Thy food your medicine - Cucumber Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is a widely cultivated plant in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae. It is a creeping vine that bears cylindrical fruits that are used as culinary vegetables. There are three main varieties of cucumber: slicing, pickling, and burpless. Within these varieties, several different cultivars have emerged. The cucumber is originally from Southern Asia, but now grows on most continents The cucumber is a creeping vine that roots in the ground and grows up trellises or other supporting frames, wrapping around supports with thin, spiraling tendrils. The plant has large leaves that form a canopy over the fruit. The fruit of the cucumber is roughly cylindrical, elongated with tapered ends, and may be as large as 60 centimeters (24 in) long and 10 centimeters (3.9 in) in diameter. Having an enclosed seed and developing from a flower, botanically speaking, cucumbers are classified as accessory fruits. Much like tomatoes and squash they are often also perceived, prepared and eaten as vegetables. Cucumbers are usually more than 90% water. The cucumber is loaded with alkaline-forming minerals and is an excellent source of vitamin C and A (anti-oxidants), Vitamin K folate, manganese, molybdenum, potassium, silica, sulfur, and lesser amounts of vitamin B complex, sodium, calcium, and phosphorus. • Fights heat, both inside and out. Eat cucumber, and your body gets relief from heartburn. During dry and hot weather, drink a glass of cucumber + celery juice. It wonderfully helps to normalize body temperature. Apply cucumber on your skin, and you get relief from sunburn. • Flushes out toxins. All that water in cucumber acts as a virtual broom, sweeping waste products out of your system. Cucumber lowers uric acid levels in your system .With regular use; cucumber is known to dissolve kidney stones. • Lavishes you with vitamins. A B and C, which boost immunity, give you energy, and keep you radiant. • The silicon and sulfur content in cucumber juice makes it especially helpful in promoting hair growth and strong nails. Give it more power by juicing cucumber with carrot and spinach. • Supplies skin-friendly minerals: magnesium, potassium, silicon. That’s why cucumber-based treatments abound in spas. it is an important ingredient in many beauty creams for treating eczema, psoriasis, acne,etc • Aids in weight loss. Enjoy cucumbers in your salads and soups. • Revives the eyes. Placing chilled slices of cucumber on the eyes is a clichéd beauty visual, but it really helps reduce under-eye bags and puffiness. • Reduce cancer risk of several cancers by including cucumber in your diet. Several studies show its cancer-fighting potential. • Stabilizes blood pressure. Patients of blood pressure, both high and low, often find that eating cucumber brings relief. Helps to regulate blood pressure because of its minerals and traces of sodium. • Refreshes the mouth. Cucumber juice refreshes and heals diseased gums, leaving your mouth smelling good. • Helps digestion. Chewing cucumber gives the jaws a good workout, and the fiber in it is great for digestion. • Soothes muscle and joint pain. All those vitamins and minerals in cucumber make it a powerful enemy of muscle and joint pain. • Good for diabetics. Patients of diabetes can enjoy cucumber while also reaping its health benefits: cucumber contains a hormone needed by the cells of the pancreas for producing insulin. • Reduces cholesterol. A compound called sterols in cucumber helps reduce bad cholesterol. Is cucumber on your shopping list today?
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 09:13:29 +0000