What Is Zucchini Good For?

Zesty Zucchini
Botanical name: Cucurbita pepo

Zucchini Nutrition Facts

A member of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), zucchini is an easy-to-grow summer squash native to Central America and Mexico.1 It was brought to the United States by Italian immigrants during the 1920s.2 Some popular zucchini varieties include golden zucchini, scallop, yellow straightneck and yellow crookneck.3

Zucchini grows best in warm, frost-free weather,4 and thrives in fertile, moisture-rich soil with a pH level between 6.0 and 6.5 (slightly acidic).5 It grows on bushy plants that can grow between 1 and 3 feet tall,6 although some varieties may have "creeping" tendencies.7 Aside from the actual fruit (zucchini is a fruit,8 botanically speaking), the large, yellow and trumpet-shaped blossoms are also edible.9

Zucchini can grow to massive sizes, but small and medium-sized zucchinis are more flavorful. The bigger the zucchini, the harder, seedier and less flavorful it becomes.10

You won't run out of uses for zucchini, as it is highly versatile and suits many recipes. You can mix it into soups, salads or frittatas, serve it as a side dish with your meat dishes, or make "zucchini fries," served with an onion dip as an appetizer. Want a healthy, no-grain and no-wheat pasta? Make zucchini "noodles" using a vegetable peeler — it will be as al dente as regular spaghetti.

Health Benefits of Zucchini

You'll surely be impressed with the nutritional content of zucchini. It's low in calories (with only 17 calories per 100 grams), high in fiber, and has no cholesterol or unhealthy fats.11 It's also rich in flavonoid antioxidants such as zeaxanthin, beta-carotene and lutein,12 which play a significant role in slowing down aging and helping inhibit diseases with their free radical-zapping properties.13

Zucchini is also a wonderful source of potassium, a heart-friendly nutrient that may help moderate your blood pressure levels and counter the effects of excess sodium.14 It's also rich in B-complex vitamins, folate, B6, B12 and B2. Zucchini has minerals like zinc and magnesium, both of which are valuable in ensuring healthy blood sugar regulation — a definite advantage for diabetics.15 It also contains essential minerals such as iron and phosphorus.16

It's important to remember that some zucchini varieties in the United States are genetically modified,17 so it's best to purchase this vegetable organic. As with other members of the gourd family, zucchini contains lectins,18 which are plant proteins that may negatively affect your health. So when cooking them, make sure to peel and remove the seeds first.

Zucchini Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 3.5 ounces (100 grams), with skin, raw19
  Amt. Per
Serving
% Daily
Value*
Calories 17  
Total Fat 0.32 g  
Saturated Fat 0.084 g  
Trans Fat    
Cholesterol 0 mg  
Sodium 8 mg  
Total Carbohydrates 3.11 g  
Dietary Fiber 1 g  
Sugar 2.5 g  
Protein 1.21 g  
Vitamin A 10 µg Vitamin C 17.9 mg
Calcium 16 mg Iron 0.37 mg

Studies on Zucchini

Research shows that storing zucchini at a low-temperature environment may increase its enzymatic pectin activity.20 An increasing number of studies have shown that pectins provide antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and insulin-regulating properties.21,22

Moreover, a study published in the journal Nutrients highlights zucchini's benefits in improving human health by helping inhibit hydrogen peroxide-induced damage and exhibiting anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic action against tumor cells.23

Zucchini Healthy Recipes:
Cheesy Broccoli Chicken Zucchini Boats

Zucchini Healthy Recipes

Ingredients:

6 ounces roasted, organic free range-chicken, shredded

10 ounces organic zucchini (2 large zucchinis, hollowed out)

1 cup organic broccoli

2 tablespoons raw, grass fed butter

3 ounces organic cheddar cheese, shredded

2 tablespoons organic sour cream

1 stalk green onion

Salt and pepper to taste

 

Procedure:

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and cut the zucchinis in half, lengthwise.
  2. Using a spoon, scoop out most of the zucchini until you're left with shells that are about 1/2 to 1 centimeter thick.
  3. Pour 1 tablespoon of melted butter into each zucchini boat, season with salt and pepper, and place them in the oven for about 20 minutes.
  4. While the zucchinis are cooking, shred your chicken, cut up the broccoli florets into small pieces and combine both with the sour cream. Season with salt and pepper.
  5. Once the zucchinis are done, take them out and add the shredded chicken and broccoli filling.
  6. Sprinkle cheddar cheese and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes or until the cheese is melting and browning.
  7. Garnish with chopped green onion and enjoy with more sour cream or homemade mayo!

Tip: To reduce the lectins in the zucchini you’ll want to deseed and remove the peel. To learn more about how to reduce lectins in your diet, click here.

(Recipe adapted from Ruled.Me24)

Zucchini Fun Facts

Did you know that the largest zucchini ever recorded was 8 feet and 3.3 inches long? Giovanni Batista Scozzafava of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada grew the massive vegetable in his garden.25

If you're a true zucchini fan, head to Obetz, Ohio every August,26 where they hold a zucchini festival, which features a parade, pageant, contests, arts and crafts and games — a unique celebration of the remarkable and versatile zucchini.

Summary

What's not to love about zucchini? This versatile summer squash is botanically a fruit, but more commonly perceived as a vegetable, and is a must-have in your garden and on your plate. It's easy to grow and requires minimal care while providing a tasty and versatile bounty that you can incorporate into many recipes — it can even be transformed into veggie noodles!

Zucchini possesses an impressive nutritional content — it boasts high levels of potassium, B-vitamins, dietary fiber and antioxidants, which all offer immense benefits to your health. It can even potentially help regulate blood sugar levels, which can greatly benefit diabetics.27

Here's one yummy way to enjoy zucchini: Simply slice it lengthwise, brush with coconut oil and a sprinkle of sea salt, then lightly grill it. This will bring out the natural sweetness of this healthy food. Make sure to buy organic, non-GMO zucchini.