Written By: Sameer Jha | Updated : January 16, 2015 2:39 PM IST
काकडी शरीराला थंडावा देते. काळ्या वर्तुळांपासून बचाव करण्यासाठी , काकडीचे जाडसर तुकडे कापून 30 मिनिटांसाठी ते फ्रिजमध्ये ठेवा . त्यानंतर थंडगार काकडीचे तुकडे डोळ्यांवर ठेवा.
Popularly known as kadki or keera in India, cucumber is the most refreshing and soothing vegetable that instantly induces a cooling effect on consumption. Dice it to add it to your salad and sandwiches or eat it alone by sprinkling some salt and pepper on cut slices, you are sure to get these nutritional benefits from this vegetable.
1# Keeps your body hydrated: Cucumbers contain 95% water. This gives them a natural cleansing property. Cucumbers help eliminate accumulated pockets of wastes and chemical toxins that can harm the body. Eating cucumbers, therefore, is an excellent way to detoxify the body and keep the body hydrated.
2# Keeps your skin glowing: Cucumbers can alone be the solution for several skin related problems like tanning, sunburns, skin rashes. Eating cucumbers is the perfect way to hydrate dull skin. They acts as a natural moisturiser due to their water content. They also help prevent acne by controlling oil secretion. Here are all the beauty benefits of cucumbers you wanted to know about.
2# Can be used to prevent hangovers: If the worst part about drinking alcohol for you is the early morning headache that usually accompanies it then there s a way to avoid it. Nutrients like B vitamins, sugar and electrolytes will make sure that if you eat a cucumber before going to bed, then the intensity of your hangover next morning will be significantly reduced. Here are some more hangover remedies that you can try.
3# Useful for weight loss: Cucumbers are extremely low in calories and contain high amounts of dietary fibre. This makes cucumber a vegetable that will reduce your hunger pangs without giving you a lot of calories. Here is a sample weight loss diet plan that you can use.
4# Reduces cholesterol: A cucumber contains zero cholesterol and if you are at risk of suffering from heart disease or have had heart related problems in the past, then you should definitely eat a cucumber a day. Additionally, researchers have found that a compound called sterols can help reduce cholesterol levels. Read about some foods that you can eat to beat cholesterol.
5# Aids digestion: You should eat cucumbers daily to help prevent many digestive problems like acidity, constipation, ulcer formation, etc. The reason that your digestive system loves cucumbers is because it has high amounts of water that helps flush out the toxins, dietary fibre that clears the food stuck in your colon and an enzyme called erepsin that helps in the absorption of protein.
6# Reduces bad breath: Putting a cucumber on the roof of your mouth for a few minutes will help kill all the bad-breath causing bacteria giving you a fresher breath. According to Ayuveda, bad breath is caused due to excess heat in your stomach and eating a cucumber will help release this. Here are some foods that'll help reduce bad breath.
7# Helps reduce stress: In today s fast paced world it is easy to get stressed. This stress creates hormonal changes that can affect your body in several ways. Cucumbers are extremely rich in B Vitamins which help regulate the functioning of your adrenal glands and counters the harmful effects that stress can have on your body. Here are some foods that can help reduce stress.
8# Helps prevent cancer: Cucumbers contain a group of phytonutrients called lignans which have been linked to a lowered risk of cancer. Additionally, the many antioxidants along with Vitamin C, improves your immunity and reduces free radical damage which in turn helps prevent cancer. Read more about food habits that'll keep cancer at bay.
9# Helps treat eye strain: Extreme dependence of today s generation on computers and smartphones often leads to eye strain and headache. There are various ways to include cucumbers in your beauty regime. One of them is keeping slices of cucumber on the eyes and lying down for a few minutes. This reduces eye strain and instantly makes you feel more relaxed.
10# Could help prevent Alzheimer s: Alzheimer s is an extremely scary disease to have as it takes a heavy toll on both the patient and the caregiver. According to researchers at Salk Institute for Biological Studies, a flavonol called fisetin present in cucumbers prevented progressive memory and learning impairments in mice.
All these properties make cucumber a super food that you shouldn t forget including in your diet. If you don't like to eat them raw, then here are some delicious recipes you can try:
Image source: Getty images
For more articles on healthy food, visit our healthy foodsection. For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter.
Reference
Mukherjee PK, Nema NK, Maity N, Sarkar BK. Phytochemical and therapeutic potential of cucumber. Fitoterapia. 2013 Jan;84:227-36. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2012.10.003. Epub 2012 Oct 23. Review. PubMed PMID: 23098877.
