Cucumber is a nutritious vegetable, because it is low in calories, rich in water, minerals and antioxidants, so its intake provides various health benefits such as promoting weight loss, keeping the body hydrated and regular intestinal functioning, as well how to lower blood sugar levels.
In addition to this, cucumber is widely used to refresh and tone the skin, as well as to maintain hair health, and can be ingested in salads, juices and even used to prepare facial masks, for example.
The benefits that cucumber could bring to health are:
Ø Help in weight loss, because it is low in calories and because it contains fibers that help increase the feeling of satiety;
Ø Avoid cramps during exercise, because it is a vegetable rich in potassium and magnesium, important minerals for muscle contraction;
Ø Improve blood circulation, because it is low in fat, rich in water and antioxidants, which help relax blood vessels;
Ø Promote hydration of the body, because it is composed of 96% water;
Ø Improve intestinal transit, thanks to its fiber content that helps regulate and increase the frequency of bowel movements, so it also helps fight constipation;
Ø Regulate blood sugar, due to the fact that it has fibers that delay the absorption of sugar at the intestinal level, being able to prevent diabetes;
Ø Prevent cancer, as it is a food rich in flavonoids and lignins, compounds with a great antioxidant power that help fight oxidative stress caused by the formation of free radicals;
Ø Improve fluid retention, due to the fact that it exerts a diuretic effect on the body;
Ø Maintain the health of the skin, nails, eyes and hair, because it contains antioxidants, such as vitamin C and carotenoids. In addition, it is rich in water, which provides it with a hydrating effect.
Ø Likewise, it also promotes heart health by being rich in potassium, since this mineral is important for the contraction of the heart muscle, and in turn helps reduce the risk of heart disease
Cucumber properties
Cucumber has various properties, being considered a diuretic, antioxidant, cleansing, moisturizing, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antipruritic, emollient, slimming and antidiabetic food, providing all the health benefits mentioned above.
Nutritional information
The table below shows the nutritional composition for 100 grams of cucumber:
Nutritional composition for 100 grams of cucumber
Energy 10 calories
Carbohydrates 2.0 g
Protein 0.9 g
Trace fats
Fibers 1.1 g
Water 96.8%
Calcium 10 mg
Magnesium 9 mg
Sodium 3 mg
Potassium 154 mg
Phosphorus 12 mg
Vitamin C 5 mg
Vitamin A 6 mcg
Carotenes 35 mcg
Folic acid 9 mcg
It is important to mention that to obtain all the benefits mentioned above, cucumber must be included in a balanced and healthy diet.
How to use cucumber
Cucumber can be consumed raw, in juices and smoothies or it can be consumed in the form of a pickle, known as gherkins, this being a way to preserve food for longer. But not all people can digest cucumber efficiently, and a good alternative to ingest fiber and vitamins with low calories is eating pumpkin or aubergine. Learn about the importance of fibers for health.
Some recipes for its consumption are:
1. Cucumber water
In some people the cucumber can be a bit difficult to be digested, in these cases some wheels of cucumber could be consumed in water and drunk during the day. In addition to this, cucumber water helps detoxify the body, keep it hydrated, in addition to providing antioxidants.
To prepare the cucumber water it is recommended to place 250 grams in 1 liter of water.
2. Pickle recipe
Ingredients
1/3 cups of apple cider vinegar;
1 spoon of sugar;
1/2 teaspoon of grated ginger;
1 small or medium cucumber.
Preparation mode
Mix the sugar, vinegar and ginger and stir until all the sugar dissolves. Add the thinly sliced cucumber with the skin and leave for at least two hours in the refrigerator before serving.
3. Cucumber detox juice
Ingredients
2 apples with peel;
1 medium cucumber;
3 mint leaves.
Preparation mode
Remove the seeds from the apples and blend all the ingredients in the blender. Drink cold and without adding sugar.
4. Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
4 lettuce leaves;
1/2 packet of watercress;
1 tomato in large cubes;
1 boiled egg;
1 cucumber in strips or cubes;
1 grated carrot;
Olive oil, vinegar, parsley, lemon and oregano to temper.
Preparation mode
Cook the egg and cut the vegetables, mix everything and season to taste. Serve fresh as a starter for lunch and dinner. If you want you can add shredded chicken or tuna to eat for dinner. Learn about other salad recipes for weight loss.
5. Cucumber mask
Remove the tips of a cucumber and keep the peel. Slice into thin slices. Wash your face and apply the cucumber wheels at night for 20 minutes. Remove and rinse your face without using soap. Perform the treatment 3 times a week.
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