The cucumber—so plain-looking, yet so versatile. This amazing fruit—yes, it’s a fruit, a member of the gourd family—has endless uses.
Are cucumbers healthy? Good heavens, yes! Cucumbers are about 96% water. The water they bring you contributes significantly to your hydration. Studies have shown that increased fruit and vegetable consumption is strongly associated with improved hydration.
The fruit's high water content can also aid weight loss. Numerous studies across thousands of people have shown that eating foods high in water and low in calories leads to significant weight loss.
Studies done on animals show that cucumbers may help lower blood sugar and prevent diabetes-related complications. This has yet to be tested on people, but the animal studies do show promise.
Nutrition and Calories. The cucumber is low in cholesterol, sodium, fat, carbohydrates, fat, and calories. A cup of cucumber, peel on, is 16 calories, and peel off is 15 calories. The peel and the seeds contain most of the fruit’s nutrients. The peel offers beta-carotene and the seeds contain calcium. You’ll also get four percent of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of potassium, four percent of vitamin C, and three percent of daily fiber. Cucumbers offer small amounts of vitamin A, vitamin K, manganese, and magnesium. They’re also solid sources of plant chemicals that have preventive or protective properties, and so they have anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant benefits.
Benefits of Cucumber Water. Cucumber water can help soothe your skin from the inside out. Its hydration helps flush out toxins lurking in your body, which leads to a healthy complexion. The fruit is also high in vitamin B5, which is often used to treat acne.
Cucumber water can help boost your bone health. The body needs vitamin K to help form the proteins necessary for healthy bones, healthy tissues, and to help your blood clot properly. The cucumber brings vitamin K.
Benefits of Cucumber Juice. The juice of the fruit, which of course is more concentrated than cucumber water, has additional benefits. It’s common knowledge that cucumber slices, and juice, can reduce eye puffiness. But did you know that the juice is also good for stimulating hair growth because of its sulphur content?
Cucumbers, and cucumber juice, are also a great source of silicon dioxide, which promotes joint health because it strengthens connective tissues. Consistent consumption of cucumber juice is also believed to help relieve arthritis pain because it lowers acid levels in the body. One or two cucumbers are always present in our daily fleshly squeezed juice.
There are commercial cucumber waters and juices out there. One brand lists its lemon and cucumber water as containing “artesian water and all-natural flavors, carbon dioxide, and sodium bicarbonate added for flavor and balance.” The label indicates that each serving has 30 mgs of sodium. Fresh is always best. If you make it yourself, you know exactly what’s in it. What’s more, cucumber juice is easy to make! All you need is a container, water, cucumber slices, and a couple of hours’ time in the fridge. The result will be more wholesome, and easier on your wallet.
Cucumbers and Fiber. Cucumber skin contains insoluble fiber which adds bulk to your stool. This helps food move through the digestive tract for a healthy elimination.
Cucumber Cubes for Beautiful Skin
Watch my video.
Cucumber Cubes Facial
Repair Chlorine-damaged Hair
Do you often swim in chlorinated pools? Take one yolk of a raw egg, one tablespoon of organic olive oil, and half a peeled cucumber. Blend them until they’re smooth. Apply evenly through your hair, leave on for fifteen minutes, then rinse.
Cool Your Summer Bath
Have you had a hot, sticky day and don’t relish the idea of getting into a tub of hot, steamy water? Into a tub of barely warm water, add two cups of Epsom salt, two sliced cucumbers, a tablespoon of peppermint or wintergreen essential oil.
Garden Slugs Gone
Slugs in your garden? Here’s your remedy…Place cucumber slices in an aluminum pie tin. The cucumber will react with the aluminum, creating a scent the slugs can’t stand.
Useful Inside and Out
One of the best things you can do for yourself is to hydrate. I can’t stress enough how vital it is! Include more cucumber in your diet, and you’ll see and feel the results.