I eat cucumbers at least four times a weak because of the health benefits. Cucumber is from the family Cucurbitaceae and is botanically recognized as Cucumis sativus. The cucumber is a popular plant used extensively as a fresh food as well as pickles. Like most members of the cucurbitaceae family, cucumber is a fruit but is typically used as a vegetable. Cucumbers are a vine that can be grown along the ground or trained along a trellis or other structure such as a garden arch or wooden frame. They are typically left to creep along the ground in most garden environments.
Cucumbers are rich in vitamins, vitamins that you need for your daily functioning. They are rich in Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6, Vitamin C, Folic Acid, Carbohydrates and Minerals like Zinc, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Potassium and Phosphorous. You can use Cucumbers in many ways to improve your health and boost your vitality.
Facts About Cucumbers
· Cucumbers are a fruit, but are typically treated as a vegetable.
· Cucumbers are amongst the oldest of cultivated vegetables.
· Cucumbers are more than 90% water, a natural diuretic they aid in assisting the promotion of the flow of urine.
· Because the most flavour is in cucumber seeds, the medium and smaller sized varieties tend to have more flavour.
· Some people assume the skin is poisonous on cucumbers. My father would always peel cucumber before slicing it. He would also cut the first inch off the end of cucumbers with a similar belief that they were poisonous. The skin is actually quiet high in nutrients and adds a small amount of flavour.
Health Benefits Of A Cucumber
· Soothes muscle and joint pain. All those vitamins and minerals in cucumber make it a powerful enemy of muscle and joint pain.
· Keeps kidneys in shape. Cucumber lowers uric acid levels in your system, keeping the kidneys happy.
· Good for diabetics. Patients of diabetes can enjoy cucumber while also reaping its health benefits: cucumber contains a hormone needed by the cells of the pancreas for producing insulin.
· Reduces cholesterol. A compound called sterols in cucumber helps reduce bad cholesterol.
· Keeps you hydrated. If you are too busy to drink enough water, munch on the cool cucumber, which is 96 percent water. It will cheerfully compensate!
· Fights heat, both inside and out. Eat cucumber, and your body gets relief from heartburn. Apply cucumber on your skin, and you get relief from sunburn and itchy skin.
· Flushes out toxins. All that water in cucumber acts as a virtual broom, sweeping waste products out of your system. With regular use, cucumber is known to dissolve kidney stones.
· Nourishes you with vitamins. A B and C, which boost immunity, give you energy and keep you radiant. Give it more power by juicing cucumber with carrot and spinach.
· Supplies skin-friendly minerals: magnesium, potassium, silicon. That’s why cucumber-based treatments are popular in spas.
· Aids in weight loss. Enjoy cucumbers in your salads and soups. My favorite snack? Crunchy cucumber sticks with creamy yogurt dip.
· Revives the eyes. Placing chilled slices of cucumber on the eyes is a clichéd beauty visual, but it really helps reduce under-eye bags and puffiness.
· Cuts cancer risk. Cut down your risk of several cancers by including cucumber in your diet. Several studies show its cancer-fighting potential.
· Stabilizes blood pressure. Patients that struggle with blood pressure, both high and low, often find that eating cucumber brings relief.
· Refreshes the mouth. Cucumber juice refreshes and heals diseased gums, leaving your mouth smelling good.
· Smooths hair and nails. Silica, the wonder mineral in cucumber makes your hair and nails stronger and shinier.
How To Make Cucumber Water
1. Slice a cleaned, peeled (or unpeeled depending on your preference) cucumber into 1/2 inch slices.
2. Combine cucumber slices in water, and type with ice. Allow to marinate for at least an hour. (For best results, allow it to marinate overnight in the refrigerator.)
The cucumber slices will float, so it’s important to top with ice to keep them submerged.
To avoid having to use ice, try purchasing a fruit infused water pitcher that holds the cucumber slices in an infusion chamber. They work great, the large pitchers look fantastic on a dinner table and encourage your family to drink more water, and the travel bottles help keep you hydrated all day long.
You can refill the pitcher or travel bottle several times before it starts to lose flavor.
You can even eat the cucumber slices if you like, but discard your batch after 24 hours.
Nutrients In Cucumbers
Cucumbers are an excellent source of vitamin K and molybdenum. They are also a very good source of the pantothenic acid. They are also a good source of copper, potassium, manganese, vitamin C, phosphorus, magnesium, biotin and vitamin B1. They also contain the important nail health-promoting mineral silica.
Cucumber, sliced, raw1.00 cup104.00 gramsCalories: 16GI: very low
Nutrient Amount DRI/DV(%) NutrientDensity World’s HealthiestFoods Rating
vitamin K 17.06 mcg 19 21.9 excellent
molybdenum 5.20 mcg 12 13.3 excellent
pantothenic acid 0.27 mg 5 6.2 very good
copper 0.04 mg 4 5.1 good
potassium 152.88 mg 4 5.0 good
manganese 0.08 mg 4 4.6 good
vitamin C 2.91 mg 4 4.5 good
phosphorus 24.96 mg 4 4.1 good
magnesium 13.52 mg 3 3.9 good
biotin 0.94 mcg 3 3.6 good
vitamin B1 0.03 mg 3 2.9 good