Skip to main content

All About Zucchini

A Nutritious Native Squash Loved Across The Globe

By The Taste for Life Staff

What Kind of Plant is Zucchini?

Zucchini is a type of summer squash native to the Americas, but loved the world over.

Is Zucchini a Fruit or a Vegetable?

A member of the gourd family, zucchini is technically a fruit.

However, it is prepared most often as a vegetable.

Can You Eat Zucchini Flowers?

The blossoms of zucchini squash are both edible and nutritious, and make a tasty edition to fruit salads, soups, and more.

They should be picked the same day they are used.

Why is Zucchini Good For You?

  • Low in Calories

    Zucchini is composed almost entirely of water—more than 95 percent—which means it is very low in calories.

  • High in Nutrients

    Despite its modest calorie count, zucchini boasts a good amount of basic nutrients:

    • vitamin C
    • fiber
    • magnesium
    • potassium
  • Helps Support Vision

    It's a great source of carotenoids (lutein and zeaxanthin), which are known to protect against cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

The Food Encyclopedia by Jacques L. Rolland and Carol Sherman ($49.95, Robert Rose, 2006)

Wellness Foods A to Z by Sheldon Margen, MD, and the editors of the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter ($39.95, Health Letter Associates, 2002)

Contributor

The Taste for Life Staff

The Taste for Life staff come from a wide variety of backgrounds and specialties. We believe learning is a life-long process, and love to share the knowledge we gain.

Future Sidebar Content

Watch this space!