Cucumber is an age-old veggie that is known to mankind for its cooling features. It’s because of its crispy and refreshing taste that its cultivated almost all around the globe. Not only it just tastes delicious, it’s a power-packed super-food loaded with minerals, vitamins, water and high quality of dietary fiber. Right from some ancient system of medicine; like Ayurveda and Chinese system of medicine, to the majority of modern-day nutritionists, all point out at the identical facts, benefits and inclusion of cucumber in our diet on regular basis. But have you ever wondered why ? I have tried to explain some of the reasons along-with health benefits of cucumber.
1) Loaded with fiber: I personally feel that high fiber content is the biggest health benefit of cucumber. 100 grams of cucumber contains roughly around 0.5 gm of fiber. High fiber content in a diet is an ultimate criteria for proper digestion; so the high fiber content of cucumber aids digestion. According to Ayurveda, indigestion is root cause of all disease. So if you control digestion, most of your physical ailments will be out of the window. Simple as that.
2) Eliminates Toxins: In addition to fibers, cucumber is loaded with considerable amount of water. Almost 90% of cucumber is water. This water flushes out the toxins that get collected in the body thereby cleansing out the body. In addition, the water content will also keep you hydrated and prevent any forms of dehydration.
3) Weight Loss: Cucumber is known to be low in calories. 100 grams of Cucumber contains around 16 calories which makes it an idle food for weight reduction. Owing to its low-calorie content, you can easily gulp some extra cucumber salads without bothering about the total calorie intake.Also, the saturated fiber in the cucumber slows down the stomach content emptying process. Consequently you will feel full for longer and urge to eat will decrease which will lead to organic decrease in calorie intake. Thus low calorie content and high fiber content collectively makes it one of the ideal food for the ones who need to get back in shape and loose some weight.
4) Excellent for Brain Health: Cucumbers is known to have an anti-inflammatory flavonol called fisetin that plays an important role in healthy brain functions. It helps in improving memory functions, maintaining the intellect and protecting the neurons (nerve cells of brain).
5) Cooling Property: According to Ayurveda, ancient Indian system of Medicine, cucumber is ‘cool’ in nature. Even the modern-day scientists have agreed to the above mentioned fact. Cucumber is known to help in heartburn, acidity, acid reflux and gastritis. When ingested, the water content in cucumber will temporarily increase the pH of stomach thereby decreasing the symptoms of heartburn.
Cooling action of cucumber is not only limited internally, but also externally. It soothe the skin in case of sunburns and miliaria.
6) Fights Inflammation: Mostly the inflammatory response of the body is dependent on the activity of pro-inflammatory enzymes (including cyclo-oxygenase 2, or COX-2). Extract of cucumber inhibits this pro-inflammatory enzyme called COX-2 and thus imparts anti-inflammatory response.
7) Power-packed with Vitamins: Cucumber is packed with Vitamins A, a vast group of B vitamins (B1, B2,B3, B5, B6,B7), Vitamin C and Vitamin K. All these vitamins are attributed to general well-being of the body and boosting the immune response of the body. So seeping a glass of cucumber juice or a eating a cup of raw chopped cucumber will really boost up your body.
8) Power-packed with minerals: Cucumber contains calcium, manganese, magnesium, potassium, zinc, phosphorous, copper and trace amount of iron and silicon which makes almost 80 % of minerals needed in day-to-day life. So a cucumber contains large variety of minerals and thus can be called a super-food without any doubt.
9) Skin friendly: Cucumbers are very much beneficial to skin as it contains many skin beneficiary minerals like magnesium, potassium and silicon. Also, its soothing effect is also the reason being cucumber skin friendly.
10) Soothing to eyes: Applying cucumber slices to eyes to ease out irritation and to impart coolness to eyes is an age-old and time-tested remedy. Also applying cucumber slices to the eyes will help in reducing the dark circles and puffiness of eyes.
11) Fights Cancer: According to the latest developments in Cancer studies, cucumber is known to contain 3 lignans secoisolariciresinol, lariciresinol and pinoresinol. Regular use of cucumber will reduce the risk of many types of cancers including breast, prostate and uterine cancer.
12) Cures Halitosis (Bad breath): Bad breath is a result of decaying, bleeding gums, poor oral hygiene and resultant bacterial growth in oral cavity. Vitamin C and Vitamin K are very good at preventing tooth and gum decay. Vitamin K is extremely crucial to prevent bleeding gums. In addition the phytochemicals present in cucumber imparts anti-bacterial activity and kills the developing bacteria in oral cavity to cure halitosis.
13) Promotes joint health and kidney health: Like I mentioned previously, cucumber contains silica which is strengthens the connective tissues and thus play a crucial role in joint health. Also, cucumber juice has proved tendency to lower uric acid levels. So it can be used in variety of arthritic conditions, especially gout. Ability of cucumber to decrease uric acid levels is beneficial to keep the kidney healthy too. When carrot juice is added to cucumber juice, potency to decrease the uric acid levels increases.
Warning: When taking the mixture of cucumber juice with carrot juice, just make sure to hydrate yourself adequately; as cucumber is really a very good and potent diuretic and absence of enough hydration can adversely affect the kidney.
14) Regulates blood pressure and reduces cholesterol: Cucumber is rich in fiber, potassium and magnesium. These components are essential to maintain blood pressure. Also the diuretic property of cucumber helps to regulate the blood pressure. cucumber is beneficial in both; Low blood pressure and high blood pressure. Many researches have yielded scientists the compound called sterols which are effective in reducing the Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) levels or bad cholesterol levels considerably in a natural way.
Well I think I have given reasonably a good explanation about the health benefits of cucumber. So I really recommend you all start eating cucumber; raw, as salads or juices.But I highly recommend eating raw cucumber salads seasoned with pepper and lime juice.
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Stay tuned. Stay Healthy and Go Natural.
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