"Though commonly thought to be a vegetable, cucumber is actually a fruit. It's high in beneficial nutrients, as well as certain plant compounds and antioxidants that may help treat and even prevent some conditions." -- Healthline
Cucumber is a widely cultivated plant in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae. It is a creeping vine that bears cucumiform fruits that are used as vegetables. There are three main varieties of cucumber: slicing, pickling, and seedless.
The importance of taking a reasonable amount of fruits and vegetables daily cannot be over emphasized. The proverb: an apple a day keeps the doctor away is also true with cucumber.
Cucumber has been one of my favorite fruits even before I knew these health benefits... And now, my love for cucumber has increased tremendously.
Without wasting time, here's a short list of some amazing health benefits of cucumber you might want to know. I guess you already know some these health benefits of cucumber but I bet you'll see something new...
Please, help share with your friends.
Also Read: Top Health Benefits o Apple Fruit You Probably Don't Know.
Health Benefits of Cucumber:
1. 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!2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Supplies skin-friendly minerals: magnesium, potassium, silicon. That’s why cucumber-based treatments are popular in spas.
6. Aids in weight loss. Enjoy cucumbers in your salads and soups. My favorite snack? Crunchy cucumber sticks with creamy yogurt dip.
7. 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.
8. Cuts cancer risk. Cut down your risk of several cancers by including cucumber in your diet. Several studies show its cancer-fighting potential.
9. Stabilizes blood pressure. Patients that struggle with blood pressure, both high and low, often find that eating cucumber brings relief.
10. Refreshes the mouth. Cucumber juice refreshes and heals diseased gums, leaving your mouth smelling good.
11. Smooths hair and nails. Silica, the wonder mineral in cucumber makes your hair and nails stronger and shinier.
12. Soothes muscle and joint pain. All those vitamins and minerals in cucumber make it a powerful enemy of muscle and joint pain.
13. Keeps kidneys in shape. Cucumber lowers uric acid levels in your system, keeping the kidneys happy.
14. 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.
15. Reduces cholesterol. A compound called sterols in cucumber helps reduce bad cholesterol.
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16. Protect your brain from neurological diseases. An anti-inflammatory substance called fisetin is present in cucumbers, as well as strawberries and grapes.
It has recently been suggested that fisetin plays an important role in brain health: It would have “the ability to reduce the impact of age-related neurological diseases on brain function,” and it would also help maintain cognitive function in people with Alzheimer’s disease.
17. Prevent constipation. Cucumbers are rich in water, and their skin contains insoluble fiber. Both water and fiber help food to move through the digestive tract quicker and more easily, helping prevent constipation.
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18. Manage Stress. Cucumbers contain multiple B vitamins, including vitamin B1, vitamin B5, and vitamin B7 (biotin). B vitamins are known to help ease feelings of anxiety and buffer some of the damaging effects of stress.
19. Support Your Digestive Health. Cucumbers are rich in two of the most basic elements needed for healthy digestion: water and fiber. Adding cucumbers to your juice or salad can help you meet the ideal of amount of fiber your body needs — 50 grams per 1,000 calories consumed. If you struggle with acid reflux, you should know that drinking water can help suppress acute symptoms of acid reflux by temporarily raising stomach pH; it's possible that water-rich cucumbers may have a similar effect.
Cucumber skins contain insoluble fiber, which helps add bulk to your stool. This helps food to move through your digestive tract more quickly for healthy elimination.
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20. Cures Hangover. This is because they help to rehydrate the body’s nutrients and eliminate the toxins that are present due to the intake of alcohol. The sugar, vitamin B, and electrolytes in the cucumber will reduce the intensity of the hangover and the headache.
21. Good for Dental Health. The fruit releases phytochemicals that kill the bad breath causing bacteria. Cucumber juice can effectively treat gum diseases like pyorrhoea and weak gums. Cucumber keeps gums and teeth healthy as it removes bad odor from the mouth. The photochemical present in it kills the bacteria in the mouth. Regular consumption of cucumber with the seeds neutralizes acids in the mouth and promotes salivation.
22. Maintains Electrolyte Balance. Cucumbers regulate the blood pressure level in your body at the optimum. Cucumbers are one of the best sources of potassium and contain 136 milligrams of potassium per 100 grams. Potassium in blood neutralizes the effects of sodium and helps maintain electrolyte balance.
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