There are many ways zucchini improves heart health. At first, zucchini is high in fiber. Studies have shown that people who eat fiber-rich food have a lower risk of heart disease. Pectin, for example, is one type of soluble fiber found in zucchini. Studies have shown that pectin is effective at reducing LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels.

With high LDL cholesterol, you can develop fatty deposits in your blood vessels. Those deposits grow, making it difficult for blood to flow through your arteries. Sometimes, those deposits can form a clot and damage the wall of the blood vessels causing a heart attack or stroke. So it is essential to keep the LDL cholesterol levels in your blood as low as possible, and zucchini contributes to that.

Zucchini is also rich in vitamin B6. This vitamin is a natural source of beta-blockers. According to a study in 2014, vitamin B6 can mimic the effects of antihypertensive medications such as diuretics, central alpha agonists, and calcium-channel blockers.

Vitamin B6 can also widen blood vessels by blocking angiotensin receptors. Angiotensin is a hormone with a powerful contrasting effect on blood vessels, increasing blood pressure.
Depending on its size, one zucchini provides about 35% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin B6.

To keep your blood pressure optimal in order to protect your heart and improve your heart health, consider including zucchini in your weekly diet.

It is best to eat zucchini raw to get all the benefits. If you never tried raw zucchini, it may sound weird. But trust me, raw zucchini is delicious. Try this raw zucchini recipe and enjoy!