Looking for a way to get your daily dose of freshness without resorting to boring meals, try adding cucumber to your daily food list. It is a versatile and nutritious vegetable with many benefits. They have long been known for their refreshing flavor, crunchy texture, and versatility in salads, sandwiches, and other recipes. But cucumbers offer much more than just taste – they are packed with essential vitamins and minerals that can contribute to overall health and well-being. It left no doubt that cucumbers are a superfood that must be included in everyone’s diet.

What Are Cucumbers?

Cucumbers are classified both as fruit and vegetable due to their vast botanical and culinary applications. It comes from an edible plant named Curcumis sativus which belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family. This versatile vegetable has been grown and consumed for thousands of years and can be found in many different shapes, sizes, colors, and varieties. Cucumbers are low in calories and are a great source of many essential nutrients such as vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and fiber.

How Are Cucumbers Used?

Cucumbers have been used in a variety of different ways, both traditionally and in modern cuisine. They can be eaten raw, pickled, or cooked in many different ways. For example, they are often used in salads, sandwiches, sushi, and other types of dishes. Cucumbers can also be used to make juice, tzatziki sauce, and various other sauces.

Cucumbers can be used for therapeutic purposes as well; for example, cucumber slices are often placed over the eyes to reduce puffiness and dark circles. In addition to being an excellent source of hydration, cucumbers can also be used as an ingredient in face masks, skin toners, and even in beauty products.

What Are The Health Benefits Of Cucumbers?

Cucumbers have been used in traditional medicine for centuries, and science has now backed up many of its health benefits.

• Cucumbers are known for their diuretic properties. This means that they help flush out excess fluids from the body, which can help reduce bloating and swelling. This can help to reduce the symptoms of some kidney and bladder disorders. They are also thought to be helpful in fighting against high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes.
• The high water content in cucumbers makes them very hydrating, helping to keep your skin moisturized and hydrated. The antioxidant properties of cucumbers can help protect the skin from free radical damage, which can cause wrinkles and sagging. The presence of vitamin C and other antioxidants in cucumbers can also boost collagen production, helping to keep skin elasticity intact.
• The anti-inflammatory effects of cucumbers can help soothe inflamed tissue, including skin irritations, joint pain, and stomach ulcers. They are also known to be a digestive aid, as they contain a compound called cucurbitacin which helps stimulate digestion. Other antioxidants help scavenge harmful compounds from the body.

What Makes Cucumber An Anticancer Aood?

Cucumbers are a powerhouse of antioxidants that can help protect the body from the damaging effects of free radicals. This makes them a great food to add to your diet when trying to reduce cancer risks. Research has indicated that certain compounds found in cucumbers can help inhibit the growth of cancer cells, particularly in colorectal cancer and breast cancer.

One such compound is cucurbitacin, which is a triterpenoid that has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells in research studies. Other compounds like cucurbitacins B and D have also been studied for their anti-tumor properties. It is also believed that cucumbers contain polyphenols which can help scavenge free radicals and reduce oxidative damage. Additionally, cucumbers contain flavonoids and other compounds that have antioxidant effects that can help fight cancer.

Cucumbers also contain a variety of vitamins and minerals that can boost the immune system and reduce inflammation which can help the body protect itself against the development of cancer. Vitamin C and beta-carotene are especially beneficial in this regard. Vitamin C helps protect cells from damage while beta-carotene can help with cell growth and cell death which can help prevent cancer cells from spreading.

Eating cucumbers regularly may help reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer due to their nutrient and antioxidant content. For best results, it is best to eat cucumbers raw or lightly steamed.

References

Health Benefits

• http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/12306
• OBIORA, C. U., & IGWE, E. C. Health Benefits of Cucumber.
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0141813019363846
• Murad, H., & Nyc, M. A. (2016). Evaluating the potential benefits of cucumbers for improved health and skin care. Journal of Aging Research & Clinical Practice, 5(3), 139-141.
• https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-15-7470-2_17
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0367326X12002791
• https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/IJASBT/article/view/44152
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30302260/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26193861/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3612419/
• http://www.christywilsonnutrition.com/#about
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3689181/
• https://www.livescience.com/cancer

Anti-cancer

• https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ben/pra/2019/00000014/00000002/art00004
• https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/abs/10.1142/S0192415X15500755
• https://academicjournals.org/journal/AJB/article-full-text/D0F282A58745
• https://books.google.com.pk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=y7ZaEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA99&dq=vitamins+in+cucumber&ots=orM57xX8eC&sig=-cGgFiNl8qj-ECkqJ7ONUqbt3aA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=vitamins%20in%20cucumber&f=false

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