Health benefits of cucumber

Cucumber are refreshing, nutritious and incredible versatile addition to any diet. Cucumbers are low in calories but contain many important vitamins and minerals, as well as a high water content. It serve as a better replacement for watermelon during meal as it enhances digestion, hydration and regularity. 

Eating cucumber may lead to many potential health benefits, including weight loss, balanced hydration, digestive regularity and lower blood sugar levels. Though cucumbers are commonly thought to be a vegetable, it is actually a fruit.

Cucumbers are high in beneficial health nutrients, as well as certain plant compounds and antioxidants that may help treat and even prevent some health conditions. Its low calories and high content of water and soluble fiber, makes them ideal for promoting hydration, digestion and aiding in weight loss. 

A fully grown cucumber of about one 11-ounce (300 gram) unpeeled, raw cucumber contains the following health nutrients:

• Calories - 45
• Carbs - 11 grams
• Vitamin C - 14% of the RDI
• Vitamin K - 62% of the RDI
• Potassium - 13% of the RDI
• Magnesium - 10% of the RDI
• Protein - 2 grams
• Fat - 0 gram

To maximize the nutrient content in cucumbers, it should be consume unpeeled. A peeled cucumber does not carry a complete nutritious amount of fiber, as well as certain vitamins and minerals.

Here are some of the health benefits of cucumber:

1. It Promotes Hydration: Water is crucial to the body and it plays numerous role to the important function of the body. Therefore, high water content fruits are vital to the human body as it enhances the body function efficiently.

Water involves in processes like temperature regulation of the body and the transportation of waste products and nutrients. 

To meet the majority of the body fluid needs, eating water high content fruits such as cucumber, watermelon etc may help attain to this need effectively. Also, fruits and vegetables, in particular, can be a good source of water in our daily diet. Increased fruit and vegetable intake is associated with improvements in hydration status.

The high content of water in cucumber are specifically for promoting hydration and can also help in the meet of our daily body fluid needs.

2. It Contains Antioxidants: Antioxidants are molecules that block oxidation; a chemical reaction that forms highly reactive atoms with unpaired electrons otherwise known as free radicals. Therefore, the accumulation of these harmful free radicals can lead to several types of chronic illness.

In a research study, oxidative stress caused by free radicals has been associated with cancer and heart, lung and autoimmune disease.

Some fruits and vegetables, especially high water content fruits and vegetables such as cucumber and watermelon are specifically rich in beneficial antioxidants that can help reduce the risk of these conditions.

In a  research study conducted on the important and health benefits of cucumber; it was discovered that cucumbers contain flavonoids and tannis, which are discuss to be the two groups of compounds that are especially effective at blocking harmful free radicals.

3. It Promotes Regularity: Eating cucumbers can help support regular bowel movement. Dehydration is noted to be a major risk factor for constipation, as it can alter water balance in the body and make the passage of stool difficult.  

Cucumbers are high in water as this can promote hydration. Staying hydrated can improve stool consistency, prevent constipation and help maintain regularity. Moreover, cucumbers contain fiber, which helps regulate bowel movements.

In particular, Pectin, a type of soluble fiber found in cucumbers, can help increase bowel movement frequency. Pectin is also noted to sped up the movement of the intestinal muscles. 

4. It May Lower Blood Sugar: Cucumbers are proven to effectively reduce and control blood sugar levels and prevent some complications of diabetes. Its low calories and low sugar content make it a perfect fruit and vegetable for diabetic patients. Cucumbers are also effective at reducing oxidative stress.

5. It May Aid in Weight Loss: Cucumbers could potentially help in weight loss due to it high water content and low calories. The high water content of cucumbers could aid in weight loss, as a study as reveal that eating foods with high water and low calories contents are associated with a significant decrease in the body weight.

6. Easy to Add to Diet: Mild with a distinctly crisp and refreshing flavor; cucumbers are commonly enjoyed fresh or pickled in everything from salads to sandwiches.

Cucumbers are also often eaten raw as a low calorie snack or can be paired with hummus, olive oil, salt or salad dressing to add a bit more flavor.