A staple of the Yucatecan diet, chaya (C. chayamansa) is also known as tree spinach even though it's actually two to three times more nutritious than other vegetables. Chaya leaf is especially high in protein (5.7%), crude fiber (1.9%), calcium (199.4 mg/100 g), potassium (217.2 mg/100 g), iron (11.4 mg/100 g), vitamin C (164.7 mg/100 g), and carotene (0.085 mg/100 g). For more information, visit http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1996/v3-516.html. (Living plants also are available.) |