What is Cucumber?
Cucumber is a very edible fruit which comes from the cucumber plant cucumis sativus, which is part of the gourd family. It is being used for different purpose as it can be eaten raw or cooked. With so many health benefits it becomes one of the most important parts of food diet as well as skin diet.
Cucumber is that long, cylindrical green fruit with watery, fresh taste seen mostly everywhere. It comes in different sizes and has rounded edges. cucumbers too are best-harvested young, tender and just short of reaching maturity; at the stage when they taste sweet, have crunchy texture, and almost neutral flavor. If left uninterrupted, the fruit continues to grow in size, its skin becomes tougher and turns yellow, and seeds become hard and inedible. Fresh cucumbers are available throughout the season and can be eaten raw, in vegetable salads or juicing
Health Benefits of Cucumber
Control Blood Pressure: Cucumber juice contains a lot of potassium, magnesium and fiber that work effectively for regulating blood pressure. This makes cucumber good for treating both low blood pressure and high blood pressure.
Fight cancers: Cucumber are known to contain lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol – three lignans that have a strong history of research in connection with reduced risk of several cancer types, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, uterine cancer, and ovarian cancer.
Acts as a diuretic: The water content of Cucumber acts as a diuretic. It encourages the elimination of waste products from the body through urination. Regular intake of cucumber helps to dissolve bladder or kidney stones.
Aid in weight loss: Due to its low calorie and high water content, cucumber is an ideal diet for people who looking for weight loss.
Beneficial for teeth and gums: Cucumber juice is also beneficial for people with teeth and gums problems, especially in cases of pyorrhea. Cucumber is a good source of dietary fiber and this fiber massage in the teeth and gums.
Aid digestion: Digestive disorders like acidity, heartburn, gastritis and even ulcers can be cured by the daily consumption of fresh cucumber juice. The high water content and dietary fiber in cucumber are very effective in driving away the toxins from the digestive system and hence aid digestion. Daily consumption of cucumbers can be regarded as a remedy for chronic constipation.
Promotes Joint health: Cucumber is an excellent source of silica, which known to help promotes joint health by strengthening the connective tissues.
Keep body hydrated: Cucumber has 96% water content that is more nutritious than regular water, which helps in keeping the body hydrated and regulating body temperature. It also helps in flushing out the toxins from the body.
Treat tapeworms: Cucumber seeds are used as a natural remedy for treating tapeworms. Bruised cucumber seeds mixed with water are also effective in the treatment of swellings of the mucous membranes of the nose and the throat.
Nail care: The high silica content of cucumber also helps to prevent splitting and spoiling of nails of the fingers and toes.
Relieve gout and arthritis pain: Cucumber is rich in vitamin A, B1, B6, C & D, Folate, Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium, when mixed with carrot juice, they can relieve gout and arthritis pain by lowering the uric acid levels.
Cures diabetes: The cucumber juice has been found to be beneficial for the diabetic patients. This vegetable contains a hormone needed by the cells of the pancreas for producing insulin.
Skin care: The high water content, vitamins A, B & C and the presence of certain minerals like magnesium, potassium, and silica make cucumbers an essential part of skin care. Facial masks containing cucumber juice can be used for skin tightening. Ascorbic acid and caffeic acid present in cucumbers can bring down the water retention rate which in turn diminishes the puffiness and swelling under the eyes. Cucumber skin also can bring relief to the skin caused by sunburn or windburn.
Reduces cholesterol: Researchers found that some compound called sterols in cucumber may help reduce cholesterol levels.
Stimulate hair growth: Cucumber contains silicon and sulphur and thus a regular intake of cucumber can help promote healthy hair growth. For best results, mix cucumber juice with the juices of carrot, lettuce or spinach.
Uses of Cucumber
- It is used Relieve Sunburn or Fever
- It is used to Strengthen Hair and Nails
- It is used to ward off Pests
- It is Stave off Hunger
- It is used to Avoid a Hangover of Headache
- It is used to Kill Bad Breath
- It is Prevent Fogging
- It is used to Get Rid of Cellulite
- It is used to Shine Shoes
- It is used to. Treat Tapeworms