Zucchini squash (courgette)  belongs in the Cucurbitaceae (Cucurbita-pepo) family of vegetables.

Health benefits of zucchini (courgette)

1. Zucchini is one of the very low-calorie vegetables; provide only 17 calories per 100 g. It contains no saturated fats or cholesterol. Its peel is an excellent source of dietary fiber that helps reduce constipation and offers some protection against colon cancers.
2. Zucchinis have antioxidant value (Oxygen radical absorbance capacity- ORAC) of 180 Trolox Equivalents (TE) per 100g, the value which is far below to some of the berries, and vegetables. Nonetheless, the pods are one of the common food ingredients included in weight reduction and cholesterol control programs by the dieticians.
3. Furthermore, zucchinis, especially golden skin varieties, are rich in flavonoid polyphenolic antioxidants such as carotenes, lutein, and zeaxanthin. These compounds help scavenge harmful oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) from the body that play a role in aging and various disease processes.
4. Courgette hold relatively moderate amounts of folates; provides 24 µg or 6% of RDA per 100 g. Folates are important in cell division and DNA synthesis. When taken adequately during early pregnancy it can help prevent neural tube defects in the fetus.