Reasons Why Cucumber is Good for Your Health

Cucumber (cucumis sativus) is known as a vegetable because of how it is use in the culinary world. However, it grows from flowers and contains seeds. It is botanically classifies as a fruit. Regardless of it fruit or vegetable status, there are many ways you can enjoy cucumber. Cucumber have a distinct mild melon like taste and smell as a result of the presence of aldehydes. Cucumber is slightly bitter because of the cucurbitacins in it.

In this article we will be examining the:

• Cucumber nutritional value
• Cucumber health benefits
• What you must know before consuming cucumber and
• How you can eat cucumber.

Are you ready?

Cucumber Nutritional Values

Cucumber contains the following minerals. They’re: sodium, silica, copper, potassium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus. It also contains vitamin (A, B1, C, D and K). It is rich in dietary fiber as well as pantothenic acid and molybdenum. Cucumber contains low calories, low protein and carbohydrates. The best way to eat cucumber is to “unpeel it”, to prevent loss of some fibres, vitamins and minerals.

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Cucumber Health Benefits

1. Eye Health: When eye become dry, cucumber can hydrates your skin and slows blood flow to around your eyes reducing dryness and redness. Cucumber on the eyes soothe pufiness and reduce dark circles on the skin. Slicing the bark of cucumber and placing them on your eyes for about 10 minutes relaxes your eyes and reduces puffiness around the eyes. Cucumber contains vitamin C that makes immune system stronger and beta carotene that is good for healthy vision.
2. Reduces Bad Breath: Consumption of cucumber increase saliva production in our mouth. Cucumber contains phytochemicals that fights bacteria that causes bad breath in the mouth.
3. Manages Stress: Eating of cucumber will help you to stay cool and relaxed due to vitamin B found in it. They help to fight stress and relaxes the body.
4. Brain Health: The presence of anti-inflammatory compound known as fisetin reduces the risk of development of cognitive diseases and age related cognitive disease such as alzheimer.
5. Help in Weight Loss: Cucumber contains 95% of water and low in calories that help in the reduction of weight when combined with exercise and healthy lifestyle.
6. Bone Health: Cucumber contains vitamin D that increases bone density and vitamin K that reduces bone fracture. Both vitamins combined together and strengthens our bones. It prevents osteoporosis in elderly men and women.
7. Body Detoxification: Regular consumption of cucumber help in the removal of accumulated waste and toxins out of the body. When cucumber juice is combined with carrot juice it is beneficial in the treatment and management of arthritis due to it ability to remove excess uric acid.
8. Keep You Hydrated: The amount of water you ingest from cucumber depends on your serving size. Cucumber contains 95% of water. Consumption of it helps in keeping you hydrated and prevent you from the damaging effects of dehydration.
9. Rich in Antioxidants and Micronutrients: Antioxidants in cucumber fights free radicals. Cucumber is rich in other antioxidants such as flavonoids and phytonutrients which contains anti-inflammatory properties and also protect cells from disease. According to the Journal of Aging Research and Clinical Practice, cucumber contains a group of polyphenols known as lignans that may be helpful in the treatment of estrogen related cancers.
10. Good for Hair and Nails: Cucumber contains mineral known as silica that strengthens the nails and prevent them from becoming brittle. That same silica is good for the hair.
11. Regulate Blood Pressure: Cucumber is rich in magnesium, potassium and dietary fiber that makes it effective in the stabilization of blood pressure. According to research elderly people with hypertension that regularly consume cucumber juice experience stability in their blood pressure compare to those who don’t.
12. Prevent Constipation: Cucumber is rich in water and soluble fibre that soften our stools, promote healthy bowel movements and prevents constipation.
13. Good for Healthy Digestion: Cucumber acts as stomach coolant and rich in soluble fibre that slows digestion.
14. Healthy Skin: Cucumber are great beauty enhancers. The application of cucumber juice on the skin makes it soft, glowy, reduces wrinkles and fine lines.
15. Regulate Blood Glucose: Cucumber is helpful in the management and prevention of diabetes mellitus. Consumption of cucumber won’t raise your blood glucose because it has “zero glycemic index”. It contains carbohydrates that can be easily digested by diabetic patients.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
The image of sliced cucumber

This article is for the purpose of knowledge. It is not a substitute to where the service of medical professional is urgently needed.

Next is…

What You Must Know Before Consuming Cucumber

They include:

• People allergic to cucumber may show symptoms such as hives, swelling and difficulty in breathing.
• People taking blood thinners shouldn’t consume too much cucumber because vitamin K in it can make blood clothing to become hard.
• Consumption of cucumber can result in digestive issues such as bloating and flatulence in some people.
• People suffering from kidney disorder shouldn’t consume too much cucumber so that it won’t increase the water and potassium content in their body.

How You Can Eat Cucumber

The good thing about cucumber is it versatility. The mild flavor makes it easy to add to a variety of dishes. To include cucumber in your diet, you can:

1. Slice Cucumber: Cucumbers are a great inclusion to salads, sandwiches and wraps. They can provide a little crunch.
2. Blend Cucumber: Adding cucumber to your smoothie gives you all the health benefits of cucumber without overpowering your smoothie.
3. Dip Cucumber: The crunch of cucumbers look like a potato chip. Dip them in salad dressing, hummus or your favorite dip.
4. Drink Cucumber: Make cucumber juice by blending slice cucumbers with water and straining it.
5. Eat Cucumber: Wash your cucumber. Do not peel it, to get all the benefits.
6. Top Your Cucumber: Treat a cucumber slice like a cracker. Top it with veggies or cream cheese.

Sources:

1. https://womenshealthmag.com/food/a28351053/health-benefits-of-cucumbers/
2. https://m.timesofindia.com/life-style/food-news/is-cucumber-fruit-or-vegetable-herbs-the-answer/photostory/69674283.cms
3. http://health.clevelandclinic.org/benefits-of-cucumbers/
4. www.glenmoristontownhouse.com/blog/2019/03/7-health-benefits-of-eating-cucumber
5. https://pharmeasy.in/blog/healthy-effects-of-cucumber-for-summer/

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