Hey Friends!

I hope you took a look at my previous posts about superfoods because it goes into detail as to why cucumber is one of my favorite vegetables.

Too many people shun the cucumber? Why because they think it tastes weird. Does it? Yes, I think sometimes it does, which is why I prefer to juice them or add them to smoothies and salads.

I’m also enjoying them as a snack with some cayenne pepper, sea salt, and lemon juice. It’s not too bad!

Ok, so why should you get more cucumbers into your diet? There is much reason so I’ll make the list concise for you:

 

Glass of cucumber juice on white wooden background

 

Cucumber is great because:

 

  • They’re alkalising
  • They full of electronic charge, which helps your body function optimally
  • They’re 96% water so they help hydrate you, which is the second most important thing we need to survive (after oxygen)
  • They’re low in calories, which is important for maintaining a healthy weight
  • They’re low in carbs and sugar when compared with other vegetables and fruit
  • They’re cheap and accessible to everyone!

 

Let’s look into more detail the health benefits of cucumber:

 

Cucumber Are Hydrating

Cucumbers are 96% water, which means in 300g of cucumber there are 288 mls of water that’s almost 10% of your daily water consumption through food!

 

Cucumbers Are Great For Weight Loss

Cucumber contains water and fiber, which is responsible for making you full sooner. As cucumber is also super low in calories, you’re getting fairly full and satisfied with such few calories. That is the best way to maintain weight.

 

Cucumbers Protects Your Heart

Cucumbers are rich in potassium with 447 mg in just 1 medium cucumber (300g) that is 13% your RDA in just one serving. The best part, potassium is responsible for lowering high blood pressure, which is what reduces the risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease.

 

Cucumber Reduce Risk of Cancer

Cucumbers are known to contain lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol. These three lignans have a strong history in reducing the risk of several cancer types, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, and prostate cancer.

 

Cucumbers Fight Inflammation

Conducted by animal studies the extract of cucumbers helps reduce unwanted inflammation by inhibiting the activity of pro-inflammatory enzymes (including cyclo-oxygenase 2, or COX-2).

 

Cucumbers Freshen Your Breath

According to the principles of Ayurveda, placing slices of cucumber on the roof of your mouth may help fight odor-causing bacteria. Additionally consuming cucumbers could aid in the releasing excess heat from your stomach, which is said to be the primary cause of bad breath.

 

Cucumbers Help Manage Stress

Because cucumbers contain some B vitamins, they may help manage stress. As vitamin B is responsible for easing the feelings of anxiety.

 

Cucumbers Support Digestive Health

As Cucumbers as so high in water content and minerals, it helps with the struggle of acid reflux as the cucumber helps balance the stomach’s pH levels.

 

Cucumbers Are Great For Pain Relief

The flavonoids and tannins in cucumbers are anti-inflammatory, which can limit the release of free radicals in the body and reduce pain associated with it.

 

Cucumbers Are Great For Hangovers

Due to cucumbers high mineral, salt, water, and vitamin content they make an excellent electrolyte to help replenish you after a night out of drinking. So before heading to bed chomp on a few slices of cucumber, or better yet enjoy a cucumber, mint, and lemon juice!

 

Cucumbers Protect Your Brain From Neurological Disease

Cucumbers contain fisetin which is a flavonoid that contains anti-inflammatory properties. Fisetin appears to play an important role in brain healthy by protecting your nerve cells from age-related illnesses such as memory loss and learning impairments.

 

Cucumbers Are Great For Skin and Hair

The Silicon and sulfur found in cucumbers may help to stimulate hair growth. Additionally placing them on your puffy eyes may help reduce the puffiness! It would be worth trying the morning after not getting much sleep…or crying.

 

sliced cucumber on a wooden chopping board

 

So What Are Some Of The Best Ways To Get More Cucumbers Into Your Diet?

 

Cucumbers can be used in many recipes and in many ways. Here are some quick tips I’ve found made it easier for me to consume cucumbers:

 

  1. Juicing cucumbers- they provide a great base for vegetable juices. Skin and seeds are the most nutritious part of the cucumber so be sure to juice the whole thing. Cucumbers are best organic because their skin is full of wax, and pesticides, which are harder to wash off when compared with other fruit and vegetable.
  2. Add cucumbers to a smoothie- add 1 cup of cucumber to your smoothies, you won’t taste them at all and you require less liquid. They’re easier to consume in this form and they help boost the nutrient content of your smoothies exponentially.
  3. Cucumbers as snacks– Cucumbers taste amazing with some olive oil, sea salt, lemon juice, and cayenne pepper. Enjoy this snack all day and every day because it’s great for health, vitality, energy, and weight management
  4. Cucumber for dips- Cucumber tastes amazing with hummus. Clean and slice cucumber and dip it with hummus for a high fiber snack. This will taste amazing and keep you full for ages.
  5. Cucumber for soups- Cucumber is great in a chilled soup. Mix it with some avocado for extra thick and creaminess! It will shock your taste buds and become a definite favorite in your household. This soup will also be super healthy and alkalising!
  6. Cucumber for salads- Add cucumbers in salads in pretty obvious, and super delicious. You can add it to almost any salad, or make it a star in a tomato and feta salad, there are also many more cucumber recipes that include fill, and lemon juice, which goes great as a side to any pain dish!  

 

Cucumbers Vs. Apples

 

Wondering just how awesome cucumber really is? Let’s compare the nutritional information to apples

 

In 1 medium cucumber (300g) you get: In 1 Large Apple (300g) you get:
45 Calories 156 Calories
0g Fat 0g Fat
11g Carbs (2g fibre, 5g sugar) 42.3g Carbs (8g fibre, 30.2g Sugar)
2g protein 0g Protein
6% Vitamin A 4% Vitamin A
14% Vitamin C 22% Vitamin C
5% Calcium 2% Calcium
5% Iron 2% Iron
0% Vitamin D 0% Vitamin D
0% Vitamin E 2% Vitamin E
62% Vitamin K 8% Vitamin K
5% Thiamin 4% Thiamin
6% Riboflavin 4% Riboflavin
1% Niacin 2% Niacin
6% Vitamin B6 6% Vitamin B6
5% Folate 2% Folate
8% Pantothenic Acid 2% Pantothenic Acid
10% Magnesium 4% Magnesium
7% Phosphorus 4% Phosphorus
13% Potassium 10% Potassium
4% Zinc N/A
6% Copper 4% Copper
12% Manganese 6% Manganese
1% Selenium 0% Selenium
96% Water 84% Water

 

How to Prepare and Buy The Best Cucumbers?

Cucumbers contain pesticide residue, with the exception of organic produce. Even though the cucumbers contain small trace levels of this poisonous residue, their negative impact on health is well noted. Therefore the best and safest way to consume cucumbers are organic ones.

Don’t even consider peeling cucumbers or seeding them as this results in the loss of key nutrients and fiber found in both the skin and the seeds. This is why where possible I recommend organic cucumbers so you can safely consume the skin. If not, then wash your cucumbers thoroughly with a brush and apple cider vinegar. 

 

Additionally, cucumbers contain wax to protect them during transit. Organic cucumbers are coated with non-synthetic waxes, and these waxes are traditionally free from all chemical contaminants. Conventionally grown cucumbers are waxed with a synthetic wax, which contains unwanted chemical contaminants, which is why their part of the dirty dozen.

Bottom Line: Cucumbers are superfoods! They’re minerals and vitamins are higher than most other living produce, and they’re also affordable and easily accessible than almost anything else


Elizabeth Marks

Having been overweight and unhealthy her whole childhood, Elizabeth turned things around 6 years ago and hasn't looked back. Her passion for health and weight loss is only second to her immense knowledge and creativity for delicious low calorie cooking. A Marathon runner, Entrepreneur, Soccer Lover and fan of all things Diamond.