The Good Old Cucumber!
Cucumber Health Benefits
Cucumber is primarily a fruit as per its biological existence. However, it is used as a vegetable in most of the cuisine around the world! It is a member from the “Cucurbtaceae” family, same as squashes and melons. It is considered a low-calorie food with just roughly 15 calories per cup, and has a lot of water in it, which is around 95%. It is an extremely refreshing and hydrating food, especially during that hot summer!
This can be a good food to be included in your diet if you are looking out for losing those extra kilos from the body and can be added to your diet in the form of salads, along with other veggies. It can be used in the form of dips as well, by grating it and mixing it with low fat yogurt, add a pinch of salt and done!
Now for some Health Benefits
· Antioxidant Action: Cucumbers contain potent anti-oxidants. Flavonoids and tannins are present in them in good amounts. These help in scavenging the harmful oxidative radicals that damage the cells of the body, thus various tissues, organs and skin, hair etc. getting affected; consequently reducing the capacity of carrying out various bodily processes and functions. Thus a diet rich in antioxidants is required to keep healthy. Cucumbers along with other foods (i.e. eating a balanced diet) comes to your rescue providing enough antioxidant!
· Anti-diabetic Property: It contains a lot of water along with fiber. Dietary fiber is known to reduce the blood glucose levels. Basically it helps in maintaining a blunt response of blood glucose after meals. Thus may help prevent and manage diabetes.
· Constipation Relieving Activity: The seeds of cucumber may assist in preventing constipation. The skin of cucumbers contain insoluble fiber and the water content in it can also be a reason behind stools getting softer and thus help get rid of constipation.
· Anti-Aging, Skin Soothing Property: Cucumbers have shown to possess effective anti-wrinkle and anti-aging properties, especially as far as skin is concerned. It is nourishing for the skin when consumed as well as it is believed to be good for skin when applied externally as well. It provides a comforting effect in case of skin irritations and lessens inflammation. It is also thought to soothe sunburns.
· Anti-Inflammatory Activity: Cucumbers comprise of lignan, which may help combat heart disease. Also it contains good amount of potassium which may help lowering increased blood pressure which indirectly helps lowers risk of heart disease.
Buying/selecting fresh Cucumber and How to store it?
There are generally two types, one has dark green skin while the other has pale to light green colour. Both are good for consumption.
Avoid the cucumber which look yellow or brownish is colour. Avoid cucumbers which are wrinkled or bruised.
Slender cucumbers are better than too large and thick ones (which can be bitter to taste).
Once bought, eating fresh is the ideal thing to do to reap all its benefits. If you want to store them store in refrigerator but consume within 1 -2 days.
Please Note
For any blood tests or various health checkups in Mumbai, please visit www.healthdekho.com
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23098877
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/anne-ricci/health-benefits-of-cucumbers_b_8231704.html
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0367326X12002791?via%3Dihub
