Southwestern Veggie ‘Squashes’ Skin Cancer?

By Jack Taylor Posted March 15, 2022

We’re only in mid-March, but it’s important to protect your skin year-round. 

That’s because skin cancer DOESN’T take a break! 

In fact, nearly 9,500 Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer EVERY SINGLE DAY! 

And it ‘sneaks up’ on so many people because most folks just assume they can only get it in places with sunnier, hotter weather. 

But I can assure you that skin cancer has ZERO boundaries… and it doesn’t take these colder months off. 

In fact, even the CDC noted that California and Florida had fewer cases of skin cancer per 100,000 people than states with cooler climates, like Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. 

But fending off the risk of skin cancer doesn’t mean you need to rush to cover yourself from head-to-toe… 

Or head to your local pharmacy to shell out a fortune for the ‘latest-and-greatest’ creams or lotions that promise to keep your skin healthy… 

You may just need to swing by your local grocery store! 

That’s because new research has discovered that a popular Southwestern veggie can help prevent (and even “squash”) skin cancer – all year long! 

A study out of Indonesia has found that the chayote – a type of summer squash found in the Southwestern U.S. – is packed with compounds that can help stop the growth of skin cancer cells.  

This particular study looked at stopping a skin cancer called lentigo maligna melanoma – a condition caused by unprotected sun exposure, common in the climate of Indonesia.  

During their tests, they found that a chayote (pronounced chai-ow-tay) extract inhibited the growth of skin cancer cells commonly associated with lentigo maligna melanoma. 

The researchers found that the chayote is packed with compounds called saponins –antioxidants that help protect your skin against harmful UV damage and inflammation.  

Even though the chayote is native to the Southwestern part of the U.S., there’s a good chance you’ll be able to find it at your local grocery store – especially during the spring and summer months when it is more abundant.  

If your local store doesn’t have it, stores that specialize in Latin American food products will often carry it.  

You can also check out your local vitamin and supplement store to see if they carry chayote extract, which is usually in capsule form. If you do go the route of a supplement, be sure to only take the dosage listed on the product label. 

Finally, when it comes to skin cancer, the single best thing you can do to prevent it is to avoid prolonged, unprotected exposure to the sun (even during cold days).