The Wellness Center's Blog

Health Benefits of Cucumbers

By: Wellness Center Staff

August 12, 2014, 5:36 pm - Categories: Nutrition

Cucumbers are the fourth most cultivated vegetable in the world and known to be one of the best foods for your body’s over all health, often referred to as a superfood.  Cucumbers are often sprayed with pesticides so it is important to buy organic or even better, grow your own!

Here are 5 benefits of cucumbers:

1.  Quick pick me-up – Cucumbers are good source of B vitamin.  Put down your sodas and coffee and eat a cucumber slice.

2.  Rehydrates body and replenishes daily vitamins – Cucumbers are 95 percent water, keeping the body hydrated while helping the body eliminate toxins.  Cucumbers have most of the vitamins the body needs in a single day.  Don’t forget to leave the skin on because the skin contains a good amount of vitamin C, about 10 percent of the daily recommended allowance.

3.  Fight cancers – Cucumber are known to contain lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolarciresinol.  These three lignans have a strong history of research in connection with reduced risk of several cancer types, including breast cancer, ovarian caner, uterine cancer and prostrate cancer.

4.  Aids in weight loss and digestion – Due to its low calorie and high water content, cucumber is an ideal diet for people who are looking for weight loss.  The high water content and dietary fiber in cucumbers are very effective in ridding the body of toxins from the digestive system, aiding digestion.  Daily consumption of cucumbers can be regarded as a remedy for chronic constipation.

5.  Promotes joint health, relieves gout and arthritis pain – Cucumber is an excellent source of silica, which is known to help promote joint health by strengthening the connective tissues.  They are also rich in vitamin A, B1, B6, C & D, Folate, Calcuim, Magnesium and Potassium.  When mixed with carrot juice, they can relieve gout and arthritis pain by lowering the uric acid levels.