THE Healthiest bread: Zucchini Loaf

The pic above shows how your ingredients will look when combined in the food processor bowl for a swift blend 🙂 I thought it would be prudent to get this recipe up on the site ASAP because I’ve been telling my clients about it and everyone wants a copy, which has meant a lot of copy and pasting (!). So bringing this lil beauty out into the world today. I hope you love it and it brings your beautiful body joy! 

Why I loooooooove zucchini

Zucchini might seem like a humble vegetable, but it’s a quiet powerhouse when it comes to gut health and overall wellbeing. Technically a fruit (yes, really!), zucchini belongs to the summer squash family and is packed with water, fibre, antioxidants, and essential nutrients. It’s versatile, affordable, and gentle on the digestive system—making it an ideal choice for those of us looking to support their gut and feel better in their bodies.

Gut health starts with fibre

One of the standout features of zucchini is its fibre content, particularly soluble fibre in the form of pectin. This type of fibre helps feed beneficial gut bacteria, promotes regular bowel movements, and supports a healthy gut lining. Pectin also helps regulate blood sugar and cholesterol—two major health markers tied closely to gut health and metabolic resilience. 

Zucchini’s also easy on the digestive system. For people with sensitive digestion, IBS, or during times of gut repair (like post-antibiotics or after a stomach bug), cooked zucchini is soothing and unlikely to cause bloating or irritation. It’s often recommended in low-FODMAP and SIBO protocols as a safe veggie that still provides nourishment without overstimulating a fragile gut.

It’s a bit of a hydration HERO

Zucchini is over 90% water, which helps hydrate the colon and supports regular elimination. A good one for women in midlife and perimenopause too when our internal terrain becomes more dry and heaty. Many people underestimate the importance of hydration for gut health—without enough water, fibre can actually make constipation worse. Ever has psyllium husks or chia seeds sprinkled on top of muesli? You’ll know what I mean, you need water to create that mucilaginous texture in fibre-rich foods otherwise it just clogs you up.  Zucchini solves both problems at once: it delivers water and fibre in a gut-friendly package.

This makes it particularly helpful during perimenopause and menopause, when changes in estrogen can slow gut motility and contribute to bloating or constipation.

Some other benefits of zucchini are its nutritional content. Zucchini contains a range of antioxidants, including vitamin C, beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. These compounds help reduce inflammation in the gut lining, protect against oxidative stress, and may lower the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and even colon cancer.

Chronic, low-grade gut inflammation is a root cause of many health issues, from skin conditions to hormone imbalances. Adding anti-inflammatory foods like zucchini is a simple but powerful step toward healing. In Chinese Medicine, zucchini is a cooling and moistening food, helping to balance excess internal heat and dryness—both of which can show up as gut symptoms, not just menopause.

Got high blood sugar levels? Zucchini’s got you. 

Zucchini is naturally low in calories and carbohydrates, making it a smart choice for blood sugar regulation and weight management. It can easily replace higher-carb foods like pasta (hello, zoodles!) or potatoes, helping to lighten meals without sacrificing satisfaction.

The fibre in zucchini slows the absorption of glucose, helping prevent blood sugar spikes and crashes—both of which affect energy, mood, and cravings. This is especially important for people with insulin resistance, PCOS, or those navigating the metabolic shifts of midlife.

It’s always in my detox programs

While the word “detox” gets thrown around a lot, the truth is our bodies are detoxifying all the time—and we can support that process with the right foods. Zucchini contains chlorophyll and other phytonutrients that support liver function, bile flow, and elimination. It’s not a detox miracle on its own, but it’s a supportive team player in a whole-food-based, liver-loving diet.

Thanks to Sarah for the recipe inspo and head here to check out her books.

Other recipes you might like: 

• Gut-loving Golden Loaf with Feta & Dandelion
• Delicious Nut and Seed Butter for Perimenopause and Menopause
• Macrobiotic Green Goddess Dressing
• Vegan healing broth with medicinal herbs
• Low Histamine Nourishing Chicken Broth
• Golden Roasted Cauliflower Soup
• Gut Lovin Seed bread Premix
• Hearty Spiced Butter Beans
• Delicious Shiitake Immunity Fritters

Until next time,