(21-05-15) 10 reasons why you should consume more cucumbers

by Paul Fassa 

(NaturalNews) Considered a veggie but technically a fruit related to melons, the cucumber is often an afterthought or garnish for most. Too bad. It's not only a tasty addition to many foods and very hydrating with it's 90-plus percent water content; cucumbers are packed with a load of health-benefiting nutrients too.

Non-organic cucumbers are heavily sprayed according to the Environmental Working Group. And they are coated for shipping with synthetic waxes. It's a no-brainer to opt for organic cucumbers that are not sprayed and coated with synthetic petroleum-based waxes.

As with most produce, the skin contains a lot of nutrients. If desired, the organic wax can be washed off organic cucumbers. But non-organic cucumber skins should be peeled off before using. Cucumbers are the fourth most cultivated plant in the world. But you may want to grow our own.

Sliced cucumbers go well in just about any salad, are great "veggie" additions to almost any sandwich, and they are easily juiced or mixed into smoothies. One recipe calls for ice and cucumber with a fruit of choice run through a blender as a quick summer cooler.

There are several how-to make "cuke" cooler videos here.
Here are those 10 health benefits
(1) Highly alkalizing: Whenever I use cheese, which is acid-producing, in a sandwich, I comfort myself by balancing out the cheese's acid forming in my body with sliced cucumbers to offset and balance out the pH factor.

(2) High silica content: Silica is not granted the importance that it deserves. It's a major component for building bone and binds to aluminum to offset its toxicity and flush it out of organs.

(3) Reduce cancer risk: Cucumbers' polyphenol lignans and phytonutrients have anti-cancer properties that have been isolated by some studies.

(4) Prevent brain health decline: Cucumber's anti-inflammatory flavonol, fisetin, plays an important role in brain health. Fisetin protects against progressive memory loss and cognitive decline according to animal testing.

(5) Support digestion: Cucumber skins contain insoluble fiber, which helps add bulk to your stool. This helps food to move through your digestive tract more quickly for healthy elimination. Ayurveda recommends cucumbers to release excess stomach heat and resolve bad breath.

(6) High in antioxidants: Cucumbers contain vitamin C and beta-carotene. They also contain antioxidant flavonoids, such as quercetin, apigenin, luteolin and kaempferol, which provide additional benefits.

(7) Resist inflammation: Animal studies with cucumber extract have demonstrated their ability to inhibit pro-inflammatory enzymes.

(8) Manage stress: Cucumbers are high in vitamin B, especially B1 (thiamine), B5 (pantothenic acid) and B7 (biotin). These are water-soluble vitamins in a waterlogged fruit/veggie that support the nervous system.

(9) Support heart health: Cucumbers contain potassium. As a vital electrolyte, it is associated with a healthy heart. A proper balance of potassium and sodium is essential to good overall health.

(10) Weight watcher compatible: Besides creating soft gel in the stomach with its insoluble fiber to feel full faster, cucumbers are incredibly low in calories. A cup of sliced cucumbers weighs in at 16 calories.

So pick up two or three organic "cukes" soon and see how often you can include some cucumber in your daily diet.

Sources:

http://www.whfoods.com

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com

http://www.care2.com

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