9 Amazing Health Benefits of Cucumber & Cucumber Water
The health benefits of cucumber and cucumber water include improved blood pressure, reduced risk of cancer, anti-inflammation, better bone health, better brain health. Cucumber water is also full of antioxidants and aids in skincare too.
Cucumber, known for its refreshing taste and high water content (95%). Many people eat cucumber to enjoy the refreshing taste and the plentiful supply of nutrients. In addition, cucumber water is gaining immense attention for more than just its taste. Studies suggest that there might be significant health benefits of cucumber water.
Cucumber originated in India nearly three thousand years ago. Cucumbers are rich in nutrients and sources of proteins, carbs, fibers, vitamins (C and K), and many other minerals, including magnesium, manganese, potassium, etc. Research suggests Indians have grown cucumbers for their therapeutic benefits and food purposes. They use it in traditional medicines since ancient times.
Provides Antioxidants
One of the key health benefits of cucumber water is the amount of antioxidants it has. Besides the many benefits of eating this botanical fruit, it also has numerous micronutrients, including carotenoids, Vitamin C (i.e., zeaxanthin and lutein). These help you fight off the oxidative stress in your body.
You should remember that excessive oxidative stress levels make you prone to various chronic mental and physical health conditions, including cancer and unhealthy aging.
Supports Bone Health
Scientific studies show that Vitamin K helps with blood clotting and also improves bone health. Using 140 grams of unpeeled, chopped, and raw cucumber can provide a sufficient amount of Vitamin K, as studies suggest.
Moreover, cucumber contains 19.9mg of calcium; not to mention, calcium is essential for healthy bones and teeth. While Vitamin K in the cucumber water aids your body in calcium absorption, a regular intake of cucumber might prove beneficial to your bone health.
Improves Inflammatory Conditions
Oxidant stress levels in our body also affect our immune system. Moreover, an over-active immune system may lead to various diseases and chronic inflammatory pains. For that reason, cucumber water might prove beneficial.
The amount of antioxidants can work to reduce such chronic inflammatory conditions by relieving your body of oxidant stress and other harmful chemicals.
Promotes Brain Health
Furthermore, scientific studies suggest that apart from the antioxidants, cucumbers also have fisetin. Fisetin is an anti-inflammatory flavonol that keeps your brain healthy and ensures adequate nutrient supplementation to it. What’s more, studies point towards the potential medical benefits of cucumber water for Alzheimer’s patients.
Some experts believe cucumber water and its beneficial nutrients may help Alzheimer’s patients maintain their cognitive functions for a longer time. Hence, Fisetin might prove remedial to several different neurological diseases.
Good for Skin Care
Cucumbers carry high pantothenic acid potency, which can treat and heal acne. Besides that, cucumber water has Vitamin B-5 that can also treat acne and soothe the skin. Nearly one cup of a sliced cucumber may contain up to 5 percent of the recommended daily intake of Vitamin B-5. Thus, cucumber water may help clear the pores and reduce swelling and irritation.
Promotes Hydration
Cucumber water can potentially help to soothe your skin. Your body cannot function properly without adequate water intake throughout the day. While drinking eight glasses of water per day is advisable, adding cucumber to water may give it some flavor and more health benefits.
In fact, with cucumber water, you are not only gaining the water minerals, but also you are benefitting from cucumber nutrients. Here are a few of the main reasons why proper hydration is important for our body.
- Maintaining a healthy intestine
- Lubrication of joints
- Cell nutrients
- Regulating Body temperature
- Preventing constipation
Apart from that, if you don’t like plain boring water, you can opt for something much more refreshing – such as cucumber water.
Prevents Cancer
While a chronic disease such as cancer is still incurable, there are more than several treatment options available today to slow the progression. Studies show that cucumbers may help prevent cancer in human beings by inhibiting the growth of cancer cells.
The research suggests cucumbers contain cucurbitacins, a compound comprising a group of various bitter-tasting nutrients such as lignan. An adequate supply of lignans may help in preventing cancer symptoms.
Moreover, studies suggest that Fisetin, which is a flavonoid, may help slow down the progression of a tumor during prostate cancer.
Regulates Blood Pressure
Your blood pressure may increase due to excessive salt intake, causing your body to hold fluids. Plus, your body might experience high blood pressure levels due to low potassium levels in the body. Cucumbers are one of the good sources of potassium.
The adequate potassium (that acts as an electrolyte) supply to your body in the form of cucumber water may help regulate the amount of salt (sodium) in your kidneys. This, in turn, may help to lower blood pressure.
Freshness in Breath
A glass of plain water might not help prevent bad breath, but cucumber water with a few drops of lemon squeeze freshen your breath. Lemons improve saliva production, and water prevents dry mouth.
When using natural remedies, such as cucumber water, moderation is the key to maintain freshness.
How Can You Make Cucumber Water at Home?
You can use peeled or unpeeled cucumber based on your preference. However, you have to chop or slice the cucumbers, salt them, and refrigerate them for a few hours. You can take out slightly chilled water, let it sit, and then add cucumber slices to it.
Following that, you have to stir well and let the cucumber soak in, and dissolve the nutrients into the water. Or you can make it better by adding some limes into it and making it cucumber lime water.
That’s all – enjoy your own homemade cucumber water.
Conclusion
While there is a range of fruit-infused water, you can try your first refreshing flavored water by adding cucumbers. They are a rich source of nutrients, minerals, and vitamins. Plus, cucumber water keeps you hydrated and may also help soothe your skin, lower your blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and support bone health.
About the Author
Lori Bogedin is a health and wellness writer and editor of TwigsCafe.com. She is in the restaurant business since 1999. In 2016 she was named one of the "Top Women in Business" by Northeastern Pennsylvania Business Journal.
