Superfoods shouldn't overshadow vegetables

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DALLAS, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Zucchini may not be a nutritional powerhouse -- or described as a "superfood" -- but it should be eaten regularly, a U.S. nutritionist advises.

Lona Sandon, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, says superfoods like broccoli, spinach or tomatoes may make headlines, and many popular summer vegetables such as summer squash, zucchini and cucumbers may seem nutritionally insignificant, but they do have value.

"These vegetables may not be packed with a lot of the major nutrients touted on charts and labels, but they're good sources of other nutrients, including zinc, potassium and folic acid," Sandon says in a statement. "They're also high in water and fiber and are low-fat, meaning they can help you lose weight so they should find their way onto your plate."