This week, it’s courgette health benefits from Kat’s Kitchen. The courgette is a type of squash which are members of the melon/gourd family. They are just coming into season in the UK so it’s a great time to look out for them and add to your diet. And all parts of them are edible so they’re super easy to cook with.
They are great in frittata’s, the classic ratatouille with tomatoes, add to pizza, steamed as a side vegetable or as the Italian’s do – if you’re lucky enough to have courgette flowers, filled with ricotta and deep or shallow fry. Yummy!
High in water, courgettes are a great diet food if you’re watching your calories as they have very few – only 14 calories per 100 grams! Despite being mainly water they contain reasonable amounts of Vitamin C and potassium.
Below are some reasons to include courgettes in your diet:
Courgette Health Benefits
- Anticancer properties – in the lab juices made from squash/courgettes are equal to juices from leeks, radishes and pumpkin in their ability to prevent cell mutations.
- The high water content of courgettes prevent dehydration during the hot summer months
- Carotenes also help protect against the damaging effects of the sun