The watery cucumber or Kachumber as it is also called can give us incredible health benefits. There are numerous cucumber benefits that we do not know about in most cases.
It is imperative that you consume it regularly during hot and scorching summers in order to tap these health benefits. With 95% water content, it helps with ensuring suitable body hydration as well. Learn more about its benefits here.
Nutrition Value of Cucumber
Cucumber is a watery vegetable full of some essential nutrients. Here is a list of cucumber nutrients for your perusal:
- Water: 95%
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin K
- Beta-Carotene
- Flavonoids
- Lignans
- Antioxidants
Half a cup of cucumber will have just 8 calories and zero fat, sugar or cholesterol.
Now that you know these cucumber nutrition facts, it is time to move onto the benefits of eating raw cucumber at night or during the day in summers.
10 Proven Health Benefits of Eating Cucumber
Cucumber, the humble green vegetable, is not only a refreshing addition to salads and sandwiches but also a powerhouse of health benefits. With only 8 cucumber calories in half a cup, it certainly has numerous advantages for the body. Here is a list of the top benefits of eating cucumber in summers:
1. Combats Dehydration:
Water is vital for the healthy functioning of the body and serves several important functions. It regulates body temperature, transports nutrients and waste products, and is essential for metabolism and physical performance.
While staying hydrated is typically connected with consuming water and other beverages, it is worth remembering that food can provide up to 40% of your overall water intake. Vegetables and fruit, in particular, are high in dietary water.
Cucumber contains 95% water, making it great for fighting dehydration. This is especially beneficial during hot summers when we are more vulnerable towards losing body fluids through excessive sweating. You may consider eating some cucumber slices after any physical exercise or workouts.
2. Contains Rich Fiber:
Cucumber comes with highly beneficial fibre that will improve digestion and combat constipation. Pectin, a form of soluble fibre present in cucumbers in particular, can aid in increasing the frequency of bowel movements.(1) Diabetics may consume it regularly to enable proper insulin secretion by the pancreas, thereby enabling sugar regulation.
3. Better Bone Health:
Cucumbers are rich in calcium for lowering risks of lower bone density and even fractures. You will develop stronger bones with consumption of cucumbers on a regular basis.
Additionally, cucumbers have a high vitamin K content. Vitamin K is required by the body to help it produce proteins in order to build strong bones and tissues. It can improve bone strength, reduce fractures, and help those with osteoporosis.
4. Combats Cancer Cell Growth:
Also note that cucumber comes with several anti-cancer attributes. It may help in lowering the spread of these cells throughout the body.
Cucumbers are among the members of the Cucurbitaceae plant family and contain large levels of the bitter-tasting vitamin cucurbitacin, which may help prevent cancer by preventing cancer cells from multiplying.
5. Reduces Chronic Inflammatory Conditions:
Vitamin C and water contained in cucumber will help in restoration of damaged body cells. This helps in combating various chronic inflammatory ailments including heart disorders as well. Cucumbers also combat inflammation with their antioxidants.
6. Gives You Wonderful Hair:
Cucumbers contain silicon and sulphur which may help with hair rejuvenation and strengthening alike. You will witness better hair quality with regular cucumber consumption.
7. Reduces Constipation:
The list of cucumber benefits doesn’t end here. Cucumbers go a long way towards lowering constipation with their dietary fibre content.
8. Treats Kidney Stones:
Cucumber contains water in large amounts, thereby flushing out toxins from the system. This may help in the treatment of kidney stones. Uric acid regulation is another advantage of cucumber consumption.
9. Migraine Relief:
Persistent migraines are really painful and cucumbers can help you alleviate the same. The magnesium content in the same will help in checking blood pressure and enhancing overall immunity, thereby relieving migraines.
10. Gives You Better Skin:
Eating cucumber benefits for skin are excellent for skin health. You will get glowing and mark-free skin without any lines. Cucumber may be topically applied as a paste for revitalizing your skin as well. You can get rid of dark circles under your eyes with cucumber.
Cucumber also helps greatly in combating bad breath as per several reports. Consuming it daily with your meals is a major recommendation during summers.
How to Get the Most Out of Cucumbers
Incorporating cucumber into your diet is a breeze, but not all methods offer the same benefits. Discover the most beneficial ways to make the most of this versatile vegetable by exploring a number of simple ways to boost your nutrition with cucumber.
-
Don’t remove the peel of the cucumber
Cucumber’s skin contains many of its nutrients, so if you are eating cucumber to boost your mineral and vitamin consumption, keep the skin of the cucumber on instead of removing it.
Keep in mind, however, that to gain the nutritional advantages of unpeeled cucumbers, you need to thoroughly clean your cucumbers or buy organic cucumbers.
• Blend rather than juice
While drinking cucumber juice seems like a refreshing way of cooling down on hot days, blending the cucumbers into a blender to make a smoothie instead of juicing them is a better option. This will help in reaping the benefits of the whole veggie, including its fibre, because juicing them can often discard the fibre content in them.
• Eat raw rather than pickled
There are two types of humans in the entire world, one is pickle haters and pickle lovers. While eating pickle pieces on a burger is perfectly fine, and the fact, they taste awesome, but make an effort not to depend on pickles when it comes to cucumber consumption.
This is because pickled cucumbers have far more salt than raw cucumbers, so if you’re controlling your intake of sodium or suffer from elevated blood pressure, choose fresh cucumbers over brine-soaked cucumbers.
Cucumber Side Effects
There are some rare side effects of cucumber that you should know about. They are listed below for your perusal:
1. Cucumbers are sometimes toxic for some people
You must have been warned by some online users at some point in time about the potential toxicity of cucumbers, which is known as ‘toxic squash syndrome’.
Cucurbitacin, which is found in cucumbers and other cucumber family members such as squash and pumpkin, can become extremely elevated in these veggies, resulting in not only an exceedingly bitter flavour but also a severe case of food poisoning.
Although this syndrome is rare, there are a few studies, which mention that it has never resulted in any deaths so far. However, to be on the safe side, should you ever nibble on a cucumber, whether it is store-bought or from your own backyard, and it tastes excessively bitter, throw it out instead of eating it.
2. Cucumbers may lead to higher fluid loss in the body
If you deliberately increased your cucumber consumption only to experience intestinal discomfort, it is time to take a break. Remember that while cucumbers are beneficial to digestion, not everyone’s stomach can tolerate them in huge amounts.
This is because everyone has different food sensitivities, and it is possible that people may have sensitivities to the fibre and water content found in cucumber, resulting in looser stools than usual.
3. Cucumbers may harm the renal system (rare)
If you are suffering from kidney problems, consuming too many cucumbers, can raise the water and potassium content in your body, which can be hazardous for you.
4. Cucumbers may cause flatulence or bloating for some people
Cucumbers are generally considered a low-risk food when it comes to causing bloating and gas. However, like any food, individual reactions may vary. While cucumbers are known for their high-water content and are often considered easy to digest, some people may experience bloating or gas after consuming them.\
5. Cucumbers are sometimes avoidable for people who have skin or oral allergies
Some individuals may have specific allergies or sensitivities to cucumbers that can affect their skin or oral health. Skin allergies to cucumbers can manifest as itching, redness, or hives when the skin comes into contact with cucumbers. Oral allergies may cause itching or swelling in the mouth, lips, or throat after consuming cucumbers.
6. Cucumbers may cause drug interactions
Cucumbers have a generally safe profile and do not have known interactions with common foods, supplements, or medications. While vitamin K, found in some foods, can potentially interact with blood-thinning medications such as Warfarin, cucumbers are not considered high enough in vitamin K to cause concerns while taking these medications. However, it is always important to consult with your doctor if you have any concerns or questions about potential drug interactions.
The Bottom Line
Cucumbers are healthy and nutritious options for your daily diet in summers. You should consume a few slices with your daily meals. Eating cucumber daily, whether raw or as part of meals, provides hydration, essential nutrients, and skin benefits. From proper hydration, better skin and hair, relief from migraines and more, cucumbers are a useful and versatile addition to any diet, and their benefits extend to eating them at night. So, embrace the benefits of eating raw cucumber every day and experience its refreshing goodness for yourself.
