13 Health Benefits of Cucumber You Must Know

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• published: 05 Jun 2016
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Cucumbers are the fourth most cultivated vegetable in the world and known to be one of the best foods for your body's overall health. They are frequently referred to as a superfood. Cucumbers are often sprayed with pesticides so it is important to buy organic or even better, grow them yourself. Here are 13 Benefits of cucumbers 1 healthy weight management Cucumbers are extremely low in calories, but extremely high in nutrients, so they make a great healthy snack. When cucumbers are digesting they dissolve into a gel-like texture which helps to slow down digestion, helping you feel full for longer. This is why fibre rich foods are great for weight management. 2. Skin and hair care – If you don't like to eat the skin of the cucumber, it can be used for skin irritations and sunburns as aloe Vera would be used. Place a slice over puffy eyes and its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce puffiness. Cucumber juice can also be used as a hair rinse to get silky and shiny hair. Why Does It Work- It conditions the hair owing to the presence of silica and makes it more beautiful 3 Get Fresh breath If your breath is no that fresh, you can freshen it up by placing a slice of cucumber on the roof of your mouth. This will help rid your mouth of odour-causing bacteria. 4 Cancer risk reduction Cucumbers contain polyphenols which can help lower your risk of various cancers such as breast, uterine, ovarian, and prostate. (4) They also contain phytonutrients which also have anti-cancer properties! 5 Stress buster Cucumbers contain an assortment of B vitamins including vitamin B1, B5, and B7. B vitamins are known to help ease Anxiety and reduce the damaging effects of stress. 7. Hangover cure – To avoid a morning hangover or headache; eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish many essential nutrients, reducing the intensity of both hangover and headache. 8 Anti-oxidant properties Cucumbers are loaded with antioxidants, including vitamin C and beta-carotene. They also contain antioxidant flavonoids. One of these is Quercetin is an antioxidant that has been shown to prevent histamine release, making it a natural antihistamine. Another one Kaempferol can help fight cancer and lower your risk of heart disease. _________________________________________________________________________ 9 Reduce inflammation Cucumbers can literally help “cool” the inflammatory response system in your body. Some studies conducted on animals found that cucumber extract helps to reduce unwanted inflammation partially by inhibiting activity or pro-inflammatory enzymes. 10 Brain protection Cucumbers contain an anti-inflammatory flavonal called fistein that has been shown to play a crucial role in promoting brain health. It is known to improve memory and even protect your nerve cells from declining due to aging, and fisetin has also been found to prevent learning and memory impairments in mice with Alzheimer’s disease. 11Digestive help Cucumbers are loaded with fibre and water, two of the most essential elements that are needed for optimal digestive health. Also Cucumbers may help to raise the stomach pH, which can assist with symptoms of acid reflux. 12. Helps diabetes, Reduces cholesterol and controls blood pressure - Cucumber juice contains a hormone which is needed by the cells of the pancreas for producing insulin which has been found to be beneficial to diabetic patients. 13 benefits the blood Researchers found that a compound called sterols in cucumbers may help reduce cholesterol levels. Cucumbers contain a lot of potassium, magnesium and fibre. These work effectively for regulating blood pressure. This makes cucumbers good for treating both low blood pressure and high blood pressure.