Cucumber Health Benefits, Plant Description, Nutrition Data, Scientific Classification, Regional Names, Uses in various Health Conditions, Possible Side Effects and Frequently Asked Questions.
Introduction
Herbs, vegetables, medicinal plants and fruits have been playing a major role in improving our health quality since ages. These have been used specifically in curing diseases since ancient times. Plants and vegetables rich in this medicinal quality are also specially used in Ayurvedic treatment.
Cucumber is a nutritious vegetable rich in juicy medicinal properties. Cucumber is a plant belonging to the ‘Cucurbitaceae’ family. Cucumber provides a variety of nutrients but is low in calories, fat, cholesterol and sodium. The people of India have cultivated the source of cucumber faithful lying for food and medicinal purposes since ancient times, and cucumber saith long since the Mediterranean diet. Cucumber has a gentle, fresh taste and high water. They can help relieve dehydration and it is fun to eat in hot weather.
Health Benefits and Uses of Cucumber
Plant description
The cucumber tree is a rough, juicy, soft yearly. The damp leaves contain three to five pointed lobes, and stem branched tendrils. Five petal yellow flowers are a sexual and form of a type of barry called peppo. Heat requirement is highest among ordinary vegetables, and the fruits can get wet when exposed to uneven water conditions. The shape of the cucumber fruit is different. The cucumber plant is an annual plant, only survives an extended season and the vines can be up to 5 meters (16.4 feet) in length.
Further this article describes the health benefits of cucumber and related things to it.
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Nutritional value of per 100g Cucumber
- Energy: 65 KJ (16kcal)
- Carbohydrate: 3.63g
- Sugar: 1.67
- Dietary fiber: 0.5g
- Fat: 0.11g
- Protein:0.65g
- Vitamins
- Thiamine (B1):0.027mg
- Riboflavin (B2):0.033mg
- Niacin (B3): 0.018mg
- Pantothenic acid (B5): 0.25g
- Vitamin(B6): 0.04mg
- Folate (B9): 7mg
- Vitamin (C): 2.8mg
- Vitamin (K): 16.4mcg
- Minerals
- Calcium: 16mg
- Iron: 0.28mg
- Magnesium: 13mg
- Manganese: 0.07mg
- Phosphorus: 24mg
- Potassium: 147 mg
- Sodium: 2mg
- Zinc: 0.2mg
- Other constituents
- Water: 95.23g
- Fluoride: 1.3mcg
Different Regional Names of Cucumber
- Assamese: Tiyoh
- Hindi: Khira / Kheera / Kakdi
- Tamil: Vellarikka
- Malayalam : Vellarikka
- Bengali: Sasha / Sausha
- Marathi : Sitalchinni
- Telugu: Dosakaya
- Kashmiri: Laer
Scientific classification of Cucumber
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade: Tracheophytes
- Clade: Angiosperms
- Clade: Eudicots
- Clade: Rosids
- Order: Cucurbitales
- Family: Cucurbitaceae
- Genus: Cucumis
- Species: C. Sativus
- Scientific name: Cucumis sativus
Benefits and uses of Cucumber
- Fights Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when the body has less water than required, making you susceptible to several diseases. Including cucumber in your daily diet fills the water that is lost inside your body, keeping you completely hydrated. Remember to eat a few pieces of cucumber, especially in the summers, after a rigorous exercise or tedious physical activity.
- Fiber-Rich
Cucumber is considered to be a good source of nutritious fiber which will help your body function properly. The combination of fiber and water in cucumber can help prevent constipation and increase regularity. Dieticians therefore recommend diabetics to consume it regularly, as this helps the pancreas to secrete the right amount of insulin, thus helping to control the sugar produced.
- Boosts Bone Health
Cucumber is the source of calcium required to eliminate bone density and risk of fractures. Do not fail to add cucumber to your diet, as you will enjoy having strong bones and cartilage despite moving forward in years. Cucumber helps in improving calcium absorption, increasing bone muscle repair.
- Prevents Growth of Cancer Cells
Cucumber is also known for its anticancer properties. This can reduce the spread of cancer cells throughout the body and reduce the risk of developing cancer cells in your body. Cancer experts ask their patients to eat cucumber to recover damaged cells in their body which helps in blood circulation.
- Reduces Chronic Inflammation
The amount of water and vitamin C present in cucumber can prevent the spread of damaged cells in your body, thus protecting you from multiple chronic inflammatory conditions including heart disease. Cucumber antioxidants will fight inflammation by boosting your immunity.
- Beautiful Hair
Sulfur and silicone present in cucumber can help strengthen and rejuvenate your hair. Your hair growth will improve with hair being soft and silky to touch. Hair will soften and be unable to break easily.
- Prevents Constipation
Insufficient water and dietary fiber content in your body can lead to constipation, which can cause you a lot of discomfort. Add cucumbers to your daily diet to stay hydrated and meet the fiber requirements in the body. This will help you with the constipation situation.
- Natural Treatment for Kidney Stones
The amount of water in cucumber can exaplate all toxins from your body. It can go a long way in preventing kidney stones while stones and waste present in the bladder are excreted from the body by urine. It also helps in keeping uric acid levels in the body controlled.
- Relieves Migraine
Migraine can be extremely painful, and you won’t be relieved until you sleep. Including cucumber in your diet can have miraculous effects. Cucumber magnesium helps you keep your blood pressure under control, giving a boost to your immunological system.
- Healthy skin
Eating cucumbers, wrinkles and lines will become a thing of the past to ensure healthy and glowing skin. Cucumber can be applied locally to lighten and rejuvenate the skin.
- Pain relief
Cucumber contains flavonoids, tannins and other antioxidants. It helps in reducing pain by controlling the number of free radicals released into the body. You don’t have to suffer too much pain even for chronic illness. If you can’t completely remove it then eat cucumber every day to reduce pain.
- Fights Bad Breath
You need to brush your teeth twice a day and maintain proper facial hygiene. Unfortunately, you may still be suffering from a foul smell that can cause people to avoid you. You should not choose expensive treatment scented breath to get rid of it. Eat cucumber as you want to wash bacteria accumulated from your gums and teeth.
- Balances Hormones
Cucumber contains phosphorus which is a major nutrient for hormonal balance in the body. About 4% of phosphorus recommended for daily intake for adults is in cucumber. To reap the benefits to the maximum, add it to your daily diet and stay healthy.
- Improves Cardiovascular Health
Cucumber contains magnesium, potassium and vitamin K. These 3 nutrients are important for proper effectiveness of the cardiovascular system. Taking magnesium and potassium can reduce blood pressure. Regular consumption of cucumber has been found to reduce bad cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Vitamin K acts as an important factor in blood clotting and controlling calcium levels in the blood.
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Other Benefits of Cucumber
1) Eating cucumbers may remove leprosy.
2) Always cut the cucumber and sprinkle lemon juice and salt there to boost digestion. Cucumber is a wide fruit for the quality of food that is easily digestible.
3) Eating cucumber salad twice a day can reduce blood sugar levels in diabetics.
4) Diabetics should add cucumber and lemon juice to it.
5) Add turmeric powder and lemon juice to the cucumber juice and wash the face after 20 minutes so that a week of applying it will increase the beauty and glow of the skin and turn white.
6) Adding glycerin, lemon juice, and rose water to cucumber juice can provide a beautiful glowing skin.
7) Consumption of cucumber pieces or cucumber juice is very beneficial in case of high blood pressure.
8) In case of sunburn; take 100 grams of cucumber juice, 2 teaspoons of milk powder and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and mix them to a paste. Apply the mix on the sunburn area. This will eliminate the dark burnt skin. For effective results, you have to repeat the process for 1 week.
9) For dark under eyes; apply cucumber and potato paste by rubbing gently on your eye bags with your fingers.
10) Placing cucumber pieces on eye leads can provide freshness and miniaturization when you feel tired or have a burning sensation in your eyes.
11) Applying cucumber paste can extract the extra oil from the skin, providing you a soft clear skin.
12) High phosphorus content in cucumber can boost brain functioning. It can also strengthen memory.
13) Cucumbers have the ability to prevent various diseases. Cucumber can provide soft glowing skin, eliminate stomach ailments, lethargism, boosts memory and strengthens the digestive system.
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Uses of Cucumber
We can also eat raw cucumber in salads, other dishes, burgers, sandwiches etc. Cucumber juice is also a healthy diet option. We can use cucumber in various ways to cure diseases. Home remedies and cosmetics made from cucumber can be used as a cure to many skin and hair problems.
Side Effects of Cucumber
Eating too much cucumber may have side effects, these are –
- Increased urine
- Bloating and indigestion
- Allergic reactions
- Kidney risk
- Side effects caused by excessive vitamin C
- Can be dangerous to the heart
- Gas problem
Therefore, it should be used regularly in the right quantity keeping in view the benefits and disadvantages of cucumber as excessive use of any product can harm our health. Doctors should be consulted before using cucumber in medicinal fields in curing the disease.
Conclusion
The above article discussed the health benefits of cucumber and provided the important information you must know. In case of medicinal uses you must consult an expert first (especially, if you have some special health conditions). This information included in the article may benefit you in various ways.
FAQ
1) What are the characteristics of cucumber?
A. The cucumber tree is a soft annual with rough, juicy, rear stem. The damp leaves contain three to five pointed lobes, and the stems are branched tendrils. The five-petal yellow flowers are monosexual and produce a type of berry called pepo.
2) Can I eat cucumbers every day?
A- Vitamins, dietary fiber, and water-filled cucumber helps in indigestion. Eating cucumber daily can solve problems related to bowel movement and hence helps you to fight constipation.
3) Is cucumber good for skin?
A- Cucumber can help you feel better both inside and outside. These are not just a great, low calorie snack. Cucumber can soothe your skin, reduce swelling and redness, and help you fight aging symptoms.
4) Is cucumber a fruit?
A. According to botanical classification; a fruit should contain at least one seed and grow from the flower of the plant. Considering this definition, cucumbers are classified as fruits as they contain small seeds and grow from the flowers of the cucumber tree.
5) Can cucumbers remove dark spots?
A- Cucumber contains 95% water, which means it hydrates and moisturizes the skin. Cucumber contains a protein that tightens the skin and makes the skin look smooth and soft. It helps in lightening the thick spots and soothes the skin.