The Healthy Properties Of Cucumber

This delicious fruit has a multitude of health properties and benefits for the body, especially due to its high water content. It is low in calories, refreshing and full of nutrients. Discover the most important properties of cucumber in the article below.

Cucumber Facts

This is a low calorie food with low amounts of carbohydrates. It contains a good amount of fiber and vitamins A, B, C and E. It is also a great source of water. 100 grams of this fruit contains only 13 calories and 97% of it is liquid.

Cucumber is a fruit that is very rich in the minerals potassium, iron, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium.

You can eat cucumber raw in salads. Many people slice them and sprinkle them with salt to take the bitter taste away a bit. It is also very common to eat cucumbers pickled in vinegar or oil.

You can eat them grated in salads and they can also be used as an ingredient in sandwiches. For example, in Spain, cucumber is known as one of the ingredients that make up a typical Spanish dish: gazpacho (with tomato, pepper, garlic and olive oil).

They are said to have originated in India, but this is not certain. They have been cultivated in Western Asia for 3000 years and they were probably brought to Europe by the Romans. Cucumber belongs to the same family as watermelon, cantaloupe and pumpkin.

Although people say it is a vegetable, in reality cucumbers are a fruit.

What are cucumbers used for?

The good properties of cucumber make it a ‘superfood’. It is very good for your health in general. Here are some of the good qualities of cucumber that you can enjoy:

Healthy properties of cucumber for the skin

Cucumber peel is used in various aesthetic treatments as this is the part where the caffeic acids, ascorbic acid and vitamin C are found in the highest concentrations.

They help keep your skin healthy, relieve irritation and reduce inflammation. For that reason, cucumber can be applied directly to your skin and is a ‘classic’ in the collective image of spas and beauty treatments for your eyes.

Cucumbers also help fight diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. And not only is cucumber peel good for external use, but it can also be consumed in a smoothie by grating it and adding it to a little water and the juice of half a lemon, to cleanse and cleanse your body.

Properties of cucumber for your tissue

One of the ingredients of cucumber is silica, which has many health benefits. This is a mineral with the ability to strengthen the body’s connective tissues. In other words: muscles, ligaments, tendons, cartilage and even bones.

It keeps your skin healthy and that is why it is found in many creams for the treatment of acne and skin diseases.

Properties of cucumber for the cardiovascular system

It contains good amounts of magnesium, fiber and potassium. These three components help in lowering blood pressure.

Properties of cucumber for digestion

If you have digestive problems such as frequent acidity or stomach bloating, don’t hesitate to eat cucumber. It will give you fiber, water, potassium and magnesium, all of which are found in the peel.

The other benefits of eating cucumber:

• It is an amazing diuretic, as it consists almost entirely of water, making it suitable for getting rid of excess fluid and fat from the body.
• It is good for balancing uric acid and is recommended for people who suffer from hypertension or fluid retention (which happens to your ankles).

• Cucumber is very rich in cellulose, which is why it is necessary to chew it well to avoid indigestion.
• It is a good repairer for the mucus in your intestines and that also makes it very good for protecting your stomach.
• Cucumber contains little energy in the form of calories, which helps you maintain your vitality and it also lowers the amount of fat.
• It helps your body get rid of toxins.
• It keeps your immune system in good shape because it contains vitamin B complex (especially B3, B5 and B9), carbohydrates, good fats and proteins.
• Cucumber protects you from colds because of its vitamin C content. It also helps heal injuries.

• It slows down skin and cell aging due to its A, C and E vitamins.
• It is a powerful protector against the toxins in food and the environment.

When is it better not to eat cucumber?

In some cases, we do not recommend eating cucumbers. For example, because it contains an ingredient called cucurbitacin, which causes indigestion and stomach gas.

That is why people who are prone to these conditions should reduce the consumption of this fruit. Other people may also develop allergies to certain ingredients in cucumber and their tongue, throat, or mouth may swell.

If consumed in excess, cucumber can cause dehydration, due to its potent diuretic properties. However, few cases of this are known. You would have to eat a few kilos of cucumber in a day to get a lack of water in your body.

Images courtesy of Stacy Spensley, Karen and Brad Emerson, Windell Oskay, Andy Melton, theilr, natalycolodi, Peter Oelschlaeger, and Liz west.