Six Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Zucchini

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Zucchini is a summer squash that you can eat in several ways. You could eat it raw, sauteed, baked, fried or grilled. Adding this vegetable to your daily diet can provide your body with a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals that can help nourish and protect the body from illnesses, diseases and cancers. The super food is excellent for slowing down the aging process too since it contains antioxidants and loads of fiber and water to flush out toxins, free radical cells and other harmful substances from the body.

Along with all this sweet information there is probably, six other cool, interesting facts you may not know about this nourishing squash.

1. Low-Calories

Zucchini makes a perfect low calorie side dish to compliment a main dish or it can also make a great main dish such as stuffed baked zucchini. In fact, one cup of sliced zucchini only has about 19 calories unlike broccoli and Brussels sprouts that contain about 50 percent more calories. A delightful healthy way to cook zucchini is by grilling it up on the grill with some light seasoning and fresh herbs. However, most people use this fruit to make breads instead because of the amount of water and fiber it contains that helps keep baked goods moist and tender.

2. The Blossoms are Edible

Not only can you eat the zucchinis that grow off the vines of the zucchini plant, but you can also eat the blossoms too. The golden blossoms are stuffed with meats, rice, veggies or sometimes-even cheeses and then fried or baked to create a unique appetizer or entree. Surprisingly the blossoms have nutritional value too, but it just added fiber and vitamin C.

3. Possibly Healthy for the Heart

Zucchini contains a healthy dose of potassium. One zucchini provides 8 percent of the recommended daily dose. Potassium is a mineral essential to your body because it helps control blood pressure by lessening the harmful effects that salt could potentially have on it. Potassium even has the ability to reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease. The vitamin C in the fruit is necessary for helping the blood cells within the heart stay strong and healthy too, while also keeping the arteries free from blood clots.

4. Zucchini makes Excellent Pasta

Spaghetti is the pasta of the past. Zucchini is the pasta of the future. You can easily create zucchini pasta using a mandolin or a spiral slicing device. Replacing regular pasta with zucchini pasta helps add more nutritional value to your daily diet by adding essential fiber, minerals, vitamins and antioxidants that your body needs to stay healthy and strong. In addition, it fills you up faster than regular pasta does and has a lot less calories.

5. Zucchinis are Yellow Too

You may believe all zucchinis are green, but shockingly, they come in yellow too. Golden yellow zucchini is much sweeter than the green kind and retains its color during cooking much better than the green ones do. However, they contain about the same nutritional value as the green.

6. The Squash has an International Pedigree

You may know zucchini as a zucchini here in America, but in Italy and South America it is called, “Italian Squash,”and “Courgette.” The actual Italian word for squash is, “Zucca.” The next time you read a recipe that uses these names you will know it is a zucchini now. So, go cook up your favorite Zucca recipes and enjoy the health benefits of this super fruit.

Also Read:

Simple Steps to Keep GMOs Out Of Your Diet

11 Worst Processed Foods You Should Never Buy

Top 5 Foods to Help Decrease Your Bad Cholesterol Level

Heidi Kristoffer
I am Heidi Kristoffer, as an expert on natural health and holistic medicine, I am willing to help people live happier capable lives by sharing my health opinions with others. I am good at writing topics such as: medicine, natural remedies, foods and mental health. I think living a simple and healthy life, including eating healthy, exercising regularly and positively thinking, is the best medicine.