Skip to main content

Benefits Of Cucumber



Cucumber is a vegetable that belongs to the same family as pumpkins, zucchinis and other squashes. It has a dark green skin, which reveals whitish or very light green flesh, when peeled. There are basically two types of cucumbers - the pickling varieties and the slicing varieties. Of these, the pickling variety is relatively small, around 2 - 4 inches long. Most of us know that cucumbers have cooling properties and are extremely good for bringing relief to the eyes in summers. However, they are associated with a number of other health and nutrition benefits too. To know about them, read on.

Nutritional Value of Cucumber
Given below is the amount of nutrients in 100 gm of raw, unpeeled cucumber

Carbohydrates - 3.63 gm
Sugars - 1.67 gm
Dietary Fiber - 0.5 gm
Fat - 0.11 gm
Protein - 0.65 gm
Thiamin (Vitamin B1) - 0.027 mg
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) - 0.033 mg
Niacin (Vitamin B3) - 0.098 mg
Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) - 0.259 mg
Vitamin B6 - 0.040 mg
Folate (Vitamin B9) - 7 μg
Vitamin C - 2.8 mg
Calcium - 16 mg
Iron - 0.28 mg
Magnesium - 13 mg
Phosphorus - 24 mg
Potassium - 147 mg
Zinc 0.20 mg

Health & Nutrition Benefits of Eating Cucumbers

Raw cucumber, when applied on the skin, can help reduce heat and inflammation.
The diuretic, cooling and cleansing property of cucumber makes it good for skin.
Fresh cucumber juice can provide relief from heartburn, acid stomach, gastritis and even ulcer.
Placing a cucumber slice over the eyes not only soothes them, but also reduces swelling.
Daily consumption of cucumber juice helps control cases of eczema, arthritis and gout.
Cucumber has been found to be beneficial for those suffering from lung, stomach and chest problems.
The potassium in cucumber makes it useful for the problem of high and low blood pressure.
Cucumber contains Erepsin, the enzyme that helps in protein digestion.
Cucumber juice is said to promote hair growth, especially when it is added to the juice of carrot, lettuce and spinach.
Cucumber juice, when mixed with carrot juice, is said to be good for rheumatic conditions caused by excessive uric acid in the body.
Cucumber can prove to be beneficial for those suffering from diseases of the teeth and gums, especially in cases of pyorrhea.
Being rich in minerals, cucumber helps prevent splitting of nails of the fingers and toes.
Cucumber has been associated with healing properties in relation to diseases of the kidney, urinary bladder, liver and pancreas.
Those suffering from diabetes have been found to benefit from the consumption of cucumber/cucumber juice.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Best scents to help you relax and stay alert

By: Allie Firestone, 10/15/08 3:03 PM Fall is chock-full of scents, and that’s one of the reasons I love it. Picking up on the huge variety of smells—whether it’s pumpkin pie, freshly-baked cookies, or spiced apple cider—is something I recently realized that I take for granted. Scientists say that humans can distinguish over 10,000 different odor molecules. Turns out, while it doesn’t require any conscious thought, our ability to pick up on a scent involves a sensitive and complex function that has powerful effects on our memory and behavior. How else can I explain how one whiff of pumpkin immediately conjures up thoughts of trick-or-treating and holiday gatherings? Scientists dedicated to tracking the complex relationship between smells, our behavior, and our moods have found that certain scents trigger feelings, including those that help us relax and fall asleep and those that perk us up and keep us alert and focused. Sleep and Relaxation Looks like I’m not the only one tossing and t...
2 comments
Read more

Anti-cancer foods

Posted by: Zap Mon, Sep 29, 2008, 1:44 pm PDT Source: Yahoo Health It turns out that a healthy diet can help to override any cancer-prone genes you might have at work in your body. "Nutrition has a bigger influence on cancer than inherited genes, which means you could significantly reduce your odds of the disease through diet alone," explains Joel Fuhrman, M.D., author of Eat for Health (Gift of Health Press). OK, OK. I know what you're thinking right about now: She's going to tell me I have to eat kale at every meal. Not so! I mean, for the record, you should always eat as many fruits and veggies as possible, because they will dramatically lower your odds of ever hearing the dreaded diagnosis. But there are many other, less rabbity ways to eat away at your cancer risk. Add whole grains to your diet. My two faves, aside from a thick piece of freshly baked whole-grain bread? Oatmeal with a pinch of cinnamon for breakfast, or brown rice with a chicken and veggie stir-f...
1 comment
Read more

Heart Healthy Fish - Health Benefits of Fish

July 6, 2010 Do fears about mercury keep you from reeling in the health benefits of fish? If so, you could be missing the love-your-heart boat. For most people, the healthy fats in fish provide a huge benefit to your heart and overall health -- even with a little mercury. Skeptical? Get this: Eating one to two 6-ounce servings of omega-3-rich fish each week reduces your risk of dying from heart disease by 36 percent! And your all-cause mortality rate drops by 17 percent. Soon-to-be or currently breastfeeding moms need to be especially careful to avoid excess mercury. Still, most people can do their heart and body right by eating one or two servings a week of omega-3-rich fish that is relatively low in mercury. Unfortunately, most fish contain some mercury, thanks to industrial processing. But the less time fish spend simply living in a mercury-laden environment or eating other fish containing mercury, the lower the contamination levels will be. So for low-mercury fish, we're talkin...
1 comment
Read more