Health Benefits of Cucumber Water
Posted by Fruit Of Spirit on
What Are the Health Benefits of Cucumber Water?
Wondering What Are the Health Benefits of Cucumber Water? Cucumber is one of the most popular garden vegetables enjoyed all over the world. This lean, green vegetable grows on vines and is composed of 95% water, which makes cucumber a very nutritious and hydrating vegetable. Cucumbers are widely used for salads of all kinds, detox drinks, smoothies, pickles and are eaten fresh as well. In addition to that, cucumbers are also utilized for external purposes such as masks for skin, to reduce puffiness of the eyes and a lot of skincare companies incorporate cucumber into their products due to its immensely beneficial properties for the skin.
Cucumber water is one of the ways through which cucumber is utilized in order to get most health benefits. The water content of cucumber is 95% along with other vitamins and minerals, which render this vegetable as a source of goodness for the human body. To learn more about the health benefits of cucumber water, let’s explore further with the help of evidence that has been gathered over the years.
Health Benefits of Cucumber Water
Cucumber water is mostly popular within the concept of detox. It is one of the major ingredients that are used to make detox water or drinks such as juices and smoothies. Cucumber comes with vitamins and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin K, vitamin A and vitamin C. Cucumber is rich in antioxidants and on top of all its amazing properties, a cup of cucumber contains only 16 calories, which makes it a great snack for those who do not wish to exceed on their daily calorie limit. We are sure that by now you are convinced of the benefits of cucumber water, let’s take a step further and delve into some of the health benefits that cucumber water provides.
- Keeps Skin Healthy and Fights Acne
We have been hearing since as long as we can remember how beneficial water is when it comes to healthy skin. Keep yourself hydrated; as they say. Well, isn’t it great that we have cucumber water as an option to increase water intake along with other health benefits that it provides to the skin? Due to its antioxidant properties, cucumber is a great source of reducing inflammation of the skin, which ultimately helps with acne breakouts. It also helps in easing sunburn irritation and repairs damaged skin cells, leading to a more radiant, healthy skin.
- Provides Hydration
Our body is in constant need of hydration as it is essential for nutrients to travel within the body with the help of fluids. Cucumber water serves as a great source of hydration as cucumber in itself contains 95% water. Consuming cucumber water on a daily basis helps your body stay hydrated and perform its basic functions that regulate our vital organs.
- Helps in Digestion
The abundance of water in cucumber water makes it a great tool for regulating the digestive system of the body. When the body is hydrated to an optimum level, digestion becomes easier as the nutrients travel effortlessly into the cells, managing the rest of bodily functions efficiently.
- Provides Minerals and Vitamins
Cucumber is rich in minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium, and vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin K and vitamin C. The concentration of each mineral and vitamin varies however, these antioxidants render cucumber water rich and nutritious for the body. A daily intake of cucumber water packed with antioxidants helps in the prevention of cell damage, relieves oxidative stress and aids the body to fight diseases including diabetes, cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and eye degeneration.
- Removes Toxins and Cleanses the Body
The reason cucumber water is abundantly used in detox waters, smoothies and juices is due to its ability to cleanse the body of unnecessary toxins. We keep hearing the word detox which can be defined as the process of removal of toxins from the body. A large variety of detox waters and drinks are available in the diet industry claiming to purify the body of toxins. We would suggest you not to pay heed to anything artificial rather go for cucumber water, made by yourself at home. There could not be a better detoxifier than cucumber water along with other natural herbs and fruits.
- Aids in Weight Loss
It might sound too good to be true but a large number of studies show that cucumber water can be a productive addition to your weight loss meal plan. With an extremely low number of calories, cucumber water helps you feel fuller, curbing your cravings while giving the body signals of satiety. It does not make you lose weight rather, it helps with the process of weight loss by keeping the body hydrated and fuller for a longer time.
- Cures Bad Breath
Mouth odor is one of the most common issues that cause an unpleasant sensation for the one who experiences this problem and also those who are around the person. If you are one of those people who experience bad breath due to any reason, cucumber water might be your savior. It helps to enhance the production of saliva in the mouth, which in turn cures bad breath.
- Good for Bone Health
Cucumbers contain vitamin K in abundance and vitamin K is essential for the formation of proteins that are responsible for healthy bones and blood clotting. A daily intake of cucumber water can be great for your bone health due to the percentage of vitamin K that it contains.
How to Make Cucumber Water
There is no specified method of making cucumber water nor is it necessary to stick to one way of making the water however, here is a simple yet quick recipe of making cucumber water that you can drink anytime during the day; depending on your preference.
Simple Cucumber Water Recipe
- Take half of a large cucumber or a full medium cucumber
- Peel the skin
- Cut the cucumber into pieces
- Put into a blending jar
- Add some ginger for additional benefits and taste
- Add some water into the blender
- Blend finely for a few seconds
- Strain the cucumber water using a strainer
- Fill half glass with water and add cucumber water into the remaining half
- Add a few slices of peeled cucumber and enjoy your homemade cucumber water.
You may also add a few drops of lemon juice for flavor. The options are limitless.
To get the benefits of cucumber water, you can also make detox water by combining cucumber with other nutritious fruits and herbs. In case you want an enhanced flavor along with health benefits, add cucumber into your smoothies or simply make cucumber juice out of it. The water that cucumber contains is going to get into your body no matter how you consume it and that’s what makes this wonderful vegetable a win-win in whatever form you consume it!
When to Consume Cucumber Water?
Cucumber water can be used any time of the day, be it in the morning, evening or even at night. No research or studies specify the ideal time for consuming cucumber water, which makes it an ideal drink for any time of the day. One thing however, needs to be taken into consideration while consuming cucumber water and that is the quantity. Cucumber is relatively higher in vitamin K therefore, just make sure you do not overdose on it, although that is quite unlikely to happen anyway. Overall, cucumber water is safe to use and is packed with healthful properties for both inside of the body and outside for the skin.
Are There Any Risks Associated with Cucumber Water?
While there are no risks or side effects associated with cucumber water, it is essential to wash your cucumbers before consuming them. The reason are those pesticides growers use that could potentially contaminate not only the cucumber but the water that you make out of it. In case of a contaminated cucumber, it could lead to unpleasant conditions like nausea and vomiting. To avoid any such inconvenience, it is suggested that you peel the cucumber before using it or wash the peel thoroughly in order to remove the contaminants that may cause adverse effects.
Final Verdict
Cucumber is a natural source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that make it a vegetable packed with health benefits. We generally use cucumber in its fresh form, as part of salad topping, in smoothies and juices etc. Cucumber water is another source of getting all the nutrients of cucumber while allowing your taste buds some flavor at the same time.
In order to increase cucumber water in taste and enhance its health benefits, it can be made by adding lemon, oranges, melon, mint, ginger, pineapple, berries, lemongrass, basil leaves and limes for enhanced flavour and extra nutrition. The best thing about cucumber water is that it is extremely easy to make at home, takes a few minutes to assemble and blend the ingredients and even less time to devour.
References
https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/5-untold-benefits-of-cucumber-water-1821906
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323694
https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/cucumber-water