Amazing Health Benefits of Cucumber And Nutritional Value

Cucumber

Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) are cylindrical in shape and commonly range in length from about 6 to 9 inches/15 to 20 cm, although they can be smaller or much larger. Their skin ranges in color from green to white and may be either smooth or ridged, depending upon the variety. Inside a cucumber is a very pale green flesh that is dense yet aqueous and crunchy at the same time, as well as numerous edible fleshy seeds. The seedless, thin-skinned, and longer varieties are most often grown in greenhouses. More than 70 percent of the U.S. cucumber crop is used to make pickles. Cucumbers that are cultivated to make pickles are usually of the smaller varieties. For example, the gherkin is one popular variety of cucumbers cultivated for this purpose.

Cucumber History

The cucumber is a tropical plant that originated in Southeast Asia more than 10,000 years ago. Early explorers and travelers from India and other parts of Asia brought it back with them, and its popularity spread to the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, and Rome. During ancient times, it was used not only as a food, but also for its beneficial skin-healing properties.

During the seventeenth century, greenhouse cultivation of cucumbers was developed. Cucumbers were introduced to the United States by the early colonists. The pickling process of cucumbers is thought to have originated in Spain, as pickles were said to be valued by Roman emperors.

Types

The type of cucumber most commonly available is the hothouse or so-called English cucumber. It is large, with a dark green skin, and few or no seeds.

Other types include:

Armenian, or snake cucumbers: These are long, and twisted. The skin is thin and dark green with pale furrows. These are often used for pickling.

Japanese cucumbers: These are dark green and narrow. The skin is thin with small bumps on it. They can be eaten whole.

Kirby cucumbers: These are often used for dill pickles. They have thin skin and small seeds, and they are crispy.

Lemon cucumber: These are around the size of a lemon, with pale skin. The taste is sweet and delicate.

Persian cucumbers: These are shorter and fatter than the hothouse cucumber. They are crunchy to eat.

Wild cucumber, or Echinocystis lobata, is a fast-growing plant that is native to North America. Gardeners generally see it as a weed. It is not edible.

Cucumber Nutritional Highlights

Fresh cucumbers are composed primarily of water but still pack a lot of nutritional value. The flesh of cucumbers is a very good source of vitamin C and vitamin A also folic acid. The hard skin is rich in fiber and contains a variety of important minerals, including silica, potassium, magnesium, and molybdenum. A 100 gram serving of cucumber provides only 12 calories as carbohydrate.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database, 1 cup of raw sliced cucumber with peel, weighing around 52 grams (g) contains:

• 49.52 g of water
• 8 calories
• 0.34 g of protein
• 0.06 g of fat
• 1.89 g of carbohydrate, including 0.9 g of fiber and 0.87 g of sugar
• 8 milligrams (mg) of calcium
• 0.15 mg of iron
• 7 mg of magnesium
• 12 mg of phosphorus
• 76 mg of potassium
• 1 mg of sodium
• 1.5 mg of vitamin C
• 4 micrograms (mcg) of folate

It also contains thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, and vitamin A. One cup of cucumber provides around 11 percent of the daily allowance for vitamin K. Cucumbers also contain lignans. Research suggests that these may decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease and several types of cancer.

How Many Calories Are in Pickles?

According to the US Department of Agriculture National Nutrient Database, one large pickle (about four inches long) contains 16 calories, 0.4 grams fat, 3.25 grams carbohydrate, 1.4 grams fiber, 1.4 grams sugar, 0.7 g protein, and 1092 mg sodium.

Pickles are a very low calorie food, however, they contain nearly half of the amount of sodium we should eat in a day. If you are looking to follow a low sodium diet or are salt sensitive and have a history of high blood pressure, eating pickles is probably not the best food choice.

It’s High in Nutrients

Cucumbers are low in calories but high in many important vitamins and minerals. One 11-ounce (300-gram) unpeeled, raw cucumber contains the following:

Calories: 45
Total fat: 0 grams
Carbs: 11 grams
Protein: 2 grams
Fiber: 2 grams
Vitamin C: 14% of the RDI
Vitamin K: 62% of the RDI
Magnesium: 10% of the RDI
Potassium: 13% of the RDI
Manganese: 12% of the RDI

Although, the typical serving size is about one-third of a cucumber, so eating a standard portion would provide about one-third of the nutrients above. Additionally, cucumbers have a high water content. In fact, cucumbers are made up of about 96% water. To maximize their nutrient content, cucumbers should be eaten unpeeled. Peeling them reduces the amount of fiber, as well as certain vitamins and minerals.

Cucumber Health Benefits

Cucumber is an excellent source of silica, a trace mineral that contributes to the strength of our connective tissue. Connective tissue is what holds our body together. It includes the intra-cellular cement, muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and bone. Without silica, connective tissue would not be properly constructed, leaving it impaired. Cucumber is often recommended as a source of silica.

Cucumbers are also used topically for various types of skin problems, including swelling under the eyes and sunburn. Two compounds in cucumbers, ascorbic acid and caffeic acid, prevent water retention, which may explain why cucumbers applied topically are often helpful for swollen eyes, burns, and dermatitis.

Skin Benefits Of Cucumber

1. Revitalizes Skin

The greatest and most important skin benefit of cucumber is that it helps in revitalizing the skin.

What You Need

• 2 ¼-inch slices of cucumber
• 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon Greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

What You Need To Do

1. Puree the cucumber in a blender and then add the other ingredients to it.
2. Then, apply one layer of the mask on damp skin and leave it on for five minutes.
3. Follow it up with the remaining mask another one or two times for a total of 15-20 minutes.
4. Once dry, rinse it off with lukewarm water. Follow it up by splashing your face with cold water to close your skin pores.

Why Does It Work

Facial masks containing cucumber juice are beneficial for skin tightening

2. Reverses Skin Tanning

Cucumber is a mild astringent that helps get rid of skin tan.

What Do You Need

• Juice of a grated cucumber

What You Need To Do

1. After grating the cucumber, take a clean washcloth and use it to squeeze the juice out.
2. Then, apply the juice on your face.

Why Does It Work

It has a mild bleaching property that can help even skin tone and give you a youthful and glowing skin.

3. Controls Puffiness Of The Eyes

If you are worried about eye puffiness, then cucumbers can provide you with instant relief.

What You Need

• A sliced cucumber

What You Need To Do

1. Put two slices of cucumber on your eyes and let it stay for as long as you want.

Why Does It Work

The ascorbic acid and caffeic acid in cucumber brings down the water retention rate which, in turn, diminishes the swelling and puffiness around the eyes (3).Cucumber can easily reduce the puffiness in your eyes. Simply cut slices of cucumber, refrigerate it for a while and place it on your closed eyelids every day. This will not only bring down the puffiness, but also help you relax. It actually hydrates your eyes and lessens puffiness.

4. Helps Soothe Sunburn

Cucumber also heals sunburnt skin and brings instant relief.

What You Need

Sliced or pureed cucumber

What You Need To Do

Carefully apply pureed cucumber or slices carefully and generously on the affected area and allow it to sit for as long as you want.

Why Does It Work

Cucumber is a natural and gentle way to treat sunburn since it helps draw the latent heat out of your body.

5. Rejuvenates Skin

The most common use of cucumber is to improve and rejuvenate your skin.

What You Need

Cucumber juice
Lemon Juice

What You Need To Do

Mix cucumber juice with a few drop of lemon juice. Apply the mixture as a facial mask.
Let it sit for a while and then, use a wet towel to pat your skin dry.

Why Does It Work

Application of this mask will improve the complexion and will add a glow to the skin since cucumber is both a mild astringent and contains a lot of water.

6. Treats Open Pores

You can also use cucumber to treat open pores and heat bumps on legs.

What You Need

Cucumber juice
Apple cider vinegar (optional)
Tomato pulp (optional)
Aloe vera gel (optional)

What You Need To Do

1. Blend the cucumber to get the juice and use it as a toner.
2. You can also mix it with apple cider vinegar, tomato pulp, and aloe vera gel to make it more effective

Why Does It Work

Cucumber juice can absorb the heat, rendering coolness and closing open pores.

7. Fights Cellulite

Cucumber can also help banish cellulite from the thighs.

What You Need

Cucumber juice
Ground coffee
1 tablespoon raw honey

What You Need To Do

Mix some ground coffee with cucumber juice and raw honey to make a thick paste.
Apply this on the affected areas, wrap it in a muslin cloth and exfoliate gently after 30 minutes.

Why Does It Work

Cucumber juice contains phytochemicals that help in the production of collagen, the fiber-like protein responsible for skin elasticity and remove cellulite.

8. Reduces Dark Circles

Using cucumber slices around the eyes also reduces the appearance of dark circles quickly.

What You Need

Sliced cucumber
Or
Cotton balls soaked in cucumber juice

What You Need To Do

Place two slices of cucumbers on the eyes and leave them for 20 minutes.
Alternatively, you can also soak two cotton balls in cucumber juice and place them on your eyes.

Why Does It Work

The abundance of antioxidants and silica in cucumber can help in slowly fading dark circles (8).Though cucumber cannot permanently cure your dark circles, it sure can make the skin around your eyes appear lighter on a temporary basis. The skin around our eyes is often found discolored, and these dark circles spoil the prettiest of faces. Cucumber comforts vessels around your eyes; hence helps bring back its normal tinge.

9. Treats Blemishes

You can use grated cucumber to treat freckles and blemishes.

What You Need

Cucumber juice or pulp
1 teaspoon of oats

What You Need To Do

Mix the oatmeal in the cucumber pulp and let it sit for half an hour.
Apply it over the face and leave it on for 20 minutes.
Then, wash your face with lukewarm water and follow it up by splashing cold water.

Why Does It Work

Cucumber contains anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe your skin.

10. Reduces Eye Wrinkles

Cucumber is a natural moisturizer. The skin around our eyes is the thinnest in our body. Placing cold cucumber slices on your eyes can hydrate your eyes and the skin around. This, in turn, can help reduce lines and wrinkles around eyes. Hydrated skin means smoother skin. You can actually call cucumber an eye moisturizer.

11. Removing Excess Water

Cold cucumber slices on eyes helps remove excess water. This is a great way of drawing excess moisture out of the skin cells around eyes. This is believed to reduce swelling of the eyes.

12. Under Eye Bags

Cucumber also helps toning down of under eye bags. Take a small inch of a cold cucumber and make a fine paste by grinding it. Now add either lavender oil or chamomile oil to it along with some honey. Blend it well and make it into a fine paste. Now apply this under your eyes using your fingers lightly. Leave this on for around 10-15 minutes and wipe using a damp cloth. This will help a lot in reducing the under eye bags.

Hair Benefits Of Cucumber

13. Reduces Hair Fall

Drink cucumber juice daily to control hair fall.

What Do You Need
Cucumber juice

What You Need To Do
Apply cucumber juice to your hair and scalp. Leave it on for an hour and then shampoo.

Why Does It Work
The most important benefit of cucumber for hair is primarily due to its content of silicon, sulfur, sodium, phosphorus, and calcium that are some of the most needed nutrients required for hair growth.

14. Gives Shiny Hair

Cucumber juice can also be used as a hair rinse to get silky and shiny hair.

Why Does It Work
It conditions the hair owing to the presence of silica and makes it more beautiful.

Health Benefits Of Cucumber

15. Relieves Constipation

Daily consumption of cucumbers can be regarded as an effective laxative.

Why Does It Work
The amount of calories in cucumber is very low, but its fiber content adds to your bowel bulk and relieves problems like constipation.

16. Keeps Your Renal System Healthy

Cucumbers help treat problems arising in your urinary system.

What You Need
Cucumber juice

What You Need To Do
Drink cucumber juice twice, daily.

Why Does It Work
Cucumber juice is a potent diuretic food that helps flush out toxins from your body. It also eases the pressure on your kidneys and keeps them healthy.

17. Aids Digestion

Digestive problems like heartburn, acidity, gastritis, and ulcers can be cured by consuming cucumber.

What You Need
Sliced cucumber or cucumber juice

What You Need To Do
Include cucumber in your daily diet.

Why Does It Work
Cucumber contains a high amount of fiber that helps in digestion.

18. Fights Intestinal Worms

Cucumber is considered as a natural remedy to eliminate tapeworm from the intestinal tracts.

Why does It Work
Cucumber contains the enzyme erepsin that is known to kill tapeworms.

19. Maintains Electrolyte Balance

Cucumbers regulate the blood pressure level in your body at the optimum.

Why Does It Work
Cucumbers are one of the best sources of potassium and contain 136 milligrams of potassium per 100 grams. Potassium in blood neutralizes the effects of sodium and helps maintain electrolyte balance.

20. Reduces Inflammation

Fresh cucumber extracts are also known to reduce unwanted inflammation.

Why Does It Work

It accomplishes the task by inhibiting the production of prostaglandin, the inflammatory compound. Cucumber has a substance called beta-carotene. This acts as an anti-oxidant. It helps fight free radicals and controls damage. It also promotes healing. Cucumbers are also rich in flavonoids which are great for reducing inflammation.

21. Beneficial For Diabetics

Cucumbers are also an effective treatment for diabetes.

Why Does It Work
Cucumber juice contains hormones that are needed by the pancreas for producing insulin.

22. Is A Cancer Preventive

A recent study has found cucumber to be an effective remedy to fight different kinds of cancer.

Why Does It Work
Cucumbers are known to contain lignans that are found to reduce the risks of developing breast cancer, uterine cancer, and prostate cancer. It has some of the most important ingredients such as lariciresinol, pinoresinol, secoisolariciresinol that help in reducing the risk of all types of cancer. It has got photo-nutrients known as lignans that help in preventing cancer. Vitamin C found in cucumber seeds acts as an antioxidant and also improves the immunity system.

23. Good For Dental Health

Cucumber also combats bad breath.

What You Need
Cucumber slice

What You Need To Do
Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of the mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds.

Why Does It Work
The fruit releases phytochemicals that kill the bad breath causing bacteria (21). Cucumber juice can effectively treat gum diseases like pyorrhoea and weak gums (22). Cucumber keeps gums and teeth healthy as it removes bad odor from the mouth. The photochemical present in it kills the bacteria in the mouth. Regular consumption of cucumber with the seeds neutralizes acids in the mouth and promotes salivation.

24. Cures Hangover

Cucumber can also be used to cure a hangover and the headache associated with it.

What You Need
Few slices of cucumber

What You Need To Do
Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed.

Why Does It Work
This is because they help to rehydrate the body’s nutrients and eliminate the toxins that are present due to the intake of alcohol. The sugar, vitamin B, and electrolytes in the cucumber will reduce the intensity of the hangover and the headache.

25. Good For Treating Blood Pressure Issues

Cucumber can also help lower blood pressure.

Why Does It Work
Cucumber has mild diuretic properties owing to its high potassium and water content that regulate the blood pressure and treat both high and low blood pressure.

26. Detoxifies Your Body

One of the most common benefits of cucumber is that it is a great detox.

Why Does It Work
Cucumber contains 95 percent water that hydrates and replenishes the body by eliminating the toxins. The high water content in cucumber acts as a system cleanser and sweeps the waste products out of the system.

27. Strengthens Bones

Cucumber is also known as a great remedy to strengthen your bones.

Why Does It Work
Vitamin K in cucumbers plays a very important role in strengthening bones by promoting orthotropic activity . Also, the high amount of silica in it promotes joint health by strengthening the connective tissue.

28. Treats Alzheimer’s

Another benefit of cucumber is its ability to treat cognitive disabilities like Alzheimer’s disease.

Why Does It Work
Cucumbers contain a flavonoid called fisetin that is neuroprotective and enhances cognitive abilities, thereby delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s.

29. Aids In Weight Loss

Cucumber seeds also help in losing weight and prevent indigestion, as the seeds and pulp have a low calorie count, high water content and replete with vitamins and fiber.

30. Benefits To The Nervous System

Cucumber has copper minerals that help in creating neurotransmitters that are essential for proper communication in the brain.

Other Benefits

31. Acts As A Stain Remover

Cucumber can also be used to remove stubborn stains and tarnish from stainless steel tools, countertops, and walls in the house as well as restore the lost shine.

What You Need
Slices of cucumber

What You Need to Do
Polish your vessels with slices of cucumber.

Why Does It Work
The chemicals found in cucumber prove to be very useful in making your pots and pans shine.

32. Controls Pests

Cucumber is also known to help get rid of pests.

What You Need
Cucumber slices

What You Need To Do
Place slices of cucumbers in containers around the garden to control slugs and pests in the area.

Why Does It Work
The chemical in these vegetables releases a scent that wards of the pests and insects.

How to Select and Store Cucumber

Cucumbers should be fresh-looking, well-shaped, and medium to dark green in color. Avoid cucumbers that are yellow or puffy, have sunken, water—soaked areas, or are wrinkled at their tips. Thinner cucumbers will generally have fewer seeds than those that are thicker.

Store cucumbers in the refrigerator, where they will keep for several days. If you do not use an entire cucumber during one meal, wrap the remainder tightly in plastic or place it in a sealed container to retain its freshness, but even then it should be used within one to two days. Cucumbers should not be left out at room temperature for too long, as this will cause them to wilt and become limp.

Tips for Preparing Cucumber

Wash cucumbers under cold running water and gently scrub them with a vegetable brush. If waxed or not organically grown, the cucumber should also be peeled. Cucumbers can be sliced, diced, or cut into sticks. While the seeds are edible and nutritious, some people prefer not to eat them. To remove them easily, cut the cucumber lengthwise and use the tip of a spoon to gently scoop them out.

Quick Serving Ideas for Cucumber

sliced cucumber

• Mix 1 cup diced cucumbers with 1 cup sugar snap peas and 1/2 cup chopped mint leaves, and toss with a rice wine vinaigrette.

• For a quick and easy cold gazpacho soup, simply put 1 peeled cucumber, 1 cup fresh tomatoes, 1 green pepper, and 1/z red onion, then add salt and pepper to taste.

• To make a cucumber compote: Put cubed cucumbers with dill in a little vegetable stock for a few minutes; remove from heat; chill; and then top with a dollop of plain yogurt and a sprig of dill or parsley before serving.

• Make cucumber tempura by dredging cucumber slices in a beaten egg and then in whole-wheat (whole-meal) flour. Bake on a baking tray at 300 degrees F/ 150 degrees C/ gas 2 until crispy and serve with a dipping sauce or dressing of your choice.

Cucumber Recipe

Cucumber and Snap Pea Salad

Whipping up some side dishes for a barbecue? You can make this tangy, creamy salad up to eight hours before the first guests arrive.

Ingredients

• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon caraway seed kosher salt and black pepper
• 1 English cucumber, sliced
• 3/4 pound sugar snap peas, trimmed and halved

How to Make It

Whisk together the yogurt, vinegar, caraway seed, 1 ½ teaspoons salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Fold in the cucumber and snap peas. Refrigerate for up to 8 hours.

Grilled Chicken Breasts With Peach and Cucumber Salad

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for the grill
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1 teaspoon sweet paprika kosher salt and black pepper
• 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts (about 4 pounds total)
• 2 peaches, pitted and thinly sliced
• 2 small cucumbers, thinly sliced 1 shallot, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

How to Make It

1. Heat grill or a grill pan to medium. Once it is hot, clean the grill grate with a wire brush. Just before grilling, oil the grill grate or grill pan.
2. Mix together the mayonnaise, paprika, and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper in a small bowl. Loosen the skin from the chicken with your fingers and, dividing evenly, spread the mayonnaise mixture underneath. Brush the chicken with 1 tablespoon of the oil and place on grill, skin-side down. Grill, covered, until the skin is browned and crisp and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the meat registers 165° F, 12 to 15 minutes per side.
3. Meanwhile, toss the peaches with the cucumbers, shallot, vinegar, thyme, the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper in a large bowl.
4. Serve the chicken with the peach and cucumber salad.

Negative Effects Of Cucumber

Can Cause Toxicity

Although cucumber is a healthy fruit but it contains small patches that make it tastes bitter. These small portions of cucumber contain extremely toxic triterpenoids or cucurbitacins compounds.It is, therefore, important for us to make sure that we keep our cucumber consumption within limits and don’t over eat them.

Many of us have experienced eating cucumbers that taste very bitter and we just want to spit them out. These cucumbers are highly toxic in nature and it is better to just avoid them in all circumstances. In the same way, we should also avoid drinking cucumber juice that tastes bitter because such juice is highly susceptible to this toxic compound.

Can Cause Fluid Loss and Imbalance

Eating too many cucumbers can increase the risk of fluid loss and this can result in the imbalance of the body. The main reason behind the fluid loss by over eating cucumber is because of the presence of cucurbitacin and fatty oil in the cucumber seeds. These compounds are mild diuretic in nature, which means over eating cucumbers can increase the frequency of urination which ultimately results in loss of fluids and electrolytes from our body, causing imbalances and in extreme cases it can even lead to dehydration.

Vitamins and Minerals

Cucumber flesh is a good source of vitamin C and skin of cucumber is rich in minerals in like silica,potassium and magnesium, along with the dietary fibers All these compounds are very beneficial for our health but only until they are consumed within the limitations as over consumption of these minerals and vitamins can trigger their dark side and cause harmful side effects.

Too much of vitamin C can promote the growth of free radicals which can harm our body cells, under certain conditions and in the same way too much potassium can put a negative effect on our kidneys and excessive fiber can cause intestinal gas, bloating and abdominal cramps. We will know more about these, shortly.

Side Effects Of Excessive Vitamin C

Cucumber is an excellent source of vitamin C which is an antioxidant and plays a very important role in boosting our immune system and also prevents us from many diseases and give our immune system strength to combat various diseases like scurvy and flu. Being antioxidants, it fights with the free radicals of our body, stabilize them and prevents them from damaging our body cells.

However, all these benefits of vitamin C are only when it is consumed within the recommended dosage as too much of vitamin C can harmful effect on our body. Ingesting vitamin C acts like a pro-oxidant when it is ingested in large quantities and can triggers the growth and spread of free radicals ( instead of stabilizing them) and these free radicals can then freely roam inside our body, damage our body cells and increase the risk of cancer, acne, premature aging etc.

Although vitamin C is water soluble and excess vitamin C get flushed out of the body along with the urine but it is best to keep vitamin C intake within limits as the frequent urination is not at all good for our health and can increase the burden on our kidneys.

Excessive Water

Cucumber is an excellent source of water. In fact, almost 90 percent of cucumber’s weight is water and this water makes us feel hydrated and refreshed ( on eating cucumbers) and also provide nourishment to our skin.

However, excess consumption of cucumbers can have a very harmful effect on our body because excessive water intake can increase the total volume of blood in our body, put the strain our blood vessels and heart and can cause excessive wear and tear of kidneys by putting the burden on them.

Having too much water in our system can also imbalance the concentration of electrolytes in our body and this can give rise to health conditions that range from headaches to impaired breathing.

Harmful Wax Coating

Cucumbers are a fragile fruit which means they can get broken easily. This is not at all liked by the farmers and most farmers wax the skin of cucumbers at the growing or plucking stage. This wax coating protects cucumber from insects and also minimize the risk of damage while shipping. The bad part of this step is that the wax used for coating is made up of compounds like ethyl alcohol, soaps, and milk casein ( milk casein can trigger allergic reactions towards milk in certain individuals ).

These compounds are not at all healthy for our body and-and can even cause skin reactions in certain individuals ( when peels are applied topically). It is, therefore, important for us to make sure that we only eat peeled cucumbers and, if possible, try to get organic cucumbers ( or grow your own cucumbers).

High Risks of Pesticides

As per the Environmental Working Group, cucumbers ranks nine in the fifty fruits and vegetables tested for pesticides. In other words, cucumbers are highly exposed to pesticides and most of these pesticides are very bad for our health. Because of the pesticides risks associated with cucumbers, it is best to eat organically grown cucumbers ( or grow your own cucumbers).

However, if you find it difficult to find organic cucumbers then it is best to eat cucumbers only after thoroughly washing them with fresh water, and don’t forget to remove their peels.

Was In News For Causing E. Coli Infection

Around 2014, the cucumber was in the news for causing E. Coli infection. The main factors that can lead to cause these infections by cucumbers are improper handling of cucumbers, use of animal manure as fertilizers and some other factors. Because of these factors, it is important for us to make sure that we get cucumbers only from the reputable organic sources that use properly composted animal manure as fertilizer.

Can Cause Bloating, Flatulence, And Gassiness

Cucumber seeds contain a compound known as cucurbitacin. This element is toxic in nature and can trigger indigestion in certain individuals, especially in those with a sensitive digestive system. Indigestion caused by cucurbitacin can give rise to digestion problems like bloating and flatulence which then results in burps and farts ( as this is our body’s way of controlling bloating).

There are also some other vegetables like cabbage, onion, broccoli, radishes, cauliflower etc. that can trigger gassiness in certain individuals and if you develop gas by eating these veggies then you are more likely to experience bloating, flatulence and gassiness by eating cucumbers. Because of this side effects of cucumber, it is best to eat cucumber in moderation or look out for burpless variants of cucumbers.

Harmful For Renal System

Cucumber is a good source of potassium which is very beneficial for our health as it helps in controlling blood pressure, is good for our heart, prevents kidney disorders and is great for our nervous system. However, Over consumption of cucumbers can prove fatal as too much of potassium is bad for our health as it can trigger a medical condition known as hyperkalemia.

This condition can initially lead to bloating, abdominal cramps, intestinal gas etc. and then the condition can get worse over time and starts hampering our kidney functions and damage our renal system.

Can Trigger Allergic Reactions In Certain Individuals

According to American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, some individuals are allergic (swelling or hives around your mouth, throat and tongue ) to certain foods like ragweed pollen, melons, chamomile tea, bananas, sunflower seeds etc. Those who are allergic to these foods are highly likely to be allergic to cucumbers because of a phenomenon known as cross-reactivity.

Those who experience these allergic reactions should avoid eating cucumbers in raw form and should replace it with another healthy salad like raw zucchini ( This is because although cooking can remove the threat of allergic reactions but traditionally cucumbers are served mainly in the form of salad in their raw form and it is, therefore, better to replace it with zucchini ).

Not Suitable For Consuming While Suffering From Respiratory Problems

If you are suffering from sinusitis or any other chronic respiratory disease then you should avoid eating cucumbers. This is because cucumbers possess cooling effects ( as per Ayurveda) and this cooling effect of cucumbers can worsen the conditions of the respiratory problems resulting in complications.

Eating Cucumber During Pregnancy

In general, cucumber is a safe food and can be eaten during pregnancy but only when they are consumed in moderation and as per the consultation of the doctor as too much of cucumbers can cause frequent urination which will make a pregnant woman feel irritated and uncomfortable most of the times.

Cucumber is a good source of fibers which is healthy for our system but too much of fibers can cause the digestive problem like abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence, difficulty in absorption of nutrients and so on.

Cucumber Safety

Since cucumbers are among the foods on which pesticide residues have been most frequently found, we recommend choosing cucumbers that have been organically grown. In addition, cucumbers are often waxed to protect them from bruising during shipping. Plant-, insect-, animal-, or petroleum-based waxes may be used. Since you may not be able to determine the source of these waxes, again, we recommend choosing organically grown cucumbers.