Courgette
Juicy Trivia
Courgette or ‘zucchini’ as it is better known as in North America, Australia and Germany is the most well known variety of summer squash. It is believed to have originated in Mexico about seven thousand years ago and still very much part of their diet today. It was brought to the Mediterranean by Christopher Columbus during one of his many trips.
Bernard Lavery of Plymouth Devon, UK grew the world’s largest courgette on record. The humongous veggie was 69.5 inches long and weighed 65lbs!
You can use raw courgette as a wonderful pasta alternative, courgette ‘spaghetti’ so easy to make with a mandolin or spiraliser.
Jason Says...
Courgettes contain no saturated fats or cholesterol, they are low in sodium, rich in manganese and vitamin C and have more potassium than a banana, not bad for a humble squash!
Juice or Smoothie?
Juice. Courgette is great for adding volume to juices due to its high water content.
Juicy Benefits
Courgettes are an excellent source of manganese, which helps facilitate protein and carbohydrate metabolism and activates enzymes that are responsible for the utilisation of biotin, thiamin and choline.
It is an excellent source of vitamin C so important for the immune system. In its role as an antioxidant vitamin C helps protect the body tissue from damage of oxidation and protects the cell walls against the effects of free radicals. The skin is good source of dietary fibre that helps reduce constipation and thought to offer some protection against colon cancers.
Courgettes contain moderate amounts of B9 folate, which are important in cell division
and DNA synthesis. It can be beneficial during early pregnancy as folate can help prevent
neural tube defects in the fetus.
Juicy Studies
According to the Science of Eating, studies have shown that the phytonutrients contained within the courgette can help reduce symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) or enlargement of the prostate gland, which causes problems with urination and sexual function in men.
Vitamins, Minerals and Extras
Vitamin A, C, B1 thiamin, B2 riboflavin, B3 niacin, B6 pyridoxine, B9 folate, K, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, tryptophan, zinc, carotenoids beta-carotene and lutein+zeaxanthin
References
The Worlds Healthiest Foods - George Mateljan
www.organicfacts.net
www.thescienceofeating.com
www.foodreference.com
Disclaimer
Please be aware that we are not Doctors, so it is important BEFORE making any changes that you consult with your GP or Medical Practitioner. The suggestions above are not meant as an alternative to any current medical treatment so please DO NOT stop taking any medications you are on. They are also not an endorsement of their effectiveness, nor a recommendation that they should be followed but instead, provided for informational purposes. None of the information on the Natural Juice Therapy site is intended or implied to treat, cure or prevent any condition or disease.