Did you know that there are 15 types of zucchinis throughout the world, such as the striped zucchini, costata romanesco, and the classic green zucchini?¹ These different types of zucchini have their own flavors that can be a strong point in different recipes.

Many people like to incorporate their favorite zucchini type into their homemade recipes. Regardless of which type you like to eat, zucchini has valuable health benefits. Here are 5 health benefits of zucchini.

Full of Nutrients

One health benefit of zucchini is that it is full of nutrients. For example, one cup of cooked zucchini has

• 26% of the Daily Recommended Value of Vitamin C
• 14% of the Daily Recommended Value of Manganese
• 10% of the Daily Recommended Value of Potassium
• 2 Grams of Fiber²

It is important to note that if you boil or fry your zucchini, it can destroy some of the nutrients as well as change its taste. In order to receive the most nutrients, you should eat raw zucchini.³

Improve Eye Health

Another health benefit of zucchini is that it may improve your eye health. This is because zucchini has lutein and zeaxanthin, which are two plant-based nutrients that are essential for good eye health, specifically in the macula part of the eye.⁴

These plant-based nutrients work to prevent your eye cells from getting damaged. They can also help or possibly prevent eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration. Regularly eating a diet with lutein and zeaxanthin can help you maintain healthy vision.⁵

Helps with Inflammation

Another health benefit of zucchini is that it can help prevent inflammation. While in some cases inflammation in our bodies is essential, such as when we have an injury, there are other times when we have unnecessary inflammation, which can do harm to our bodies,⁶ and lead to heart disease and cancer.⁷

That is why it is important to eat food with nutrients that help lower inflammation, such as zucchini. Specifically, zucchini contains vitamin C, vitamin A, glucose-6-phosphate and other antioxidants that help prevent inflammation.⁸

Aid in Healthy Digestion

Another health benefit of zucchini is that it may help with having a healthy digestion. Zucchini is made up of 95% water, which helps hydrate your digestive tract and causes your body to have smooth digestion.⁹

In addition to water, the fiber in zucchini helps with your body’s digestion by reducing the risk of constipation and by helping lower the adverse effects of gut-related disorders such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.^10,11

May Help with Weight Loss

Another health benefit of zucchini is that it may help you lose weight. This is partially because zucchini is very low in calories, which makes it a great snack. Also, the fiber and water in zucchini helps make you feel fuller for a longer time.¹²

It is important to note that in order to lose weight with the help of zucchini, it must be part of a full diet in replacement of a food with higher calories or carbs. That way, you are still eating the same volume of food while lowering the amount of calories you ingest.

Ways to Eat More Zucchini

There are many ways that you can add zucchini to your diet. Here are some ideas for how you can enjoy zucchini.

• Add shredded zucchini to your muffins
• Eat sliced zucchini as a snack
• Add sliced zucchini to your salad
• Have zucchini noodles for lunch
• Add zucchini to your bread recipe
• Add zucchini slices to your vegetable tray
• Grill zucchini and add it to your stir fry
• Add grilled zucchini to your casserole¹³