Benefits of Zucchini for Pregnancy

Benefits of Zucchini for Pregnancy

We thought it could be helpful to discuss some of the superfoods that are in season for you to load up on. We’ll discuss all the health benefits, deliciousness, and prepping info for your farmer’s market favorites! With summer in full swing, we bet your gardens are overflowing with this month’s Mum Yum. You guessed it! This month we’re talking about zucchini!

 

Health Benefits of Zucchini

What’s so great about this jolly, green giant? Not only is the taste and texture a treat during these dog days of summer, but it’s also good for your body. ZUCCHINI FOR THE WIN!

 

These are the 5 Best Health Benefits from chowing down on some fresh zucchini:

Healthy Calories

With your body changing and growing daily, you need to make sure you’re consuming healthy calories for your growing baby. One cup of zucchini has only 36 calories! It’s loaded with dietary fiber, which aids in digestion and can help curb overeating.


Lower Cholesterol


Another benefit of all that dietary fiber, it can lower your cholesterol. During the 18-36th week of pregnancy cholesterol can increase by as much as 50%. Whoa! That’s too much! Keeping that cholesterol in check as much as you can will do wonders.


Nutrients 


Since zucchini is rich in Vitamins C, A, B, and folates. Vitamins C and A act as powerful antioxidants that help fight oxidative stress that can cause many different types of cancer. Vitamin B can aid in brain development – a bonus not only for your growing fetus, but also after your baby starts eating solid foods.
And lastly, folates are important in cell division and DNA synthesis. When taken frequently during early pregnancy those folates can help prevent neural tube defects in the fetus. Load up on it mommas!


Lower Blood Pressure


Zucchini contains Potassium and magnesium which help lower blood pressure! High blood pressure can lead to gestational hypertension and can be very dangerous for you and your baby.

    Listen, we could go on and on about all the vitamins contained in zucchini, but we don’t have time for all that. If you’re keeping a stat sheet of all these vitamins, you can check out more details here: http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/zucchini.html. It has a very specific breakdown of all these vitamins and the nutritionist inside all of you will love it!

    So how should we prepare this delicious zucchini? You name it! You can eat it raw, steamed, boiled, baked, fried, etc. You can chop it up and use it in salads or mixed with other veggies, or my personal favorite, shred it up and bake up some zucchini bread. Yes please!! And don’t forget pureeing some of that for your babies once they're old enough! Share the love!

    Now what are you waiting for? Go pick that zucchini!

    Sources:

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