Squash is an ancient food for Mexico, Guatemala and all Americas
Many squash species and varieties were raised by the Maya, Aztecs, and their neighbors: Mixtecs, Zapotecs and throughout Mesoamerica. Other squash species and varieties were raised by the American Indians across what became the USA.
Nowadays squash originally from USA is raised in Mesoamerica and Mesoamerican squash is raised across the USA. This page is about butternut squash, also known as one of the winter squashes.
Although this was developed in the 1940’s in USA, it is raised and readily available in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, etc. Butternut squash is very healthy, so definitely good to eat.
DrAxe.com gives the following vitamins and minerals for butternut squash:
Phosphorus |
6% | Potassium | 17% |
| Iron | 7% | Manganese | 18% |
| Calcium | 8% | Vitamin B6 | 13% |
| Copper | 7% | Vitamin E | 13% |
| Folate | 10% | Vitamin C | about 52% of what you need |
| Niacin | 10% | Vitamin A | over 400% daily dose |
| Magnesium | 10% |
We will be comparing with native Mesoamerican squash
The ancient Maya ate maize, beans, squash, fruits, root crops, and altogether had several hundred edible plants available. But squash and root crops were important (along with maize, beans, fruits, etc).
In Mayan milpas today you find diverse species and varieties of squash. They also ate the fresh flowers of squash plants. Indeed squash flowers are often pictured in ballgame related art of several Mesoamerican cultures.
Since winter squash happens to be readily available in the Paiz supermarket which is two blocks from out office, we feature that this week.
Our goal is to significantly improve the health of people in remote areas
Diabetes 2 is so common in recent years, that it would be a courtesy to help local people learn about foods which are more healthy.
First Posted January 26, 2018