Whether in salads or dipped in creamy hummus, crunchy and refreshing cucumbers are irresistible. But this “vegetable” (it’s actually a fruit!) doesn’t just bring a deliciously mild flavor and texture element to your dishes. Cucumbers are also rich in healthy nutrients.
As a staple of world cuisine over 3,000 yearscucumber (scientific name: Cucumis sativus) originated in India and its popularity quickly grew, first on the Asian continent and then around the world.cucumber is Cucurbitaceae Along with squash, watermelon and squash, it is strictly a fruit.Above 100 varieties You will never get tired of enjoying these cucumbers and their wealth of health benefits.
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Here are some of the most notable reasons to keep eating cucumbers.
Cucumber health benefits
Cucumbers are great for hydration.
If you’re familiar with the health benefits of cucumbers, you may know that cucumbers are packed with water. Dana Melink, RD, CSO, LD explains.In fact they are at least 95 percent watermaking it one of the most hydrating foods you can eat. It also helps maintain healthy blood pressure and keep the detoxification system working on all cylinders.
Cucumbers are rich in vitamin K.
and Every serving of cucumber, can help you get closer to your daily vitamin K requirement. Vitamin K specifically supports healthy blood clotting throughout the body. It is also important for healthy bone development as an important precursor to the protein osteocalcin, which is necessary for the formation of bone tissue.
Cucumber helps reduce inflammation.
“Cucumbers are also rich in antioxidants,” says Merink.Like many other plant foods, cucumbers contain plant compounds, namely polyphenols, especially lignans and CucurbitacinThese botanical compounds fight off inflammation throughout the body, as well as free radicals that can contribute to chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer. Published in the International Journal of Health Science found that cucurbitacin was effective not only in killing cancer cells, but also in preventing their growth in the body.
Cucumber supports healthy digestion.
The combination of water content and fiber content in cucumbers makes them a healthy food that supports digestion. Cucumbers are particularly high in soluble fiber, which promotes regularity and a healthy metabolism, while also helping to lower cholesterol levels. Water is essential for proper digestion as it helps your body break down and absorb nutrients. It also helps prevent constipation and swelling.
Cucumbers provide vitamin C and potassium.
Cucumbers contain both vitamin C and potassium in modest, but still notable amounts. Vitamin C, which is also an antioxidant, helps strengthen the immune system. Potassium helps increase the hydrating power of cucumbers. This is because this mineral is an electrolyte that helps maintain fluid balance throughout the body.
Cucumber may help regulate blood sugar levels.
Cucumbers also help regulate blood sugar levels and prevent or maintain diabetes.His 1 review published in Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine They found that cucumber consumption was associated with improved glycemic control and had anti-diabetic effects. animal research found that cuke protects against the inflammatory side effects of diabetes and reduces oxidative stress throughout the body.
common types of cucumber
As mentioned earlier, you can choose from many varieties of cucumbers this summer, or even grow them in your garden.
- English cucumber (or greenhouse cucumber): Often individually wrapped in plastic at grocery stores, these long, dark green cucumbers have thin skins and are meant to be eaten (after washing).
- Cucumber: These dark green thin cucumbers have bumpy skins and are thin enough to be eaten unpeeled.
- Persian cucumber: This type is shorter and thicker than the English cucumber, but looks very similar and still provides a crunch factor.
- Armenian cucumber: Armenian cucumbers, also called snake cucumbers, are beautifully striped with dark and light green wrinkles. Great for snacks and pickles.
- Lemon cucumber: Be sure to try this type of cuke that you can only find at farmers markets. The lemon cucumber gets its name from its size and shape, which is reminiscent of a sour fruit, although it is pale in color. These cucumbers offer a sweet and delicate flavor, so this is the only similarity you can expect between the two fruits.
cucumber shopping
In general, when buying cucumbers, try to buy organic (many non-organic cucumbers are often coated with edible wax for preservation in supermarkets). To get the most nutrition out of cucumbers, it’s best to eat the skin. Eating food with a waxy coating is not only unpalatable, but also unhealthy.
Once you’ve got a few great options, cucumber’s “versatile and neutral flavor makes it easy to incorporate into your daily routine,” says Merink. Or add them to salads, salsas, and sandwiches—there are many ways to seamlessly incorporate cucumbers into your healthy lifestyle.
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