and New Zealand and other places around the world.
Other Names for Chayote – Chayote is also called Merliton throughout the Southern States and is well known in Cajun cooking. Also chayote is called Choko, SuSu, Guatila, Pear Squash, Pipinola, Is-Kush, Dashkush, and many more names around the world.
Taste – Chayote has a flavor that’s similar to a cucumber and potato and really picks up most of it’s flavor from whatever it’s cooked with. And it makes a great salad with a nice light crips flavor like cucumber.
Growing – Chayote can be some what finicky to grow but once it gets started it takes off and climbs all over. Chayote likes climbing fences and wires and produces wrinkled white or green fruits that have a soft seed inside that is also edible. Just taking and planting one of the whole chayote fruits in the ground will start this plant. And it loves lots of sun and a fair amount of water, but not too much.
Always Eat Organic Chayote – Regular chayote can contain up to 6 cancer causing agents, 12 hormone disrupting agents and more chemicals which cause havoc with the body. Always buy organic chayote or grow your own organic chayote and be healthy.
Lots of Vitamin C – Chayote fruit contains a good amount of vitamin C thus helping to prevent colds, flues, and boost our immune system.
B -Vitamins – Chayote also contains a good amount of B-Vitamins making it important for good mood and vitality, and for the prevention of birth defects.
Vitamin K – And chayote also contains Vitamin K which helps to prevent excessive clotting and thus helping to prevent heart attacks.
Antioxidants – Chayote contains lots of great antioxidant polyphenols like green tea, including luteolin and apigenin which help prevent and repair DNA damage.. and prevent cancer, cardiovascular disease, and strokes.
Diuretic and Works Well for Gas and Bloating – Chayote is a mild diuretic like cucumber, and the flesh of the fruit can also be used for making tea for getting rid of gas and bloating.
Great for Weight Loss – One whole chayote contains less than 40 calories… so chayote is excellent for dropping those extra pounds.
Leaves are Edible – The leaves are also edible and also work if sautéed and used in salads.
Fiber for Probiotics – Chayote is full of fiber making it an excellent food for promoting the growth of good bacteria in our gut. Also fiber helps with constipation… and gives us that full feeling so we eat less.
Roots are Edible – Chayote roots are also edible and work just like potatoes in all kinds of dishes. The roots are also know as Ichintal and güisquil roots in other areas of the world and are considered a delicacy.
Fat and Cholesterol Free Food – Chayote is a fat free food containing less than a tenth of a gram of fat per fruit, and no cholesterol at all… thus making it a very healthy food.
Dissolves Kidney and Bladders Stones – A tea made from chayote leaves has long been used to dissolve kidney and bladder stones and this was also studied and proven to be true by Purdue University.
Arteriosclerosis – Purdue University also said that the leaves of the chayote plant also helps with hardening of arteries thus helping with cardiovascular disease.
Lowers Blood Pressure – And tea made from chayote leaves has also been used for centuries to lower blood pressure, and was found to be true in studies by leading Universities.
Lots of Trace Minerals – Chayote contains zinc for boosting up our immune system, calcium and phosphorus for strong bones, and potassium for water regulation and good heart contractions, and magnesium for enzyme production, plus iron and copper for anemia.
New Shoots Like Green Beans – The new green shoots can cut off be used like green beans and have a nice sweet taste.
Juicing for Alkalizing the Body – Chayote is full of juice making it great for making a light and delicate flavored juice which also helps to alkalize the body.
Culinary Uses of Chayote – Chayote can be used raw in salads, it can be cooked and mashed like potato, it can be fried, roasted, pickled, used in soups, stews, and sautéed and it works very well with lots of spices because it really doesn’t have much flavor of it’s own. Chayote works well when cooking poultry, beef, pork, and other meats. And there are hundreds of great recipes for using chayote just google “Chayote Recipes” and lots of great tasting dishes will come up.
Finding – Chayote can be found in most supermarkets, and they can also be found in Asian and Latin Markets.
A Great Food for Hard Times – Chayote is a good source of food during hard times because every single part of the plant is edible. Greens for salads, shoots can be used like green beans, fruits for salads and cooking, and the potato like roots are also nutritious. Plant a few chayote around the house and stay healthy.
Dr. Paul Haider – Master Herbalist
Feel Free to Share – This information is meant to get you started… so you can do more research on your own… dig a little deeper and find what works for you. This article is for educational purposes only, I strongly recommend that you seek advice from your own GP, private doctor, or medical specialist for any ailment, illness, or medical condition.. this article not meant to be a scientific analysis in any way, shape, or form.
Dr. Paul Haider – Master Herbalist and Spiritual Teacher for over 25 years, helping people to recover and feel healthy. You can also find Dr. Haider on FB under Dr. Paul Haider, Healing Herbs, and at www.paulhaider.com – feel free to connect with him any time.
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Dr. Paul Haider, Master Herbalist, HH, USA, Health and Wellness, Chayote Squash, Chayote Fruit, Edible, Leaves Edible, Roots Edible, Seeds Edible, Where it Grows, Other Names for Chayote, Taste, Growing, Lots of Vitamin C, B-Vitamins, Diuretic, Gas, Bloating, Great for Weight Loss, Leaves are Edible, Works Well for Weight Loss, Fiber for Probiotics, Roots are Edible, Fat and Cholesterol Free Food, Dissolves Kidney and Bladders Stones, Lowers Blood Pressure, Lots of Trace Minerals, New Shoots like Green Beans, Juicing for Alkalizing the Body, Culinary Uses of Chayote, Finding, Good Food for Hard Times, Roots like Potato,
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