Do you know that cucumbers are one of the best summertime foods to eat to stay hydrated and moisturized? Consuming cucumbers in your meals is a big deal during the summer season.
Why is this so? Cucumber contains over 95% of water and can keep your body well-hydrated, additionally can also aid in lose weight process and prevent chronic ailments at the same time.
Cucumbers include many vitamins, antioxidants, and other nutrients that may help prevent a wide range of diseases, which include cancer and diabetes, as well as maintain the health of bones, skin, and muscles.
It is often recommended that you stay hydrated. Doctors would advise you to drink plenty of water to keep your body healthy and rejuvenated.
Notwithstanding, people who consume large amounts of water can find it boring and exhausting, and as well leave you feeling bloated! You could make your water exciting to drink by infusing chunks of diced cucumbers into your water jars or bottles.
Nutritional Facts of Cucumber
Cucumbers are plant-based foods that can help with a variety of health issues. Cucumber plants contain antioxidants such as flavonoids, triterpenes, and lignans, which have anti-inflammatory attributes and can help fight cancer.
One medium of unpeeled, raw cucumber, contains the following:
- Calories: 30
- Total fat: 0 grams
- Carbs: 6 grams
- Protein: 3 grams
- Fiber: 2 grams
- Vitamin C: 10% of the recommended daily value (DV)
- Vitamin K: 57% of the DV
- Magnesium: 9% of the DV
- Potassium: 12% of the DV
- Manganese: 9% of the DV
Registered nutritionists and dieticians recommend including the skin of the cucumber along with its seeds on your plate because they contain multiple nutrients and are very essential for your body.
Eating peeled or a whole cucumber with seeds intact will help you obtain lots of fiber and beta-carotene, an antioxidant that will help boost your immunity against sickness.
Benefits of Cucumber Water
Cucumber water is a great detoxifier and may provide multiple health benefits, which include weight loss, hydration, blood pressure reduction, and promoting healthy skin. It is really simple to make and a great alternative to popular, sugary vitamin waters.
For Aiding Weight Loss Process
Do you know that if you are trying to lose weight, substituting cucumber water for carbonated drinks such as soda, sports drinks, and juices can help you cut some serious calories from your diet?
Staying hydrated also greatly helps in feeling full. Your body can sometimes confuse thirst with hunger. You may feel hungry when you are thirsty.
To keep The Body Hydrated
Without water, the body cannot function properly. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the human body needs enough water to function properly and maintain overall health.
Women need to drink 2.2 liters (9 cups), and Men require 3 liters (13 cups) of water each day.
A person can lose fluid when exercising or due to illness or hot weather, but this requires the person to consume more liquid to make up for the loss.
No doubt it is important to drink water throughout the day, but plain water can get boring. Adding cucumber adds flavor and encourages you to drink more.
Rich in Fiber
Cucumber water is best known as a good source of nutritious fiber that will help your body function properly. The combination of fiber and water in cucumbers might help prevent constipation and also increase regularity in the body system.
This is why most dieticians encourage diabetic patients to consume more cucumber regularly, as it can cause the pancreas to secrete the right amount of insulin, needed helping in regulate the sugar produced.
To promote Healthy Bones
Cucumber-infused waters are also a great source of calcium which is needed to eliminate the risks of low bone density and fractures. If it might interest you, adding cucumber to your diet will enable you to enjoy having stronger bones and cartilage regardless of your age. Cucumbers might also help to improve the absorption of calcium, enhancing the repair of bone muscles.
For relieving constipation
Not taking the right amount of water and dietary fiber in your body may cause constipation, causing you great discomfort and pain. Eating cucumber salad every single day can help replenish the water and fibers your body needs so that the passage of stool becomes smooth and painless.
It provides antioxidants
Antioxidants are substances that aid in the prevention and postponement of cell damage caused by oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Chronic conditions caused by oxidative stress include:
cancer
Diabetes and cardiovascular disease
Alzheimer’s disease causes vision loss.
Antioxidants, according to research, may be able to reverse or prevent this damage. This is why you should consume antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables. Cucumbers are included in this category. They are abundant in:
Several flavonoid antioxidants, including vitamin C, beta carotene, manganese, and molybdenum.
For Healthy Skin
Interestingly, you can do away with expensive skin treatments by application of expensive lotions and oils. If you consume cucumbers instead, you would be sure of healthy and glowing skin that remains blemish-free, with wrinkles and lines becoming a thing of the past. Cucumbers can also be applied topically on the skin for revitalizing and soothing.
To help prevent bad Breath
Consuming cucumber daily can help with your oral breath. Have as much cucumber as you desire to wash accumulated bacteria off your gums and teeth which can cause bad breath.
How to make cucumber water
Try this cucumber water recipe:
Ingredients
- 8 cups water
- 2 cucumbers, sliced thin
- ½ tsp sea salt
How-To
- add the sliced cucumbers and the salt to a large pitcher or jar
- pour in the water and stir well
- cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight
- keep the water refrigerated
- serve it with or without ice
- drink it within 3 days
Exciting Tips for Making cucumber water more flavourful
To spice your water up, you can try adding any of the following ingredients to cucumber water to make it even more flavorful while keeping the same or even more benefits:
- chunks of lemons
- slices of limes
- diced oranges
- sprigs of mint
- basil leaves
- melon
- a stalk of lemongrass
- chopped ginger
- fresh raspberries or other berries
- chunk of pineapple
