7 Benefits of Cucumber Water: Stay Hydrated and Healthy

Cucumber water isn’t just for spas anymore! More people are enjoying this healthy, refreshing drink at home, and why not? It’s delicious and easy to make yourself.

When selecting cucumbers for your water, look for ones that are green in color, feel firm to the touch, and are round at both ends. Don’t use cucumbers that are yellow, have soft spots, or look wrinkly at the ends.

Once you've got your cucumber, wash it thoroughly, slice it, and place the slices in a pitcher filled with water that will fit in your refrigerator. To really let the water become infused with flavor, allow your drink to chill for about an hour before serving. Then enjoy!

Here are seven ways cucumber water benefits your body.

Top 5 Benefits of Cucumbers

Good for your skin, bones, and waistline.

These refreshing fruits — yes, fruits —pack a nutritional punch. Cucumbers are closely related to rounder melons and squash. They have enclosed seeds and develop from a flower. However, most people refer to them as vegetables.

Cucumbers are widely cultivated, making them easy to find. This is due, in part, to the fact that they grow well in both temperate and tropical climates.

There are many reasons you may want to include cucumbers in your diet. Here are our top five:

1. Hydration

Water content varies from fruit to fruit, but cucumbers are usually more than 90 percent water. This means they’re a good source of hydration, and could even aid in weight loss.

Foods with high water content often are used for weight loss because they can fill you up with fewer calories. This helps make cucumbers a great addition to salads, sandwiches, and any other dish you might add them to.

2. Skin Health

The cooling and anti-inflammatory properties of cucumbers make it ideal for soothing irritated skin. One study found that cucumbers contain a concentration of vitamin C that may act as an anti-wrinkle solution.

3. Heart Health

Cucumbers encourage a healthy cardiovascular system by supplying the body with sterols that may reduce “bad” (LDL) cholesterol. They’re also a good source of nutrients that can help reduce blood pressure, including:

magnesium
potassium
sulphur
silicon

4. Pain Management

A little-known benefit of cucumbers lies in their ability to help combat pain. This use is documented as a folk health remedy for headaches, but some studies have confirmed that cucumbers can indeed reduce pain.

One 2010 study suggested that the antioxidant content of cucumbers provides these analgesic benefits. Additional research has indicated the antioxidants also work to reduce inflammation, which can cause pain.

5. Bone Health

Cucumbers are a good source of vitamin K, whose deficiency is linked to an elevated bone fracture risk. One cup of cucumber can provide as much as 11 percent of your daily vitamin K needs.

In addition, cucumbers are a good source of silica, important for connective tissues like ligaments, tendons, muscles, and bones.

Getting More Cucumbers in Your Diet

Adding cucumbers to a lettuce salad or sandwich is a no-brainer. But, there are additional, more creative ways to get more of this healthful fruit.

Add peeled cucumbers to your kale smoothie. They’re a virtually flavorless way to maximize the nutritional value of your homemade shake.
Make authentic Greek tzatziki to go with gyros or falafel. This dip combines yogurt, garlic, and cucumbers for a refreshingly cool side dish or dressing.
Cut a cucumber into thick slices and top with hummus or other dips. Think of how many calories you’ll save by using cucumbers instead of chips!
Cucumbers sliced into matchsticks make great additions to wraps or slaws.

Cucumbers are often overlooked as a healthy food, simply because they have a very mild flavor. But don’t let this unassuming fruit fool you — it offers plenty of reasons to indulge.

Know healthy India

Sunday, 9 August 2015

Health benefits of cucumber water