Cucumber: Uses and Benefits
Greetings to the people of the world!
I'm here again, after not posting for sooooo long. Today we will going to talk about CUCUMBERS! Yes, you read it right. It's not about makeup or some artificial products today, but of course it's still beauty related and lets insert some health related topics. By the way guys, I want you to know that I did a lot of reading and researching just to finish this post and in the end of this post all the photo links and references are well stated. So let start, shall we?
What do we know about cucumbers? Hmm it contains a lot of water and we use it to refresh our eyes to get rid of those nasty eye bags but that's not it, cucumbers have lots and lots of benefits and this vegetable is abundant all over the world.
Cucumis sativus or commonly know as Cucumber is a widely cultivated plant in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae. It is a creeping vine that bears cylindrical fruits that are used as culinary vegetables. There are three main varieties of cucumber: slicing, pickling, and burpless. Within these varieties, several different cultivars have emerged. The cucumber is originally from Southern Asia, but now grows on most continents.
Cucumbers is considered as a Super Food for its effects on the overall health. It contain most of the vitamins you need every day. Just one cucumber contains vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc.
This plant is extremely easy to grow and is have various sizes, shapes and color. It has a light to dark green thin skin, moisture rich flesh and has tiny edible seeds in it. It has a slightly sweet flavor and is mainly eaten raw in salad or sandwiches or in the form of juice.
Skin Benefits:
Most of the hair care and skin care products are manufactured using cucumber as one of its main ingredients. The raw fruit is also used in many beauty parlors in facial processes.
Revitalization of the skin. Facial masks containing cucumber juice are beneficial for skin tightening.
Has a mild bleaching property which can reverse skin tanning and get youthful and glowing skin.
For eye puffiness, cucumbers can provide you with instant relief. The ascorbic acid and caffeic acid in cucumber brings down the water retention rate which in turn diminishes the swelling and puffiness around the yes.
For sun burnt skin put cucumber slices or puree to bring instant relief. Thus cucumber is a natural and gentle way to treat sun burn.
Improve complexion and rejuvenate the skin by mixing cucumber juice with a few drop of lemon juice and apply it as a facial mask. This will improve the complexion and will add a glow to the skin.
Treat open pores by using the extract cucumber juice and apply it as a toner. You can also mix it with apple cider vinegar, tomato pulp and Aloe Vera gel to make it more effective.
Help to banish cellulite of thighs, get some ground coffee with cucumber juice and raw honey to make a thick paste. Apply this on the affected areas, wrap it in muslin cloth and exfoliate gently after 30 minutes.
Keeps the skin hydrated and well moisturized, cucumber contains 95% of water. Its seeds are rich in Vitamin E and potassium which help in reducing fine lines, wrinkles, blemishes and other signs of ageing.
Reduces the appearance of dark circles by putting cucumber slices around the eyes also. The abundance of antioxidants and silica within the cucumber can rejuvenate the skin and fade dark circles. Place 2 slices of cucumbers on the eyes and leave it for 20 minutes or you can also soak 2 cotton balls in cucumber juice and place them on your eyes.
Treat freckles and blemishes by using grated cucumber. Apply cucumber juice all over the face to treat freckles and spots.
DIY; Four Different Cucumber Face Packs
Cucumber offers multiple benefits when used as a face pack. Grated cucumber and cucumber juice can be used as a key component in facial masks to treat wrinkles, pimples and other skin problems.
Take a fresh Cucumber and blend it in a blender to make a fine paste. Add some lemon juice drops and 1 teaspoon of honey to it. Apply it all over the face and leave it for 20 minutes. Wash it off with tap water and pat dry. This face pack will help to reverse tanning.
Mix some turmeric and lemon juice with fresh cucumber pulp. Apply it on the face and leave it for 15 minutes. Wash it off after it dries. This will control oil secretion of the face.
Mix a teaspoon of oats with cucumber pulp and leave it aside for half an hour. Apply it on the face and neck and leave it to dry for 20 minutes. This face pack is very effective for dry skin. You can also add honey to this face pack to moisturize the skin.
Two Tablespoons curd, ½ tbsp honey, 1 tbsp lemon juice, half cup grated cucumber and also 3 Vitamin E tables. Apply on face and leave it for 15 minutes and wash off with warm water. This mixture acts as anti-aging cucumber mask.
Hair Care:
The most important benefit of cucumber for hair is its hair strengthening properties. Cucumber in the form of the juice contributes to the hair growth primarily due to its content of silicon, sulphur sodium, phosphorus and calcium which are some of the most needed nutrients required for hair growth. Drink cucumber juice daily to control hair fall.
Cucumber juice can also be used as a hair rinse to get silky and shiny hair. It conditions the hair and makes it more manageable.
Health Related:
Since I'm a nurse I also inserted some health related benefits of cucumber, this things are good to know.
Calories in cucumber are very low and it contains just 15 grams of calories per 100 grams. It contains no saturated fats or cholesterol. Daily consumption of cucumbers can be regarded as a remedy for chronic constipation.
Cucumber peel is a very good source of dietary fiber that helps to reduce constipation, indigestion and prevents stomach related diseases by eliminating toxic compounds from the gut.
It also has healing attributes in relation to the diseases of urinary bladder and kidney. The water content in cucumber aids the function of kidney by promoting urination. Regular consumption of cucumber can also dissolve kidney stones over time.
Digestive problems like heartburn, acidity, gastritis and even ulcer can be cured by daily consumption of cucumber or cucumber juice. It can also treat the problem of constipation. It contains an enzyme called Erepsin which aids in the digestion of protein.
Cucumber seeds are also highly beneficial. It is considered as a natural remedy to eliminate tape worm from intestinal tracts. The seeds also have anti inflammatory properties which are effective in the treatment of swellings of mucous membranes of the nose and throat.
Cucumbers are one of the best sources of potassium and contain 147 milligrams of potassium per 100 grams. This heart friendly electrolyte reduces blood pressure level in the body and reduces heart rate by minimising the effects of sodium.
Cucumbers contain good amount of antioxidants like B carotene, a carotene, zea-xanthin and lutein. These compounds act as a scavenger against free radicals that lead to ageing and other age related diseases.
Fresh cucumber extracts are also known to reduce unwanted inflammation. It accomplishes the task by inhabiting activity of pro inflammatory enzymes like cyclo-oxyenase and by preventing over production of nitric oxides which leads to excessive inflammation.
Cucumber juice contains hormones which are badly needed by the pancreas for producing insulin which is extremely beneficial to diabetic patients. Copper in cucumber also aids to produce healthy blood cells and improves blood circulation in the body
Cucumbers are known to contain lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol. These 3 lignans are strongly connected with reducing the risk of developing several kinds of cancer like breast cancer, colon cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and prostate cancer. When we consume these lignans, bacteria found in our digestive tract take hold of these lignans and convert them into enterolignans. These enterolignans bind on to the estrogens receptors to reduce estrogens related diseases like cancer.
Cucumber also cares for the dental health by combating bad breath. The vegetable releases phytochemical which kill the bad breath causing bacteria. Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of the mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds. The phytochemicals will kill the bacteria responsible for causing bad breath. Raw cucumber increases salivation and brings a neutralisation of acids and alkali in oral cavity. Cucumber juice can effectively treat gum diseases like pyorrhoea and weak gums.
Cucumber can also be used to cure hangover and headache associated with it. This is because they help to rehydrate the body’s nutrients and eliminate the toxins that are present due to the intake of alcohol. Eat few cucumber slices before going to bed. The sugar, vitamin B and electrolytes content in cucumber will reduce the intensity of hangover and headache.
Cumber has mild diuretic properties owing to its high potassium and water content. It also has a good amount of manganese, potassium and fiber which regulates the blood pressure and treats both high and low blood pressure. Steam produced while boiling cucumber acts as a stress reliever and calms and relaxes the senses and muscles.
Cucumber contains 95% water which 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.
Vitamin K in cucumbers plays a very important role in strengthening bones by promoting orthotropic activity. The high amount of silica in it promotes joint health by strengthening the connective tissue. It is also a good source of calcium making it perfect for vegan diet. Getting enough calcium also maintains the body’s hormone balance by controlling hormone release.
Copper in cucumber help the people to make neurotransmitters, the family of chemicals, which brain needs to communicate. It also helps in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease by limiting neutral damage in the brain.
Other Uses of Cucumber:
For bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower, try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.
Grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds, Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.
To fight off that afternoon or evening snack binge, European trappers, traders and explores have used cucumbers for centuries for quick meals to thwart off starvation.
Polish your shoes, rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.
Stressed out, cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber will react with the boiling water and released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown to reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.
To clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel, take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but it won’t leave streaks and won’t harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.
Cleaning those marks, take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls.
Side Effects:
Cucumbers are not entirely reaction free. They do have some side effects.
Allergies, especially around oral cavity, itchiness and swelling may also develop due to allergy. This can be redeemed by cooking the food rather than eaten it in its raw form.
Cucumber can also lead to gastritis problems in some people which are mainly caused due to a compound known as cucurbitacin which causes indigestion. This can be avoided by eating cucumbers which have undergone breeding or whose compound has been removed.
Cucumber can also cause toxicity and baldness caused by chemicals found in the cucumbers. This usually happens when one consumes excess of cucumber.
Note:
Cucumbers can be stored in refrigerator for almost a week. If you have peeled the cucumber, then you can store it in an airtight container to prevent moisture escape. For optimum nutrition, cucumber should be eaten within 2 to 3 days of purchasing. They should not be left at room temperature for a long time as this can make them limp and wilt.
I hope you guys learn something on this post. Till next time and have a nice day everyone.
Please follow me at http://makeupexperiment.tumblr.com/ for more beauty related post.
Disclaimer: All the references I've used is stated and i don't claim all the information mentioned in this post, as well as the photos used in this are properly linked and in addition it is also written at the photo credits and references.
Photo credits, those pictures above is not mine here are the links:
http://www.sheknows.com/home-and-gardening/articles/997703/growing-cucumbers
http://beautyhealthtips.in/best-home-made-natural-cucumber-face-packs-masks/
http://humannhealth.com/health-benefits-of-cucumber/77/
References, I admit i don't know everything, to be able to give you guys some facts rather some nonsense blab i did some research and the links are as follows:
http://www.realfarmacy.com/13-uses-for-cucumbers-that-will-amaze-you/
http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/benefits-of-cucumber-for-skin-hair-and-health/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucumber
