Interesting Facts About Cucumbers – Delicious And Very Healthy!
Cucumbers are not only low in calories, as they mainly consist of water, they also help to satisfy hunger pangs. They are also excellent for draining fluid retention and are anti-inflammatory.
Cucumbers are very popular around the world and belong to the cucurbit family. Even if this type of vegetable is mainly used in gastronomy, it is not only characterized by its nutritional value but also by important medicinal properties that make it very healthy.
Between 90 and 95% of the cucumber consists of water, so it is very low in calories. It contains small amounts of vitamin K, vitamin B, copper, potassium, vitamin C and manganese and therefore helps to compensate for deficiency symptoms that are very common in unhealthy diets.
There are many reasons to include cucumbers in your diet on a regular basis. Do you know why this vegetable is so healthy?
Protection for the brain
Cucumbers contain fisetin, an anti-inflammatory flavonol that could be important for brain health.
Because of this substance, the cucumber is recommended for good memory and to protect nerve cells from age-related decay.
Reduces the risk of cancer
Even though most of the cucumber is just water, this type of vegetable is high in antioxidants. For example, it contains valuable polyphenols that are said to reduce the risk of breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer and prostate cancer.
In addition, it was also found that the cucubitarcins, phytochemicals that are present in cucumber, have a strong anti-cancer effect , according to the George Mateljan Foundation .
Against inflammation
The high water content of the cucumber helps against fluid retention, one of the main causes of inflammation and swelling.
In various animal experiments it was found that cucumber extract could reduce the inflammatory reaction of the body, as it slows down the activity of inflammatory enzymes.
Rich in antioxidants
The cucumber contains valuable antioxidants, including vitamin C and beta-carotene, which play an important role in a healthy immune system.
The high proportion of antioxidant flavonoids such as quercetin, luteolin and kaempferol could also be important for preventing chronic diseases (including vascular diseases).
Fresh breath
Bad breath is usually caused by bacteria that settle on teeth and gums. The cucumber could help fight these bacteria and therefore also create a good bad breath.
In Ayurvedic medicine , cucumbers are used to reduce stomach heat, which can also cause bad breath.
Good against stress
Consuming cucumber may also help counteract the negative effects of stress. This type of vegetable contains a lot of vitamin B, including vitamin B1, vitamin B5 and vitamin B7 (biotin).
B vitamins are known to help relieve physical and emotional discomfort and anxiety caused by stress.
Healthier digestion
Cucumbers contain large amounts of two important ingredients that help digestion: water and fiber.
Eating cucumber can help with reflux, constipation, and other digestive ailments.
A healthy weight
If you want to lose some weight, cucumbers can help you perfectly. This type of vegetable in combination with a healthy, balanced diet can help you to achieve your desired weight due to the active ingredients it contains and the amount of water.
As already mentioned, cucumbers are low in calories and contain a lot of fiber. Therefore , they have a filling effect and are ideal for controlling cravings.
They also cleanse the organism and regulate digestion. In this way, metabolic end products and pollutants can be discharged, which make fat breakdown more difficult.
Better heart health
Since cucumbers provide a lot of potassium, they help to reduce blood pressure – high blood pressure values are one of the most important and most common cardiovascular complaints.
So that every organ can perform its functions optimally, it is important that there is a balanced potassium balance in the cells.
Potassium is an electrolyte that is necessary for the body as it interacts with sodium and regulates nerve impulses, muscle contractions, and heart functions.
