The Benefits of Chayote Squash: Lowering High Blood Pressure and Preventing Cancer
Sechium edule, better known as chayote, is one type of vegetable that is often consumed by Indonesian people. This vegetable can be enjoyed directly by boiling it with the skin. It tastes good and sweet, making this vegetable easy to process. In addition to boiling, people generally make these vegetables as ingredients for making fresh vegetables, and so forth. Well, about anything, yes, the benefits of chayote squash for health?
The nutritional content of chayote
At first glance, squash is not as popular as other types of vegetables. Even so, these vegetables actually have a lot of health benefits, you know. Because it does not contain cholesterol and saturated fats, squash is one type of vegetable that is low in calories. No wonder, if these vegetables are often recommended for people who want to lower cholesterol and reduce weight.
Not only that, chayote is rich in fiber, antioxidants, iron, manganese, phosphorous, zinc, potassium, copper, vitamins B1, B2, B6, and vitamin C. Siamese squash is also rich in folate which helps cell formation and DNA synthesis. In addition, these vegetables also contain a small amount of antioxidant polyponone, aglycone, flavonoids which are very important in helping fight free radicals and reactive oxygen species (SOR) in the body which both play a role in aging and cancer development.
Benefits of Chayote Squash for health
After knowing some of the nutritional content in squash, here are some of the benefits of squash for health that you should know.
1. Good for pregnant women
The content of folate (vitamin B9) in chayote is very good to help meet the nutritional needs of the mother during pregnancy. Research shows that folate deficiency during pregnancy will cause health problems for babies. For example, neural tube defects, heart problems, extremity malformations, even miscarriages.
2. Maintain cholesterol
As explained above, chayote contains fewer calories and does not contain saturated fat or cholesterol. Well, this makes chayote one of the good foods to keep your cholesterol levels within normal limits.
3. Control high blood pressure
Another benefit of squash is this vegetable can help you control blood pressure because it has mild diuretic properties.
4. Overcoming anemia
Iron deficiency can make a person susceptible to anemia. Well, it turns out chayote is the source of these compounds. The vitamin content of iron in chayote can help hemoglobin bind oxygen.
4. Counteract free radicals
Siamese squash is a source of vitamin C which acts as a powerful antioxidant. Well, antioxidants themselves are substances that can help prevent cell damage caused by free radicals. In addition to counteracting free radicals, the content of vitamin C in squash also helps prevent skin damage due to free radicals that cause premature aging.
5. Anticancer
The antioxidant content of phenolic polyflavonoids in squash can bind free radicals that are harmful to the body. if free radicals are not considered it can trigger the growth of cancer cells in the body. That is why if you consume chayote on a regular basis can help prevent the growth of cancer cells in the body.
Not only that, but a recent study conducted by UGM students is also known if chayote can be used as a base for making ointments for alternative treatment of malignant melanoma. This is because chayote contains flavonoids and saponins which are secondary metabolites and have anti-cancer properties.
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