Health Benefits of Cucumber

Rose May Pimentel in Health

Dec 02, 2020 • 2 min Read

Crunchy, juicy, fresh, and healthy — cucumber, also known as pipino, is the fourth most cultivated vegetable in the world and one of the most commonly used vegetables in the Philippine. Pipino can be eaten as a snack, added to your salads or in a sandwich, or can be added to your smoothies.

According to research, cucumbers have a majority of the vitamins you need in a day. A single cucumber contains B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, and B6), folic acid, vitamins C and K, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium.

Here are some of the amazing health benefits of this superfood, from PharmEasy, an online healthcare aggregator:

1. Good for Hydration and Detoxification

Cucumbers are 96% water. To keep us hydrated, consume cucumbers, and add them to the daily water requirements of the body. During summers, this is helpful because we tend to get dehydrated easily. Cucumber also acts as a coolant, providing us relief from the summer heat. Detox water made using cucumber and mint, effectively eliminates toxins from the body, improves hydration, and thus results in innumerable health benefits.

2. Regulates Blood Pressure

Cucumbers are good source of potassium, magnesium, and dietary fiber. These nutrients are known to lower blood pressure, thus reducing the risk of heart diseases. Research has also proved that regular consumption of cucumber juice helped reduce blood pressure, in elderly people with hypertension.

3. Good for Digestion

Cucumbers act as a coolant for our stomach. The soluble fiber in cucumbers helps in slowing our digestion. Also, the high content of water in cucumber makes our stools soft, prevents constipation, and keeps our bowel movements regular.

4. Reduces Blood Sugar

Cucumbers are known to reduce blood sugar levels, thus being helpful in the management and prevention of diabetes mellitus.

5. Helpful in Weight Loss

Cucumbers contain 96% water and are low in calories. There are only 15.5 calories in 100 g of cucumber. High water and low-calorie content of cucumbers help in reducing weight.

6. Better Skin

Cucumbers are great beauty enhancers. They show amazing effects on the skin. The application of cucumber juice on the skin makes it soft and glowy. Anti-inflammatory effects of cucumber naturally lighten our skin and reduce tanning. It also reduces wrinkles and fine lines.

7. Soothes our Eyes

Keeping cucumber slices on the eyes for about 10 minutes relaxes our eyes and reduces puffiness around the eyes.

8. Reduces Risk of Cancer

The fiber in cucumbers protects from colorectal cancer. Also, cucurbitacin present in cucumbers possesses anti-cancer properties.

9. Good for Hair and Nails

Cucumbers contain silica which is excellent for hair and nail care. They help in strengthening the nails and prevent them from becoming brittle.

10. Prevents Bad Breath

Phytochemicals present in cucumber destroy the bacteria in our mouth that cause bad breath.

Go now and include cucumber in your daily diet and reap its many benefits to be “cool as a cucumber”!

Stay healthy and safe!