Chayote squash is a light green fruit that is native to Central America. The alkaline fruit is eaten as a vegetable and is incorporated into soups and stews, ad is also made into jams and used for children’s porridges. Besides its culinary uses, chayote has great health benefits, including the ability to lower blood sugar levels.
According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, one cup of chayote squash has only 38 calories and delivers beneficial dietary fiber. One cups of chayote contains over 12 percent of the daily requirement for fiber. The flesh of the chayote is soluble fiber that forms a gel-like substance in the digestive tract. That process slows the absorption of sugars and starches, which helps to lowers blood sugar levels, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
In a study done by the University of Illinois, scientists concluded that consuming 20 grams per 1,000 calories will lower blood glucose levels.
According to the Joslin Diabetes Center, people who consume high amounts of soluble fiber have an easier time controlling their insulin levels than those who eat only a small amount of fiber. Harvard Medical School published a study in the “New England Journal of Medicine” explaining the insulin-stabilizing advantage to people with diabetes who consume 50 grams or more of daily fiber a day.
Foods like chayote squash can be a good addition to a diabetes patient’s diet because of the high fiber content that have proven to lower blood sugar levels.
