A zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) is a type of squash that’s rich in nutrition. Though it is botanically thought of as a fruit, it is widely cultivated as a vegetable for domestic consumption in many countries. There are yellow and light green colored varieties. Zucchini contains a wealth of beneficial micronutrients such as:
- Minerals
- Carotenoids (Plant pigments that have been proven to provide protective health benefits, including reducing cancer risk)
- Vitamin C (58%, important for skin, bones, and connective tissue)
- Other antioxidants that help with anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities.
One scientific study showed that zucchini could have neuroprotective benefits, meaning that in can help with or result in protecting the nervous systems. Researchers administered a neurotoxic agent (a cause of brain damage) to sample groups of rats and gave some of the sample rat groups extract of a zucchini peel. The extract was proven to protect the brain tissue in rats against brain injuries by restoring antioxidant enzyme activities. Since symptoms of brain damage include common problems such as issues with memory, reaction time, sleep, thinking, speech, depression, and fatigue, the health benefits of zucchini are certainly eye-opening!
