7 Reasons Why Cucumber is a Superfood

Sharon Moore June 17, 2014

Cucumber is a widely cultivated plant in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae. It’s commonly added in refreshments and salads, or can be eaten alone. Cucumbers are also a popular natural beauty treatment.

But did you know that it’s loaded with health benefits too?

It rehydrates your body.

Cucumbers are 95 per cent water, keeping your body hydrated whilst helping eliminate toxins. What’s more, they contain most of the vitamins you need on a daily basis, including vitamin C that’s good for your skin health. A serving of cucumber has 10 per cent of the daily recommended levels of vitamin C.

It relieves bad breath.

Cucumbers are rich in phytochemcials that kill bad breath-causing bacteria in your mouth. Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds for a fresher breath!

It boosts digestion and aids in weight loss.

Since they are high in water and low in calories, cucumbers are ideal for people looking to shed some pounds. And as mentioned above, the high water content in cucumbers helps the body flush away toxins, which aids digestion. Daily consumption of cucumbers is one way to relieve chronic constipation.

It promotes joint health.

Cucumbers are a great source of silica, which promotes joint health by strengthening the connective tissues that surround them. This exceptional fruit is also loaded with A, B1, B6, C & D, folate, calcium, magnesium, and potassium which ease gout and arthritis pain by lowering the uric acid levels.

It eases hangover.

Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish many essential nutrients, reducing the intensity of both hangover and headache. So the next time you had plenty of drinks, eat a few slices of cucumber before going to bed so you don’t end up feeling messed up the next day.

It helps fights cancer.

Cucumbers are known to contain lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol which all have been linked with reduced risk of several cancer types, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and prostate cancer.

It boosts skin and hair health.

The peel of cucumber can be used to relieve irritations and sunburns like aloe vera. Its anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce puffiness as well. Furthermore, the silicon and sulphur in cucumbers help to stimulate hair growth.

However, cucumbers are often sprayed with pesticides so you may want to buy organic or even better, grow them yourself. What are your favourite ways to enjoy cucumber? Feel free to post a comment below.