Other than being a great source of refreshment for those sizzling summer days, cucumbers are also packed with numerous health benefits.
They are abundant in water, electrolytes, and nutrients. And to top it all off, they are super low in calories!
Their origin comes from the northern Himalayan Plains in India. They are considered some of the oldest crops in human history.
They are a type of vine and a member of the Cucurbita Family. Other members of this family include courgettes, pumpkins, melons and some others.
They come in many different shapes and sizes, and even colors! However, the color which most if not all of us have come to associate with these vegetables is dark green.
Since they are easy to grow, people grow them all around the world.
They have a crunchy flesh under that dark green peel, which is abundant in little seeds. Those seeds are not only edible themselves, but are also full of different health benefits as well!
However, if you leave the cucumbers to grow for too long, their peel will become harder and yellowish, and their size will increase.
Their seeds will also become yellow, at which point they are no longer safe to consume. The great thing about cucumbers is that they can be found fresh all throughout the year!
Here are plenty of reasons why you should include these veggies in your daily diet.
1. Minerals
An abundance of them, to be precise. Some of which are potassium, silicon, and magnesium.
2. Elimination of Toxins
This is thanks to their high water content, which helps safely flush out any toxins and can even aid I removing kidney stones!
3. Combats Diabetes
They can also lower one’s high blood pressure and bad LDL cholesterol.
This is thanks to the many natural blood regulators cucumbers contain: such as magnesium, fiber, and potassium.
Additionally, cucumber juice is rich in a specific hormone needed for the pancreatic cells’ mission of producing insulin.
4. Vitamins
They are abundant in these too, especially vitamins A, B and C.
5. Natural Moisturizer
It’s thanks to its high water content that this vegetable does wonders for our skin.
6. Helps Battle Cancer
This can be either ovary, uterus, breast or prostate cancer, thanks to cucumbers containing three lignans: pinoresinol, secoisolariciresinol and lariciresinol.