The taste and feel of cucumbers can really be a big help during the summer days, but cucumbers have multiple health benefits.
With this origins dated back to India, cucumbers are packed with nutrients, low in calories, and rich in water and electrolytes. The cucumber plant is a vine, a member of the Cucurbita family, they share a family with other fruits and vegetables such as melons, pumpkins, courgettes, etc. Cucumbers come in all shapes, sizes and colors globally. Usually they have a dark tone with a crunch texture with very rich seeds.
If you leave it to grow, it will increase its size, and the skin will become harder, yellow, while the seeds will turn yellow, and should not be eaten. You can find fresh cucumbers throughout the entire year, and here are some of the reasons you should consume them very often.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF CUCUMBERS
1. High in minerals
They contain a high amount of minerals like magnesium, potassium and silicon, all vital for a number of important bodily functions.
2. Great for toxins elimination
Cucumbers are loaded with water which eliminates the waste from the body, and even dissolves kidney stones.
3. Fight diabetes, lower cholesterol, and control blood pressure
Fiber, magnesium, and potassium, all of which are found in high levels in cucumbers, regulate blood pressure. The juice of cucumbers is rich in a hormone that is needed for pancreatic cells to produce insulin.
4. Abundant in vitamins
If you want to stack up on vitamins make sure you munch on a cucumber because they have all the vitamins your body needs, including vitamin B, C and A, which give you energy and stimulate your immune system.
5. Moisturize the body
Did you know that a cucumber is made of 90% water? No wonder it’s so refreshing, hydrating and moisturizing for your skin.
6. Improve your joints
Silicon in cucumbers strengthens the joints and the connective tissues, and if mixed with carrots, it treats gout and arthritis pain by reducing uric acid.
7. Support kidneys health
Cucumbers lower the uric acid amount in the body thus preserving your kidneys health.
8. Digestion and weight loss
Since they contain very low calorie count but have high water content they’re a great addition to every diet.
9. Fresh breath and healthy gums
The juices released when you chew the cucumber refresh the gums and heals inflammation. Cucumbers are also high in phytochemicals which fight bad breath and destroy bacteria.
10. Improved hair and nails quality
They are rich in silicon and sulfur which are important nutrients for good and healthy hair and nails. They also stimulate their growth.
11. Fight solar damage
Consuming cucumbers balances out your skin’s acidity, so you can use them against sunburns.
12. Great against hangover
The high vitamin B, sugar and electrolyte content treats headaches and hangovers, so make sure you eat a few slices of cucumbers before you go to sleep if you have drunk alcohol.
13. Ends with dark circles
Their potent anti-inflammatory properties remove dark circles or “bags” and swellings under the eyes.
14. Great taste
Cucumbers are really delicious, and due to the numerous nutrients and health benefits, they are the fourth most harvested vegetable in the world. Add them to salads, juices, and appetizers, and enjoy their refreshing flavor.
HERE’S AN EXCELLENT LOW-CALORIE CUCUMBER RECIPE
– 2 cups cucumber (peeled and chopped)
– 1/4 cup red onions (chopped)
– 2 tbsp. fresh parsley (nicely chopped)
– 1/2 cup tomato (chopped into small cubes)
– 4 ½ tsp. cilantro (fresh and chopped)
– 1 chili pepper (chopped and without seeds)
– 1 garlic clove (chopped)
– 1/4 cup Greek yogurt (cottage cheese/ricotta)
– 1 ½ tsp. lime juice
– 1 ½ tsp. lemon juice
– 1/4 tsp. sea salt
– 1/4 tsp. cumin powdered
PREPARATION
Mix everything until it’s nicely combined and serve on a slice of whole grain bread. Bon appetite!
