Total Health Cool as a cucumber blog

Keeping cool as a cucumber

Cucumbers are cool to eat. They are high in water content which is great for hydrating, especially in summer, and amazing in salads, as snack sticks on their own or with dips and in smoothies.

In a smoothie recipe, they are quick, flavoursome, refreshing and easy to throw in. They can be easily blended with low sugary fruits like berries, green apple, red pawpaw and dragon fruit thanks to their very mild flavour.

The many health benefits of cucumber:

  • Hydration – The water content of cucumbers is 96% making them one of the most hydrating vegetables around. They will also replenish you with vitamins and minerals, these being vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.
  • Skin Care – Cucumbers are often used as a sunburn relief and can be found in facial masks and skin cleansers.
  • Aid in Digestion – The dietary fibre found in the cucumber is great for a healthy gut. Freshly juiced cucumbers can be great in the relief of ulcers.
  • Rejuvenation – Cucumber can be used as a pick-up when you feel yourself falling into the 3pm hole. So instead of coffee, try cucumber or a cucumber smoothie as the B vitamins and the carbohydrates in the cucumber can provide a lift that will get you through the afternoon lows.
  • Cravings – When the afternoon or evening cravings for sugar or salty food hit, try eating cucumber instead. Cucumber will support and the satiating effect will ease the cravings and need to binge on unhealthy food.
  • Headache relief – Cucumber is known to ease potential headaches. Eating before bed can support waking up refreshed and headache free due to its electrolytes, B vitamins, high water and small amounts of sugar to replenish essential nutrients in the body causing the headache.
  • Neutralizing food breath – No chance to brush teeth or have gums or mints? Try cucumber. A slice of cucumber pressed against the roof of your mouth for 30 seconds supports eliminating bad food breath as the phytochemicals in cucumber neutralize the bacteria causing them.
  • Skin lift – Cucumber rubbed on skin activates the collagen to tighten up, therefore reducing the visibility of wrinkles and cellulite. So anytime you peel a cucumber you can give yourself a face lift by rubbing the inside of the cucumber skin on face and neck and other areas you feel need moisturizing.
  • Facial – Cut up a cucumber, place in a bowl, pour over boiling water and with a towel placed over your head, allow the steam from the bowl to create a soothing and relaxing aroma that supports with stress relief and tension held in your face.
  • Cleaning possibilities – Cucumbers have been used to clean and polish shoes, defog mirrors, clean stainless steel tubs and sinks as well as lubricating squeaky hinges and erasing pencil marks, crayon and marker squiggles on the wall.

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