Most of us don’t think much about cucumbers. They taste good and make a nice addition to a salad or even a sandwich, but do they matter? I bet they are, or they can be!
Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins and minerals you need every day: vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc. So as an addition to your diet, they should be much more than an afterthought.
Because they are high in potassium, they can be a real boon for those who suffer from leg cramps and other ailments related to potassium deficiency.
Plus, because of the fiber and carbs, cucumbers can be an effective antidote to reaching for a candy bar or sugary soda when those afternoon snacks roll around. Due to its low calorie content, it is safe to chew a whole cucumber, or even a couple, without fear of gaining weight. A small cucumber (about 6″ long) contains only 19 calories.
Compare that to 1 1/2 oz. Hershey milk chocolate bar weighing in at 230 calories!
Just think, you could eat a dozen cucumbers for the “price” of a candy bar.
Cucumber will not only help make hunger pangs go away, but the B vitamins will give your energy level a natural boost. It is a win-win situation.
But the value of a cucumber doesn’t stop there.
Cut one up and put it in boiling water for a refreshing, stress-reducing facial. Hold a slice to the ceiling or in your mouth for 30 seconds to chase away bad breath, and eat several slices after a night on the town to reduce the chance of a morning headache.
Cucumbers can also help you if you are an organic gardener. If grubs and slugs are getting into your garden, place a few slices in small aluminum cake pans and place them between your plantings to keep pests away. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off an odor that is undetectable to humans but drives garden pests crazy and makes them flee the area.