Why you should be switching (nearly everything) for Zoodles.
September 6, 2019
Zucchini contains zero fat, and is high in water and fibre. It also contains significant amounts of vitamins B6, riboflavin, folate, C, and K, and minerals, like potassium and manganese, plus antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients.
Zucchini is one of the easiest vegetables to spiralise, making it the perfect, healthy alternative to pasta and rice.
Other than being a great “skinny” swap, Zucchini has so many amazing health benefits. Here’s the top 5!
1. Contributes to Health Digestion
Zucchini may help improve digestion including reducing the incidence of constipation and other digestive issues.
Why? Because is high in water. It also contains significant amounts of fibre, electrolytes, and other nutrients that are necessary for a healthy digestive system.
What’s more, the soluble fibre feeds the beneficial bacteria living in your gut. In turn, these friendly bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that nourish your gut cells .
Research suggests that SCFAs may help reduce inflammation and symptoms of certain gut disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis
2. Lowers Blood Sugar Levels
By including zucchini in your diet, you increase the intake of fibre. You can also reduce your carbohydrate intake because you will feel full for longer. These diet changes can also help reduce your blood sugar levels.
This can mean that your body no longer needs to work harder to process sugar. This can change your risk of developing associated health conditions.
3. Aids in Weight Loss
Excess weight gain is usually from regular consumption of carbohydrate and sugary foods.
Zucchini is a great food for those wishing to lose weight because it is low in calories and high in water, which means that you will feel fuller for longer and discourage overeating.
Add zucchini into your diet and over time you may lose some of your excess weight.
4. Natural Energy Boost
Because zucchini is a rich source of B-vitamins, especially folate, riboflavin, and B6, it can help to boost energy production in the body. This reduces fatigue and improves moods.
Plus, the high fibre content helps burn fat in the body and the high water content keeps you hydrated. This gives you more energy and fewer headaches.
5. Supports Eye Health
Because zucchini is rich in vitamin C and beta-carotene — two nutrients important for eye health — adding it to your diet is suggested to be useful in maintaining and improving eye health.
Zucchini also contains the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin. Research shows that these antioxidants can accumulate in your retina, improving your vision and reducing your risk of age-related eye diseases.
Fun fact: You can also use zucchini to treat puffy eyes by placing slices of raw zucchini over the eyes. Leave the slices in place for about 30 minutes and repeat several times in a day.
The benefits of zucchini are immense and not limited to just these. This versatile fruit is also healthy for the skin giving it a glow and restoring its moisture, strengthening teeth and bones and improving heart health.
Love your guts! xx
