Anyone would agree that cucumbers are one of the most handy and common (fruits) vegetables. In Nigeria, for example, it would be rare to arrive at a market and discover that they have run out of cucumbers. I love having cucumbers at home, as they make perfect snacks.
Cucumbers are great ingredients for salads and juices. Plus, cucumbers have other uses besides eating them. For example, placing cool cucumbers on the eyes relaxes them and reduces puffy eyes.
Cucumbers have a lot of water content and are therefore good for hydration. Due to its low calorie and high water content, cucumber is an ideal diet for people who are looking for weight loss. The high water content and dietary fiber in cucumbers are very effective in ridding the body of toxins from the digestive system, aiding digestion.
Research suggests that Cucumbers contain polyphenols called lignans (pinoresinol, lariciresinol, and secoisolariciresinol), which may help to lower the risk of breast, uterine, ovarian, and prostate cancers. They also contain phytonutrients called cucurbitacins, which also have anti-cancer properties.
Cucumber skin is also edible and contains a good amount of vitamin C. Vitamin C has many important functions such as aiding in collagen production and brain function, and it also helps your body process fat. Research shows that Cucumber skin can also be used to treat skin irritations and sunburns.
Cucumber is an excellent source of silica, which is known to help promote joint health by strengthening the connective tissues. Silica, also promotes healthier and stronger hair and nails. Cucumbers also contain potassium which aids in metabolic functions and also plays a role in the development of muscle tissue.
Did you know that cucumbers are fruits, but culinary used as vegetables? I just discovered that while carrying out this research.
Here is a simple salad recipe using cucumbers.
Ingredients (serves 1-2)
1 large cucumber
2 tomatoes
A handful of sweetcorn
1 green bell pepper
2 handfuls of diced chicken
Preparation
Wash the cucumber, tomatoes and bell pepper, then take the seeds out of them and dice them. Taking the seeds out of the cucumber and tomatoes keeps the salad dry, unless you like water in your salad.
Throw in your sweet corn and diced chicken, mix your ingredients and your salad is ready to eat. You may add more ingredients to this, or use tuna in place of chicken.
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