Food As Medicine - Zucchini

Most people don't realize that zucchini is surprisingly healthy and packed with nutrients. If you've ever grown zucchini in a garden you known it can be extremely abundant, so I do believe we take it for granted.

Zucchini is a member of the gourd family that originated from Central America and is now enjoyed all over the world. It has zero fat and is high in fiber and water content.

Zucchini is loaded with goodness and is high in:

• Fiber
• Water
• Vitamin B6
• Riboflavin
• Folate
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin K
• Potassium
• Manganese

Some of the benefits you can experience are:

1. Improved Digestion - Because zucchini is high in water and fiber content it can significantly improve digestion and constipation.
2. Slows Down Aging - Zucchini is rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients which can help reduce toxins in the body and protect you against free radicals and inflammation.
3. Helps Balance Blood Sugar Levels- Because of your increased fiber intake when eating zucchini it can help balance your blood sugar and control your appetite. 
4. Boost Energy- Zucchini is loaded with B vitamins, especially folate, riboflavin, and B6. This helps boost energy production and fight off fatigue.
5. Helps With Weight-Loss- Zucchini is low in calories and high in fiber, water, and nutrients. This helps you feel full longer and balances blood sugar to control cravings.

As you can see, eating zucchini can be very beneficial to your health so enjoy it while it in season. 

Now I know when we grow zucchini in our garden we get a lot of it so sometimes you have to think out of the box when you start to get tired of your staple recipes.

Some of the non-traditional ways of eating zucchini are:

• You can add zucchini to your smoothie! That's right raw zucchini. It doesn't affect the flavor and it adds a super smooth and creamy texture that will make any smoothie feel decadent! Definitely try this trick. I usually add half of a small zucchini to mine.
• You can dice it up and add it to a nice summer salad. Once again, no need to cook it, just add it to almost any summer salad for some extra nutrients, fiber, and crunch! My favorite is chickpeas, zucchini, red peppers, red onions, some lemon juice, maple syrup, fresh herbs of choice, sea salt, and red peppers flakes....YUM!
• You can use it in a dip to add bulk, fiber, and nutrients. It combines well with avocado, lime, garlic, sea salt, and pepper. This is much healthier than adding dairy.

When I was a kid My parents had this huge organic garden on the side of the house and I used to dread the day when the zucchini started. Not because I didn't like them. My Mom was masterful at cooking up tons of delicious dishes that I still enjoy today. I hated it because they would give me all these zucchini and send me off into the neighborhood to give it to all my friend's families. While I'm sure the parents loved it, my friends didn't appreciate it much. So funny to think about this now:)

Be sure to grab this very different recipe for this week's Food As Medicine Series, Zucchini White Been Roll-Ups, super delicious and you guessed it, nutritious!

>>Grab The Recipe Here<<

P.S. Let me know some of your favorite ways to enjoy zucchini, I'm always looking for new recipes!

Be sure to join me for my FREE Plant-based 3-Day Meal Planning Challenge!

It starts on August 4th at 9 am EST. Don't' worry if you can't be there live, you can watch the recordings.

We will be going over:

• A 3-day plant-based meal plan to support your health. 
• Shopping lists, prepping, and cooking!
• Maximizing leftovers and minimizing food waste saving you time and money in your kitchen.

>>Join Me Here<<

Xo and talk soon, T