Cucumber: Properties, Side Effects, Benefits And Uses

Cucumber is the fruit of the sativus ucumis (cucurbitaceae family), a species of creeping plant known as cucumber. Very present in many recipes, cucumber is very good for summer days : it is refreshing, it has a mild flavor and a crunchy texture! Learn about the main benefits, side effects and properties of cucumber.

Origin of cucumber

The most probable origin of the cucumber is in the territory of India and its arrival in Europe was due to the Romans. There are reports of its cultivation in France (9th century) and England (14th century). In the Americas, the fruit was introduced by European settlers.

The cucumber plantation has prospered because it grows preferably in the most tropical areas and also in more temperate climates . It is not surprising that the regions with the highest productivity are the Southeast and South of the globe.

Types of cucumber

Brought from India to America by Christopher Columbus, the cucumber has adapted very well to tropical climates and today it can be found in all regions. The main types of cucumbers on the market are: Japanese, common, Dutch, Persian, and pickles (prepared in vinegar).

Japanese cucumber (aonaga)

Also known as aonaga, the Japanese cucumber has dark green skin and firmer flesh. Slender and elongated, it is the most widely used type for sunomono, which is the traditional Japanese sweet and sour cucumber salad.

Persian cucumber

Easy to grow , easier to find in markets, and generally cheaper than Japanese cucumber. Besides being used for salads, it is also the most suitable type of cucumber for the preparation of detoxifying juices.

Common Cucumber

It has a coloration similar to the Japanese and the size similar to the Persian. The common cucumber (aodai) can be used to prepare salads or canned. Its flavor is smooth and similar to that of Japanese cucumber .

Dutch cucumber

Suitable for salads, the Dutch cucumber is in short supply in America. It is often consumed in larger quantities in European countries , especially in Spain.

Canning cucumber (Gherkins)

Although primarily used for canning, the pickle (or mini cucumber) can be used like other cucumbers, or as a delicious snack . One tip is to dip them in a light sauce of yogurt, salt and mustard. In addition to being tasty, this snack is low in calories and can substitute for a heavier snack.

What is cucumber good for?

Cucumber is a low calorie and very nutritious food. It is often used to prepare salads, in strips or pickles as an aperitif . Both forms, raw and pickled, are used to make fillings.

You can also prepare hot or cold soups, purees, and stir fries. In addition, it has been widely used as an ingredient in so-called “detoxifying juices” or “green juices” and “cucumber water”, refreshing drinks that help eliminate impurities from the body.

Cucumber doesn’t just stand out as a food. It can also be found in the formulation of various cosmetic products. For example we leave you here two applications:

• A mask to close large pores.
• Cucumber juice to help grow and strengthen nails.

Cucumber Properties

One hundred grams of cucumber, raw and unpeeled, have only 16 calories , since its main ingredient is water, about 95% of the total .

Cucumbers are an excellent source of vitamin K and molybdenum , and they have good amounts of pantothenic acid and fiber. They also have vitamin C , vitamin B1, biotin, carotenoids, potassium, copper, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, silica, triterpenoids, flavonoids, and lignans.

The most prominent medicinal properties of cucumber are anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and laxative activity.

Cucumber benefits

See below how the properties of cucumber provide benefits for your health and fitness:

1) It has anti-inflammatory action

Research in animals indicates that cucumber extract has an anti-inflammatory action : it manages to avoid excessive production of nitric oxide and inhibits cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2).

Large amounts of nitric oxide oppose other inflammatory frameworks . In bronchial asthma, for example, it helps reduce the airway. COX-2 is an enzyme that is also involved in the mechanism of inflammation and is even the target of many anti-inflammatory drugs.

2) It has antioxidant action

Cucumber is a great source of antioxidant agents: beta-carotene, vitamin C, manganese, and some flavonoid compounds.

Researchers found that fresh cucumber extract provides improved antioxidant capacity and increased free radical scavenging in animals.

Many diseases are caused by oxidative stress, such is the case of various types of cancer, so antioxidant agents are essential to avoid it.

3) Prevents constipation

Cucumber has significant amounts of water and insoluble fiber. The people with chronic constipation can consume daily as a natural alternative treatment for this problem. Water and fibers are ideal for rapidly stimulating the excretion of feces, other wastes, and toxins resulting from metabolism.

4) It is a natural diuretic

The large amount of water present in cucumber increases the amount of urine produced by the body. This increased excretion of urine prevents episodes of urinary tract infection, since bacteria are continuously eliminated from the body, it also prevents the formation of kidney stones. This is one of the most sought after cucumber benefits by people who want to reduce inflammation and fluid retention.

5) Helps prevent and fight cancer

Two types of phytonutrients found in cucumber, lignans and triterpenoids, have anticancer action.

When digested, cucumber lignans (lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol) are transformed into enterolignans (enterolactone and enterodiol), by the action of bacteria in the digestive tract. These molecules, in turn, can bind to estrogen receptors and have a preventive effect against malignant tumors associated with the same hormone. Therefore, lignans reduce the chances of developing breast, ovarian, uterine, endometrial and prostate cancer.

A study published in the journal of the National Cancer Institute evaluated about 1,000 women after menopause , the results showed that those who consumed more lignans had a lower risk of developing endometrial cancer . Another study published in the Journal of Nutrition , conducted with 800 women, also showed that those who ingested more of this phytonutrient were less likely to have ovarian cancer.

Cucurbitacins A, B, C, and D are triterpenoids found in cucumbers. There have been many studies with these substances, including in the pharmaceutical industry, and researchers found that cucurbitacins are capable of blocking signaling pathways that are key to the growth and survival of cancer cells. A study published in the Journal of Cancer Research found that cucurbitacin B supplements were able to prevent the growth of seven malignant human pancreas cell lines by 50%.

6) It is useful against some neurological diseases

The dehydration is one of the most common causes of headache . Cucumber contains magnesium and is rich in water. Studies indicate that foods that have this combination (water and magnesium) are effective against headaches just by keeping the person hydrated .

Also, as mentioned above, cucumber has anti-inflammatory properties, which also helps relieve pain.

Fisetin is an anti – inflammatory flavenoide present in cucumber, it was determined that in mice with Alzheimer’s, helped contain deficits in memory and learning , incapacitating symptoms for patients with this disease.

7) It’s good for the heart

Cucumber provides potassium, which by itself has a vasodilator action. And potassium, along with fiber and magnesium, also present in fruit, helps lower blood pressure.

Research has shown that the consumption of foods rich in these 3 types of nutrients, of course associated with a balanced diet , reduces systolic pressure by up to 5.5 points and diastolic pressure by up to 3 points.

The antioxidant properties of cucumber also help prevent arteriosclerosis .

8) It is ideal for diabetics

Cucumber is a food that can and should be consumed by people with diabetes. The fruit has a very low glycemic index, that is, its intake does not cause spikes in blood glucose, which overload the pancreas . And the most interesting: cucumber has a hormone required by the beta cells of the pancreas to synthesize insulin.

9) It’s good for the skin

You can cut slices or larger chunks of cucumber and use them topically. The freshness of this vegetable is excellent for treating sunburns , for example. This calming effect also relieves other irritations and inflammations that affect the skin.

10) makes bones stronger

Cucumber is an excellent source of vitamin K , an essential nutrient for bones. This vitamin increases the absorption of calcium by the bones . Their deficiency makes them more fragile and susceptible to fractures.

One study found that older men and women who consume more vitamin K are less likely to suffer hip fractures and another study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition revealed that there is a correlation between lower bone density in men and low levels of vitamin K in. your body.

11) Helps to lose weight

As we have seen, cucumber is a fruit with very few calories , but very nutritious, that is, it can be used in any nutritional education program. Cucumber is even a star of detox diets.

Often the feeling of hunger arises when, in fact, we only need to drink water. Dehydration causes this desire to eat and cucumber, thanks to its high water content, helps in hydration and reduces appetite.

Cucumber fibers are also important allies for the weight loss process and increase the feeling of satiety.

Tips on cucumber

• As for the conservation of cucumbers, the ideal place to store them is the refrigerator, more precisely in its lower part. When kept at room temperature, vegetables deteriorate. Use perforated plastic bags to package them . The cucumber lasts for a week in the refrigerator.
• As for cleaning, place them in a bleach solution for 30 minutes (add 1 tablespoon of sodium hypochlorite in 1 liter of filtered water). To wash the cucumbers, use plain water. These precautions are necessary because cucumbers are one of the foods most exposed to pesticides .
• The peel of the common cucumber is not easily digested by the body , so it is best to remove it before consumption.

Cucumber side effects

• Always remember to consume any type of food in moderation, even if it is natural. Excessive consumption of cucumber can be harmful to health: it is a diuretic and this can cause an electrolyte imbalance, due to the great loss of fluids.
• The large amounts of potassium (hypercalcemia) can damage the heart and strain on the kidneys.
• There are toxins in cucumber (triterpenoids and tetracyclic cucurbitacines) that give it a bitter taste and, if taken in excess, can lead to death.
• Many people also report indigestion, gas, and bloating problems after eating cucumbers. Cucurbitacin is also responsible for this effect and mainly affects those who already have digestive problems.
• If you suffer from an allergy to melon, banana , sunflower seeds, chamomile and pollen, you may also present allergic rejection to cucumber .
• People who have allergies to milk should pay special attention in relation to the consumption of cucumbers. Some farmers wax the fruit in order to protect it from pests. This wax contains casein, a milk protein .

5 Cucumber Juice Recipes to Lose Weight

1. Hot cucumber juice

Ingredients :

• 3 ½ cups diced tomatoes;
• 2 cups of chopped cucumber;
• 1 stalk of celery;
• 3-4 drops of stevia (optional);
• ½ teaspoon (coffee) of black pepper;
• ¼ teaspoon (coffee) cayenne pepper;
• ½ teaspoon (coffee) of sea salt.

Preparation :

• Beat everything in a blender;
• Pour the juice into a tall glass, serve garnished with mint leaves. This juice is perfect for the summer months.

Tip : You can change the amount of pepper suggested in the ingredients. Try to make the juice pleasant to your palate. The amounts described here are only a recommendation and you can reduce them.

2. High-fiber cucumber juice

Ingredients :

• 4 carrots ;
• 1 cucumber;
• 1 stalk of celery;
• 1 apple;
• Half of a peeled lemon .

Preparation :

• Beat everything in a mixer.
• Add ice and serve immediately.

Tip : If you are the type of person who eats little fiber in your day to day, we recommend this juice because it has an interesting amount of fiber from apple, carrot and cucumber skin .

3. Cucumber with ginger to lose weight

Ingredients :

• 1 small cucumber;
• Some nails from India;
• 1 piece of ginger ;
• Mint leaves;
• 1 tablespoon of honey.

Preparation :

• Wash the cucumbers and cut them into pieces.
• Peel the skin of the ginger and cut it into pieces.
• Mix with the cloves and mint leaves.
• Beat everything in a mixer.
• Add the honey and serve over ice.

Tip : This cucumber juice recipe for weight loss is simple and quick to make. The high water content of the juice is also a good way to keep the body hydrated and the skin healthy.

4. Cucumber juice with various flavors for children and adults

Ingredients :

• 1 cucumber with its skin;
• 1 fruit juice of the flavor you like best (if it can be natural, better: check here the benefits of fruit juices );
• 1 liter of water;
• Ice.

Preparation :

• Wash the cucumber and mix all the ingredients in the blender, except the ice.
• When everything is well beaten, add the ice and beat again.

Tip : This recipe is for those who don’t like the taste of cucumber very much. Therefore, you can ingest it daily simply by changing the flavors of the juice when you feel that sudden feeling of hunger.

It is also an excellent recipe for children , who in this way will be enjoying the benefits of cucumber “without wrinkling the nose.”

5. Cucumber juice to lose belly

Ingredients :

• 1 medium cucumber washed, peeled and sliced;
• 1 medium lemon washed and sliced ​​into thin slices;
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground ginger;
• 12 sprigs of mint washed, and if possible, taken at the time of use;
• 2 liters of filtered or sparkling mineral water .

Preparation :

Mix all the ingredients, place the result in a container with a lid and refrigerate overnight. Ideally, you should consume it the next day, throughout the day.

This cucumber juice recipe goes beyond the concern for physical appearance, as visceral fat is extremely damaging to the heart.

Tip : Make sure you have a glass of juice a few minutes before meals . Due to its oxidation and loss of properties, what you cannot drink should be thrown away.

Over time you will get used to the taste and especially its benefits, and taking it to lose weight will become part of your daily routine.