What are the benefits of zucchini for the body

Zucchini is an oblong fruit of green, white, yellow or black color, in fact, it is an unusual bush pumpkin. What are the benefits and harms of zucchini, in what cases are their properties especially valuable?

The chemical composition and calorie content of zucchini

Zucchini is a very low-calorie vegetable, since 100 g of fresh product contains only 24 calories. The composition is represented mainly by carbohydrates - 4.6 g, but proteins are also present in the vegetable - 0.6 g, and fats - 0.3 g. Zucchini are rich in dietary fiber, they also contain valuable organic acids.

The benefits of a product are largely determined by its composition. Zucchini contains:

• potassium and iron;
• magnesium and phosphorus;
• calcium and sodium;
• saturated fatty acids;
• vegetable sugars;
• some ash.

What vitamins are in zucchini

The vitamin composition of zucchini is no less valuable. From this product the body gets:

• B vitamins: B6, B1, B2;
• vitamins E, C, A;
• nicotinic acid, or vitamin PP;
• vitamin H;
• beta carotene;
• pantothenic acid and folate.

The benefits of zucchini for the body

It is easy to guess that with such a rich composition, zucchini are very useful for the body:

• they help to regulate the water balance in the tissues, relieve swelling and serve as an effective diuretic;
• cope well with the symptoms and consequences of poisoning;
• serve as an antioxidant and lower sugar levels;
• improve the condition of the joints, as they fight salt deposits;
• act as a good choleretic agent;
• positively affect the condition of the heart and blood vessels.

The health benefits of zucchini also lie in the fact that due to the many vitamins contained in this product, the body becomes more resistant to infections and viruses.

For women

A particular benefit for women is that zucchini helps fight edema and strengthens blood vessels, therefore they serve as an excellent prevention of varicose veins. In addition, the diuretic effect of zucchini helps ladies to say goodbye to extra pounds faster and easier.

For men

The product saturates the male body with elements important for maintaining hormonal balance and prevents problems in the urogenital area due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Zucchini for weight loss

Low-calorie vegetables are very good for weight loss. The zucchini diet uses dark green fruits. It is better to eat them together with the peel, since it contains a lot of useful substances.

Zucchini can be freely combined with other vegetables and protein products - the benefits will double.

The benefits of zucchini during pregnancy

The beneficial properties of zucchini are very useful for pregnant women. You can eat these vegetables at any time. In the early stages, they will help to cope with toxicosis, in the later stages, they will remove excess fluid from the body.

Is zucchini possible with breastfeeding

Zucchini can provoke colic in babies, therefore, it is recommended to introduce a fresh vegetable into the mother's diet no earlier than 3 months after childbirth. But a boiled, baked or stewed product can be eaten in small quantities from the first days of a child's life - there will be no harm from it.

Zucchini for children

At what age can you give your child zucchini? Already from 6 months, babies can be offered this vegetable both processed and fresh, finely grated. The product will benefit the baby's immunity and intestines.

Zucchini puree for babies

Since babies are not yet able to chew solid food, fresh zucchini must first be wiped with a soft puree. You don't need to add salt or sugar to such a dish - mashed potatoes for babies consist of only one main ingredient.

You need to give the squash puree quite a bit - it is better to start with a couple of teaspoons. If there is no negative reaction, the dosage can be increased to 120 g.

The healing properties of juice and zucchini seeds

In cooking, they use not only the pulp of zucchini, but also their fresh juice. An unusual drink perfectly quenches thirst, cleanses the body of toxins and eliminates edema, and normalizes appetite. Drinking juice has a good effect on the condition of hair and skin: a slight rejuvenating effect appears.

Another valuable component of zucchini is their seeds. Zucchini seeds are useful in that they not only help cleanse the body and increase immunity, but also help well against parasites. They also stimulate potency in men, increase tone and reduce stress.

The use of zucchini in traditional medicine

Zucchini is actively used in home medicine recipes. They will be useful for the following diseases:

• obesity;
• kidney ailments;
• hypertension and atherosclerosis;
• gastritis and stomach ulcers;
• cholecystitis and problems with bile outflow;
• heart ailments;
• poisoning.

Also, zucchini is used to get rid of worms.

Decoction for worms

To get rid of parasites, you need to pour 50 g of peeled zucchini seeds with a glass of boiling water, stir and boil for another 20 minutes. After that, for 1.5-2 hours, the seeds are processed in a water bath. Then the drink is filtered, cooled and drunk three times a day, half a glass.

Diabetes drink

The following drink will help alleviate the symptoms of diabetes and improve your well-being:

• dried zucchini seeds are peeled and ground;
• then the resulting powder is poured with water and a little honey is added;
• the ready-made greenish liquid is drunk 5-7 times a week, once a day.

The drink helps the liver and kidneys, which are especially stressed in diabetes.

Features of the use of zucchini for various diseases

Zucchini is a fairly harmless vegetable, and it has few contraindications. But for some diseases, you need to be careful and use the product only in the permitted dosage and in the indicated types.

With pancreatitis

At the stage of exacerbation of pancreatitis, it is better to refuse zucchini. But on the other hand, during remission, they will be beneficial, especially if you make mashed potatoes from boiled pulp. True, you still should not consume the product in large quantities: you need to eat no more than 100 g of zucchini per day.

Stewed and baked zucchini with pancreatitis is also allowed.But you should not eat fried vegetables, you also need to give up squash caviar.

With diabetes

Low-calorie zucchini that does not contain harmful sugars is a very valuable food for diabetics. It can be consumed both fresh and cooked, up to 500 g per day.

With gastritis and stomach ulcers

Zucchini belongs to the category of vegetables allowed for use with ulcers and gastritis. However, you need to observe the measure and eat no more than 300 g of the product per day. It is also not recommended to eat fresh vegetables - it is better to steam them, boil or stew them.

With gout

The diet for gout is very strict, but zucchini is allowed even with this disease. You should avoid only fresh vegetables, but you can eat stewed, boiled or baked in the oven up to 4 times a week. The daily norm is 400-500 g.

The use of zucchini in home cosmetology

The product is highly regarded in home cosmetology recipes, as it promotes the renewal of skin cells and fills the hair follicles with strength. When used externally, the benefits of zucchini and pulp juice are even more obvious than when consumed internally.

For facial skin

Zucchini masks can normalize the oily skin, tighten pores, relieve swelling and remove the first wrinkles.

For oily skin, apply the following mask:

• a tablespoon of squash juice is mixed with egg yolk;
• beat;
• apply the mixture on the face for 20 minutes, and then rinse off with warm water.

Another zucchini mask for the face will help clear the skin of acne and narrow the pores:

• 3 teaspoons of grated zucchini are mixed with 2 teaspoons of rye flour;
• mix;
• add a few drops of chamomile oil;
• apply to the face with massage movements and leave for 10 minutes.

For the best effect, zucchini masks are recommended to be done twice to three times a week.

For hair

Vitamins and microelements in zucchini nourish the scalp, repair damaged hair and promote the accelerated growth of new ones.

For example, you can make a simple rinse to strengthen your hair and give it volume. It is required to squeeze the pulp of the zucchini, and then rinse the hair with the resulting juice after the usual shampoo.

Another strengthening mask that gives hair strength and shine is made with several ingredients:

• squash juice is mixed with milk;
• add a little olive oil;
• apply a liquid mask to the scalp and hair along their entire length.

It is recommended to do this mask before shampooing - about half an hour.

How to eat zucchini correctly

Zucchini is a versatile vegetable. It can be eaten fresh or subjected to a wide variety of processing: boil, fry, stew, bake, while freely combining with almost any product.

Such dishes from zucchini are especially famous:

• salads where the vegetable is the main or additional ingredient;
• soups and main courses, both vegetable and meat or fish;
• baking - sometimes zucchini is even added to pies and soufflés;
• sweet desserts - a very interesting product is zucchini jam.

Of course, zucchini should not be consumed uncontrollably. The average norm for a healthy adult is 200 g of the product per day. If you eat too much zucchini, there is a risk of disrupting the water-salt balance in the body.

Can I eat raw zucchini

Zucchini in its raw form is useful for intestinal motility and for the liver - therefore, it is not only possible to use them unprocessed, but also necessary. For convenience, it is recommended to grind or chop the fruits. It is necessary to take a raw vegetable with caution only in case of stomach diseases: in such cases, the food may be too rough for the body.

Are fried zucchini healthy

By definition, a product toasted with oil will be less beneficial than a fresh or cooked vegetable. However, it cannot be said that fried zucchini is unambiguously harmful. The main thing is to use butter or refined vegetable oil for frying and avoid burning. There will be few vitamins and nutrients in a vegetable cooked in a pan, but it will not harm health either.

Why is squash caviar useful?

Zucchini caviar is higher in calories than an ordinary fresh vegetable: 100 g contains about 100 calories. But at the same time, there are more vitamins in the product than in the zucchini itself, since the composition also contains onions, carrots and other vegetables.

Shop squash caviar helps to cope well with edema, stimulates the proper functioning of the intestines and improves metabolism. It should not be eaten only for acute stomach diseases and kidney ailments.

How to store zucchini

Store fresh zucchini in the refrigerator is stored for about a week. When buying, it is recommended to choose small fruits weighing up to 200 g, with a smooth thin skin without dents and scratches. It is better to wrap the zucchini tightly with cling film before storage - this will extend the shelf life.

The harm of zucchini and contraindications for use

For all its benefits, the vegetable is contraindicated in the following conditions:

• stomach ulcer in the acute stage;
• stones in the bladder or gallbladder;
• acute colitis, cholecystitis;
• hepatitis and gastritis with high acidity.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of zucchini depend on whether there are strict contraindications to the use of the product. Zucchini are suitable for the prevention of many ailments, and they will only benefit a healthy body.