Cucumber and lime water benefits
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Few foods are as cool as a cucumber, but did you know all the benefits of this cucumber and lime water benefits fruit?
There are hundreds of varieties of cucumber, and they come in dozens of colors. Few foods, as they say, are as cool as a cucumber. A cucumber’s nutritional benefits are ideal for healthy eating, because these low-calorie veggies contain many hydrating properties and valuable nutrients. Slicing cucumbers are cultivated to be eaten fresh, while pickling cucumbers are intended for the brine jar — the former are also usually larger and thicker-skinned than the pickling variety.
Commonly planted varieties of pickling cucumber include Royal, Calypso, Pioneer, Bounty, Regal, Duke and Blitz. While most people think of cucumbers as vegetables, they are actually a fruit. They contain seeds and grow from the ovaries of flowering plants. We should definitely seek out foods that are nutrient-rich, using the positive approach of what to put on your plate vs. The peel and seeds are the most nutrient-dense parts of the cucumber.
Beta carotene is an antioxidant that helps with immunity, skin, eye and the prevention of cancer,” said Lemond. Here is everything you need to know about cucumber nutrition, according to the U. This makes cucumbers a great way to stay hydrated, especially during the summer. They say we can get 20-30 percent of our fluid needs through our diet alone, and foods like these certainly help,” added Lemond. Not only are they high in water content, they also contain important nutrients that play a part in hydration like magnesium and potassium. Cucumbers contain two interesting phytonutrient compounds: lignans and cucurbitacins. Putting cucumber on your eyes during a pampering routine is backed up by scientific fact.
You’ve probably seen pictures of people at a spa relaxing with cucumber slices over their eyes. It turns out there’s science behind this pampering ritual. Ware explained, “Cucumbers have a cooling and soothing effect that decreases swelling, irritation and inflammation when used topically. Cucumber slices can be placed on the eyes can decrease morning puffiness or alleviate and treat sunburn when placed on the affected areas.
Foods that are high in antioxidants allow your body to function optimally. Antioxidants help prevent damage and cancer,” Lemond said. Cucumbers contain several antioxidants, including vitamin C, beta-carotene and manganese, as well as flavonoids, triterpenes and lignans that in lab dishes have anti-inflammatory properties. Eating cucumber, along with other fruits and vegetables, is associated with a reduced risk of many heart conditions. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables of all kinds is associated with a reduced risk for many health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke and obesity,” said Ware. Potassium may be especially helpful in this regard. Several studies have linked cucumber consumption to reducing hypertension.
20 elderly participants with hypertension saw a significant decrease in blood pressure after consuming cucumber juice for 12 days. Cucumber pickles contain probiotic bacteria that promote healthy digestion and cultivating beneficial gut flora. Store-bought pickles usually do not have these bacteria because they have been boiled out. There can be a few risks from eating cukes. Cucumbers are one of the fruits and vegetables that the Environmental Working Group has placed on its Dirty Dozen list, meaning the exposure to pesticide residue is high.
As of 2022, cucumber was still featured on the list, this time at number 17. Additionally, cucumbers may be waxed to help protect them during shipping. According to World’s Healthiest Foods, both organic and conventionally grown cukes may be waxed, but organic ones can only use non-synthetic waxes with chemicals approved under organic regulations. For this reason and the pesticide concerns, World’s Healthiest Foods encourages buying organic cucumbers. But Ware stipulated, “This does not mean you should avoid cucumbers altogether if you can’t find or afford organic. Healthy as they are, you don’t want to overdo it on cucumbers, said Lemond.
My recommendation is always to vary your selections. Cucumbers are great hydrating foods, so keep them in along with other plant foods that offer other benefits. Pickling is a method of preserving food — and not only cucumbers — to prevent spoiling. Fermented pickles have been soaked in brine, which is water that has been saturated with salt. The word “pickle” comes from the Dutch word pekel, which means brine. Brines can also contain other ingredients, such as vinegar, dill seed, garlic and lime. The cucumber gets pickled when bacterial fermentation occurs in the brine, creating the sour taste.
