7th June 2012

Cukes! – How to live healthily ever after with cucumbers…

Posted on June 7, 2012
by admin
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“To see cucumbers in a dream denotes that you will speedily fall in love. Or, if you are in love, then you will marry the object of your affection.” Richard Folkard in ‘Plant Lore’ (1884)

A wonderfully healthy man from Quebec often wanders around with cucumbers. He gnaws on them at meetings. He tries to share his enthusiasm for cukes with others, promoting the watery vegetable for weight loss and super health. Munching happily away, he was once heard to say, “I’m getting married this summer, and this is the best I’m going to look in my entire life!” What exactly do cukes have to do with that?

It just so happens that cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day: Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin C. In addition, the cuke contains valuable Folic Acid, Magnesium, Molybdenum, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc, and even traces of Iron, Calcium, and Protein. Fiber can be found in small amounts, too.

The cucumber can do wonderful things for our appearance. Close your eyes and put a cucumber slice on each eye to reduce puffiness. Rub cucumber slices on your skin to firm the outer layer and reduce the visibility of cellulite or wrinkles. Cucumber can also relieve sunburn and mild skin irritation. It may calm down acne. Some say the cucumber can even stimulate hair growth.

Internally, the cucumber has much to offer us. Avoid a hangover or headache by eating a few cuke slices before going to bed. The sugar, B vitamins, and electrolytes will replenish nutrients the body lost, restoring balance to your system. The phytonutrients in cucumbers may provide valuable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer benefits as well. The cucumber also helps keep the body hydrated, regulates the body’s internal temperature, and aids in flushing out toxins. In addition, the cuke has an ability to regulate uric acid, likely aiding in the prevention of kidney or bladder stones. Rich in potassium and magnesium, the cuke may lower blood pressure and heart rate when combined with a low-starch, lean-protein diet. Last but not least, when pressed against the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 to 60 seconds, a cucumber slice can freshen your breath by eliminating bacteria in the mouth.

The bountiful cucumber not only improves our external and internal body health, but also has the capacity to modify our psychological state. Fight fatigue using the cucumber’s B vitamins and carbohydrates. Battle humiliating afternoon or evening binges with an appetite-dampening cucumber. Eliminate stress by cutting up an entire cuke and heating it in a pot of boiling water. The delicate aroma will melt away the tensions of a busy day. You can be cool as a cucumber!