Chayote

The chayote (Sechium edule) is an edible plant, which belongs to the gourd family Cucurbitaceae along with melons, cucumbers and squash.

Culinary and medicinal uses

Although most people are familiar only with the fruit, which in culinary terms is a vegetable, the root, stem, seeds, and leaves are all edible.

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The fruit, which does not need to be peeled, can be added, raw, to salads, stuffed, mashed, baked, fried, boiled or pickled. Both the fruit and the seed are rich in amino acids and vitamin C.

Related Topics:
Amino acid - Vitamin C

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The tuberous part of the root is starchy and is both eaten by humans and used as cattle fodder.

Related Topics:
Tuber - Root

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The leaves and fruit have diuretic, cardiovascular and anti-inflamatory properties, and a tea made from the leaves has been used in the treatment of arteriosclerosis and hypertension, and to dissolve kidney stones.

Related Topics:
Diuretic - Cardiovascular - Anti-inflamatory - Arteriosclerosis - Hypertension - Kidney stones

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