Zucchini Smoothie: Healthy Recipes
Many people know that zucchini is a bush variety of an ordinary pumpkin. It has oblong yellow, green, white or almost black fruits. This vegetable is native to northern Mexico. Zucchini were brought to Europe in the 16th century, along with other outlandish things from the New World, and at first they were grown only in botanical gardens. The Italians were the first to actively use these vegetables in cooking in the 18th century, and today zucchini is a very popular component of dishes among many peoples of the world.
Indications and contraindications
Zucchini contains such useful minerals as potassium and iron, they contain vitamins C, E, PP, B2, B6 and beta-carotene. Therefore, this vegetable is recommended for children, pregnant women, sick people on the mend, and those who suffer from digestive problems and diabetes. In addition, it strengthens bones, the central nervous system, helps with asthma, anemia, and reduces blood pressure. As an easily digestible, low-calorie food (24 kcal per 100 g), zucchini is included in many weight loss vegetable recipes, such as smoothies. It is preferable to eat young fruits, as they are tastier and easier to digest.
However, zucchini can be harmful if you are allergic to this vegetable. They should not be eaten during an exacerbation of chronic gastritis or ulcers.
If there is an upset stomach and an intestinal infection, then you should also refuse zucchini dishes. It is forbidden to use them if there is a pathology of the kidneys against the background of a violation of the outflow of urine.
Recipes
A smoothie is a thick drink made from berries, vegetables, fruits mixed with a blender or mixer, to which milk, juice or ice cream is added. Such a drink is useful because it retains fibers and vitamins, contains antioxidants and easily digestible carbohydrates.
Low calorie zucchini and cucumber smoothie
This option is actively used in recipes for weight loss. Try to prepare this healthy drink according to one of the simple recipes.
To prepare the first method, you need to take the following products:
- zucchini - 300 g;
- cucumbers - 200 g;
- lemon - ¼ part;
- honey - 10 ml;
- dill - 30 g;
- fresh mint - 30 g.
Preparation consists of several steps.
- Zucchini should be washed, dried, cut and seeds removed.
- Then cut the resulting pulp into small cubes.
- Next, you need to wash and dry the cucumbers, cut off their tips.
- After that, cut the cucumbers into wide circle quarters.
- Greens also need to be washed and dried from water. It is recommended to leave one sprig of mint for decoration, and cut the rest of the mint and dill with a knife.
- Put vegetables and herbs in a bowl for whipping, squeezing lemon juice into it.
- The whole mass on top must be poured with liquid honey.
- Then, using a blender, grind all the ingredients to a puree consistency.
- At the end, you need to decorate the smoothie with a sprig of mint and serve.
Ingredients for the second method:
- zucchini - 300 g;
- cucumbers - 200 g;
- broccoli - 200 g;
- lettuce leaves - 80 g;
- kefir - to taste.
Cooking method:
- separate the broccoli florets and rinse thoroughly, then dry and cut;
- lettuce is also washed, dried and torn into small pieces;
- wash zucchini and cucumbers, pat dry with a paper towel, cut off the ends;
- then the vegetables must be cut into medium-sized cubes;
- after that, place the pieces of vegetables in a container and chop with a blender;
- then you should add a little kefir, beat the mixture again.
In addition to cucumbers, you can add apples or celery to zucchini when making a smoothie.
Zucchini, apple and ginger smoothie
You will need the following products:
- zucchini - 300 g;
- apples - 300 g;
- ginger root - 15 g;
- water - 0.3 l;
- honey - to taste.
Cooking:
- wash the zucchini, dry it, remove the seeds and cut into small cubes;
- wash the apple, dry it, cut the core, cut into medium-sized pieces;
- Rinse the ginger root, peel and cut;
- then place the ingredients in a special container, add honey, mix everything thoroughly with a blender until a homogeneous puree;
- At the end, add water and beat again.
Zucchini, apple and celery smoothie
Purchase the following ingredients:
- zucchini - 200 g;
- green apple - 1 pc.;
- celery - 1 pc.;
- parsley - 2 tsp;
- mineral sparkling water - 200 ml.
The step-by-step cooking algorithm looks like this:
- Rinse zucchini well, dry, cut into small pieces;
- wash the apple, dry it with a paper towel and cut into small pieces;
- washed celery finely chopped;
- chop the washed parsley with a knife;
- put the ingredients in the blender bowl;
- turn on the blender, grind all the vegetables to a puree consistency;
- add sparkling water, again grind everything thoroughly.
Tips
In order for zucchini smoothies to be as useful as possible, carefully read the recommendations of experienced chefs:
- for making smoothies, it is better to use young dark green zucchini;
- all ingredients must be raw;
- unpeeled vegetables contain more fiber than peeled;
- smoothies are not recommended to be salted, so as not to negate its benefits;
- instead of sugar, it is preferable to use such a useful product as honey;
- saturation occurs faster if you eat smoothies with a small spoon, and do not drink through a straw;
- when using this drink for weight loss, the rest of the diet should be adjusted by excluding alcohol, sausages, smoked meats, and sweets from it.
Next, watch the video on how to make smoothies from zucchini.