There is one veggie that has climbed up the charts of the superfood bandwagon with lightning speed and is enjoying all the limelight in the health community. Yes! It is Zucchini, also called ‘courgette’, a native to Italy, though now a globally popular exotic super veggie.
Zucchini is a succulent summer squash that actually belongs to the gourd family, available in two varieties deep yellow and dark green.
Zucchini is not just a weight watchers delight but has much more to offer. It is an excellent package with 95% water, high fibre, significant amounts of potassium, vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin C, folate and antioxidants like Lutein, Zeaxanthin and beta carotene to name a few, all this beautifully complemented with zero fat, a very low calorie and carb count.
Health Benefits:
- The soluble (pectin) and insoluble form of fibre present in Zucchini help in decreasing the bad cholesterol and the antioxidants reduce the damage to the arteries thus improve heart health.
- Potassium in Zucchini acts as a relaxant and helps in dilating the blood vessels hence helps to manage high blood pressure.
- The excellent combination of the carotenoids like lutein, zeaxanthin and beta carotene are conducive to improved vision.
- It presents anti-inflammatory properties and aids digestion.
- It has anti-ageing and energy-boosting qualities.
Zucchini has an excellent shelf life of around 5 days if refrigerated fresh. It is a very versatile veggie and can be used in bread, stir-fries, detox juices, desserts, soups, pizza toppings, can replace pasta, as a side dish and the list is endless. An important nutritional hack is to eat the zucchini with the skin (after washing well) to save the antioxidants from going down the drain.
Hasta la vista! Until u meet this super veggie on your plate!
Click on the link below for CURO recipes
