What's Cool About Cucumbers

Who knew this about the cool cucumber?

One serving contains vitamin A, C, K and B6 as well as thiamin and folate.  

One cup contains 16 micrograms of magnesium and 181 mg of potassium (helps control and reduce high blood pressure).  

 All minerals (except for salt) are present in a cucumber. One cup contains calcium, iron, manganese, selenium, zinc and potassium. 

Health benefits  (due in part to the cucumber’s high water content): 

•  clear skin

• sunburn relief

•  reduction of under-eye swelling

• aids in elimination of toxins from the body
• provides a quick afternoon pick-me-up that can last for hours (a healthy alternative to caffeinated soda)

•   helps build bone strength as well as reduce the risk of osteoporosis and    arthritis (due to the 12% of Vitamin K found in one cup of cucumbers).
   
  
• One cup of cucumbers contains 16 micrograms of magnesium and 181 mg of potassium, which can help control and reduce high blood pressure when combined with a well-balanced diet. 

fatburningfurnace.com


*And who knew... 

• Rubbing a cucumber along the bathroom mirror will stop the after-shower fogging and provide a soothing spa-like fragrance. (Haven't tried it yet.)

• Placing a few slices of cucumber in an aluminum pie tin in planting beds helps keep gardens 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.
   
• Want a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out to the pool? Try rubbing a slice (or two) of cucumbers along your problem areas for a few minutes. The phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works on wrinkles, too. (I have not personally tried this. There aren't enough cucumbers in my refrigerator. LOL).
  
  
• Want to avoid a terrible headache or a hangover? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed, and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumber contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium. (I haven't tried this either and hope I don't need to.)
  
  
• Cucumbers have been used for centuries for quick meals, so if you're looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge, snack on a cucumber.
   
• Too rushed to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly-cut cucumber over the surface: the chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that looks great and repels water. (I've never tried this one either, so I would sample a small area first and see what happens when it dries.)

* Information contained in a forwarded email from my sister. (I think the information originated @ Ready Nutrition.)

More cucumber links:

The World's Healthiest Foods
Nutritional Data
The Old Farmers' Almanac
Disabled World
allrecipes.com
Thirteen Uses for Cucumbers (I know, ha ha ha)
Cucumber Recipes