CUCUMBER: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions
What Are Cucumbers?
Cucumbers are popular long, lean, and green garden vegetables. Technically,
they’re fruits from the same family as watermelons and pumpkins, but most
people consider them veggies.
Nutritional Benefits of Cucumber
A serving of cucumber -- one-half a cup -- is about 8 calories. They have
small amounts of vitamin K and vitamin A and are about 95% water. They
also have several phytonutrients (plant chemicals) called lignans.
One medium unpeeled, raw cucumber has 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
Health Benefits of Cucumber
1) Hydration
Cucumber has 96% water content that is more nutritious than regular water,
which helps in keeping the body hydrated and regulating body temperature. It
also helps in flushing out the toxins from the body.
2. Fight cancers
Cucumber are known to contain lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and
secoisolaricire sinol – three lignans that have a strong history of research
in connection with reduced risk of several cancer types, including breast
cancer, prostate cancer, uterine cancer, and ovarian cancer.
3. Keeps your kidneys healthy
Cucumber is an effective diuretic food and helps in getting rid of the
toxins from your body. It will keep your renal system healthy by treating
the problems of urinary system. Drink cucumber juice twice every day to keep
kidneys healthy.
4. Freshens your breath
Cucumber may also help in getting rid of the odor-causing bacteria from
your mouth. Place a slice of cucumber on the roof of your mouth.
5. Good for diabetics
Cucumber is considered as one of the best home remedies for diabetes. The
hormones present in cucumber are required by the pancreas in your body to
produce insulin.
6-Beneficial For Teeth and Gums
Cucumber juice is also beneficial for people with teeth and gums problems,
especially in cases of pyorrhea. Cucumber is a good source of dietary
fiber and this fiber massage in the teeth and gums.
7-Skin care
The high water content, vitamins A, B& C and the presence of certain minerals like magnesium, potassium, and silica make cucumbers an essential part of skin care. Facial masks containing cucumber juice can be used for skin tightening. Ascorbic acid and caffeic acid present in cucumbers can bring down the water retention rate which in turn diminishes the puffiness and swelling under the eyes. Cucumber skin also can bring relief to the skin caused by sunburn or windburn.
Cucumbers Benefits on eyes
Remove Dark Circles Using Cucumber
Cucumber has an anti-inflammatory effect that helps in reducing
puffiness. The high water content helps in hydrating the skin and the
cool temperature decreases the flow of blood to the space around your
eyes. Together they can soothe the skin around your eyes and alleviate
swelling.
Cucumber contains Vitamin C and Folic Acid:
Vitamin C can “wake skin up” and stimulate new cell growth,
while folic acid stimulates antioxidants that help your skin
fight off environmental toxins that can make eyes appear puffy or
tired.
Side Effects Of Cucumber:
Bloating and Indigestion:
Does eating cucumber give you burps? This can be one of the common sea
cucumber side effects. The cucurbitacin present in the cucumber leads to
indigestion that further results in the stomach pain and bloating. In
serious conditions, too much of cucumber consumption can also lead to
diarrhea.
Allergic Reactions:
If you are looking for side effects cucumber juice, allergic reactions
can be one of the reasons. There are people who have faced reactions
like itching, swelling of face or mouth, throat infections, etc.
Side effects of eating cucumber at night
Lead to Gas Troubles:
One of the side effects of eating cucumber at night includes gas
troubles. Cucumber comes with cucurbitacin, which leads to situations
where the digestive system fails leading to flatulence and bloating.
This also increases the chances of having gas.
