Cucumbers are cooling fruits that are extremely beneficial for your health. Replete with a wide array of nutrients including folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, magnesium, silica, molybdenum, and fiber, these blanch, yet healthy delights are good for your skin, hair, and other parts of the body alike. From healing your sunburn to strengthening the connective tissues, cucumbers are thirst quenchers.
The cucumber plant is widely cultivated belongs to the gourd family. It is a creeping vine and consists of large leaves that are like a canopy over its fruit. It belongs to the Cucurbitaceous family such as pumpkins, squash and melons.
There are 2 varieties – the pickling and slicing.
In case they are unwaxed and organic, one can eat them without peeling. Wash them thoroughly and serve them as salads or one can have them with sesame seeds, mint, garlic, vinaigrette. One can add cucumber slices in sandwich. Similar to other vegetables, cucumber can be imported and available in the supermarket throughout the year. If it has become yellow in color and is wrinkled then it is not fresh.
Why Should You Eat Cucumbers? – Health Benefits of Cucumber
1. Keeps you hydrated
Keeping yourself hydrated is essential to ensure the proper functioning of all the parts of the human body. But if you are not able to drink sufficient quantity of water, include cucumber in your diets. More than 96% of cucumber is water, which helps in nourishing the body and keeping it healthy!
2. Reverses the bad effects of sun
Cucumber eases the ill effects of sun on your body, internally and externally. Topical application of fresh slices of cucumber or its juice could help in healing sunburn and skin conditions like miliaria or heat rashes. You can also drink a glass of freshly blended cucumber to prevent heat stroke by lowering the body temperature.
3. Slows down the premature aging of skin
Cucumber, being loaded with a wide array of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, help in eliminating the free radicals. These harmful compounds should be purged so prevent the onset of wrinkles and fine lines. Plus, the hydrating properties of cucumber locks the moisture, giving you a healthy, radiant glow.
4. Heals inflammatory skin conditions
Cucumber has natural astringent and anti-inflammatory properties that makes it a natural cure for pimples, acne, heat rashes, eczema, and insect bites. Mix 2 tsp of cucumber juice with a little turmeric powder and coconut oil and apply it on the affected area to heal the conditions. It could be mixed with the powder of Margosa leaves, lemon, and honey to cure acne and pimples.
5. Revives your eyes
Place chilled cucumber slices atop your tired eyes to revitalize and rejuvenate them. It is well-known for its ability to reduce puffiness and under eye bags. Being a natural skin lightening agent, it effectively helps in warding off dark circles under your eyes.
6. Takes care of your bones
One cup of cucumber yields about 22% of the recommended daily value of vitamin K. This vitamin plays a crucial role in strengthening your bones by improving the absorption of calcium. Thus, it helps in preventing the risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures.
7. Helps in detoxification
The fiber present in the hard skin of cucumber helps in eliminating the toxins by binding with them. Cut a cleaned, peeled cucumber into slices and add it to 1 liter of water. Chill the mixture for about 2 to 3 hours and drink it to promote detoxification.
8. Good for your brain
Cucumber contains an anti-inflammatory compound called fiestin that is good for your brain. According to a study, this compound has the potential to shield the brain from the effects of age-induced neurological conditions. The study also suggested that it helps in maintaining the cognitive functioning, thus alleviating the effects of Alzheimer’s disease.
9. Boosts your immunity
Cucumber contains vitamins like A, B, and C that helps in improving your immunity. Thus, regular intake of cucumber could shield you from a wide array of health conditions, including common cold and fever.
10. Nourishes your skin
Cucumber is a good source of magnesium, potassium, and the trace mineral silica, which makes it an efficient skin nourishing fruit. Make a paste by mixing 2 tbsp cucumber juice with 1 tsp each of aloe and honey. Apply it on cleansed face and wash off with normal water after half an hour for a nourished skin.
11. Aids in weight loss
The low fat, rich water and fiber content of cucumbers make it a weight loss friendly fruit. It also has anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties that promotes weight loss by cleansing the body and improving metabolism.
12. Cuts down the risk of cancer and cardiovascular conditions
Cucumbers contain lignans, a group of powerful polyphenols, which can lower the inflammatory responses in your body. This, eventually, helps in lowering the risk of various types of cancer as well as cardiovascular conditions. It also contains cucurbitacins, the anti-cancerous plant nutrients.
13. Natural solution for painful conditions
The presence of the anti-inflammatory compounds, flavonoids, as well as tannins help cucumber to eradicate free radicals from the body, easing the inflammations and pains experienced due to headaches or such conditions.
14. Benefits dental health
Cucumber releases various phytochemicals that eases the bad breath by killing the bacteria. Thus, it could be used effectively to treat conditions such as pyorrhea and mouth ulcers.
15. Helps to combat cellulite
The phytochemcials present in this fruit stimulate the synthesis of collagen, in turn removing the cellulite. A mixture of ground coffee, cocoa powder, honey, sugar, and cucumber juice can be applied on the cellulite-bound regions as an effective anti-cellulite solution.
16. Takes care of your digestive system
The fiber in cucumber peels helps in boosting the digestion and eliminating constipation. It is also an effective cure of hyper acidity and irritable bowel syndrome. This fruit contains erepsin, a powerful enzyme that helps in killing tapeworms and keeping your intestines healthy.
17. Natural antidote for hangovers
Since cucumber contains various vitamins and nutrients that could help in rehydrating the body and replacing the lost electrolytes, it could be effective used to heal hangovers. The anti-inflammatory properties of this fruit reduces the headaches due to hangovers.
18. Gifts your stronger hair
The presence of calcium, phosphorus, silica, sodium, and sulfur in cucumber prevents hair fall and promotes hair growth. It can also be used to rinse your hair to make it smoother and shinier.
19. Keeps your renal tract healthy
Cucumber is a powerful diuretic fruit that promotes detoxification. Hence, it can be used to maintain the health of your urinary tract and kidneys.
20. Good for diabetics
An enzyme present in this fruit helps the pancreatic cells to synthesize insulin. It also prevents the fluctuations in sugar levels, thus helping the diabetics.
21. Reduces cholesterol
The presence of sterols in cucumber reduces the levels of bad cholesterol, thus keeping your heart healthier and safe.
22. Lowers blood pressure
Every cup of cucumber gives you 152 mg potassium, a powerful mineral that helps in stabilizing the levels of blood pressure. Including at least one cup of cucumber could help in lowering the rates of stroke and cardiovascular conditions.
Now that you know the benefits of cucumber, when are you going to start including them in your diet?
1 Comment
In addition to the benefits of Cucumber mentioned above, I would like to add a few more into the list.
– Cucumber has cleansing properties which help in removing the toxins from the body.
– Intake of cucumber helps in improving the conditions related to chest, lungs and stomach.
– Intake of fresh cucumber juice reduces heartburn, gastritis.
– Cucumber juice also helps in treating conditions like eczema and gout.
– As cucumber is rich in minerals it is capable of treating splitting of nails in fingers and toes.
– Cucumber is also rich in fiber content which is beneficial in regulating the levels of cholesterol in the body and also improves the bowel movements.