Incredible Health Benefits of Cucumber.

The dependable cucumber doesn’t have a very exciting life really does it?
We chop it, slice it, maybe if we’re being fancy we might use one of those crinkle cutters as a treat. Ultimately, it will usually end up tucked in with a salad.

So is it any good for us? You bet it is!

There are many health benefits of cucumber
Fresh cucumbers contain mainly water, ideal for filling you up and rehydrating the body.

They also contain the compounds Ascorbic acid and Caffeic acid which prevent water retention, so if you are having problems in that area they are great choice to eat.

A good source of vitamins
The cucumber is a great source of vitamins A, C and folic acid – do you need these? Yes!

- Vitamin A helps with eye problems, immunity and gut issues.

- Vitamin C is essential for more than 300 metabolic functions in the body some of which include immunity, adrenal gland function and aiding the metabolism of Folic Acid.

- Folic Acid is needed for energy and the healthy formation of red blood cells. It also helps to strengthen immunity by assisting the correct formation of white blood cells. Folic Acid is particularly important in pregnancy as it helps to regulate the embryonic and fetal nerve cell formation.

- Just one cup a day of cucumber will give your body its daily requirement of Vitamin K, this helps reduce risk of bone fracture and also contributes to the better absorption of calcium also essential for good bone health.

A good source of minerals
Cucumber contains Potassium, Magnesium, Manganese and Molybdenum – so what does your body do with these minerals?

- Well, Potassium is essential for a healthy nervous system and regular heart rhythm. It works with sodium to control the body’s water balance.

- Adequate Magnesium helps to prevent depression, dizziness, muscle weakness and premenstrual syndrome.

- Manganese is required for many processes in the body some of which include healthy nerves, a good immune system and blood sugar control.

- Molybdenum supports bone growth and the health of your teeth.

How good are cucumbers? There’s still more…
As cucumber is low in calories it means you can chop or slice as much as you want for your salad, it will fill you up too.

Cucumber is a great source of the mineral silica, which is used in the body towards strengthening our connective tissue, supporting our muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and bone.

How can you use cucumber?
They can be used on the skin to help ease sore eyes, sunburn, and some skin problems. Cucumbers work to reduce swelling and inflammation. As most of us have these in the fridge salad drawer, they’re worth trying first before reaching for the medicine cabinet.

Try this, slice a cucumber thinly and put the fleshy middle area of the cucumber on the affected area of the skin, leave them on for at least half an hour to provide a soothing effect.

So you can see that there are many health benefits of cucumber so by increasing your intake you will be helping your body.

Try these ideas to increase cucumber in your diet!
Pop half a cucumber into your smoothie, as it’s got a high water content you won’t need to add as much of the liquid that you normally do. If you normally use milk then this will reduce the calorie content of your drink.

Cut the cucumber in half lengthways then chop into crudities, store them in your fridge ready to grab as a healthy snack dipped into houmous – delicious!

Finally why not pop a few slices onto some fresh bread for a very english cucumber sandwich….well if its good enough for the Queen!

Source: http://daily-health-tips-ideas.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/incredible-health-benefits-of-cucumber.html