The 11 benefits of cucumber juice for your health

You may have always thought that cucumber consists mainly of water and doesn’t have much else to offer in terms of nutrition. It turns out not! There is more to the cucumber than its use as a pickle or eye mask. To give you a hint: it is packed with healthy nutrients. Not for nothing is this plant a welcome guest within many traditional lifestyles: in Ayurveda, the classical Indian healing tradition, the cucumber is used in many different ways. In this article, we take a look at the richness of the cucumber. We’ll take you through some facts about the cucumber, some health benefits and, of course, a recipe for cucumber juice.

The Cucumber

The cucumber(Cucumis sativus) is officially a fruit (not a vegetable) in the Cucurbitaceae family. There it shares with the squash, zucchini and watermelon its curly tendrils, beautiful flowers and climbing character. If you plant a cucumber seed in fertile soil along your hedge, you’ll pull the cucumbers right out from between the beech leaves in the fall.

The cucumber has been cultivated in West Asia for over 3,000 years: in India, there are a large number of different varieties. In ancient Egypt and ancient Mesopotamia, people ate cucumbers. The Roman Emperor Tiberius was so fond of his daily portion of fresh cucumber that the plant was cultivated even in winter by means of greenhouses with mirrored stone to reflect the sunlight. The Romans also used the cucumber after scorpion bites. In the ^17th century, eating uncooked vegetables went very out of fashion for a long time: people thought it was dangerous and considered the cucumber “fit only for cows.” Some think the name “Cucumber” comes from “cowcumber.”

Cucumber as an Ayurvedic remedy

In Ayurveda, the cucumber has been revered for its cooling qualities for millennia. The ancient Indian tradition is all about balance, and the balance between heat and cold and between wet and dry is particularly important. In Sanskrit, the cucumber is also called sushitalam, or “particularly cooling,” and in English we also know the pronunciation “cool as a cucumber.” So all ailments related to too much “fire” or heat in the system benefit from cucumber, according to Ayurveda. So don’t underestimate the importance of a little coolness!

11 benefits of Cucumber juice for your health

Modern science is also beginning to see the value of the cucumber. The plant certainly contains more nutrients than a glass of water, as we see in this table, for 50 grams or half a cup of cucumber:

• 7.8 calories
• 1.9 grams of carbohydrates
• 0.3 grams of protein
• 0.1 grams of fat
• 0.3 grams of fiber
• 8.5 micrograms of vitamin K (11% RDA)
• 1.5 milligrams of vitamin C (2% RDA)
• 6.8 milligrams of magnesium (2% RDA)
• 76.4 milligrams of Potassium (2% RDA)
• Cucurbitacins

Yes, the cucumber is also a healthy addition to your diet. According to a recent study [1], the green hero contains tannins and flavonoids. Our cucumber juice also contains an awful lot of vitamins and minerals. For example, the large amount of vitamin C helps protect against free radicals. Free radicals, as most people know by now, are a major cause of damage to cells and tissues. Learn more about antioxidants here.

Cucurbitacins are substances found in cucumbers (see the link with the word cucumber?) and other gourd-like plants such as squash.

1. Internal skin care

This is a quality of cucumber that we already know a little from the well-known picture of the Spa gangster with a towel around her head and green slices on her eyes. Indeed, cucumber is a great remedy to combat puffy eyes and puffiness. The hydrating and cooling effect of cucumber is the key here [2]. Place a few slices of cucumber in the refrigerator for 15 minutes and then let them do their work on your eyes and face. You can also make a paste of cucumber, raw honey and chamomile or lavender. The vitamin C in cucumber is important for the formation of collagen, which helps to strengthen the skin from the inside out.

2. Supports your immune system

Our cucumber juice contains a combination of nutrients to provide your immune system support. As we know, a well-functioning immune system is indispensable. Cucumber juice can be a good friend in this regard. The amounts of vitamin A, vitamin C, folic acid and zinc in our cucumber juice help ensure a good resistance.

So a daily glass of cucumber juice provides you with nutrients that, among other things, have a positive impact on the immune system.

3. Contributes to brain function.

Drinking a glass of cucumber juice daily is also a good addition for your mental well-being. This is because the vitamins and minerals in this juice (including folic acid) are good for learning performance, concentration and memory. In addition, they contribute to your mental resilience and it is good for mood. So cucumber juice can come in handy during stressful periods.

4. Cooling effect

Cucumber is an ancient remedy to cool the skin, for example if your skin is slightly burned by the sun. You can use it on the skin, as slices, pulp (in the blender), or by making a paste of it for example with yogurt and aloe vera. Or use the Ayurvedic medicine of cucumber milk: blend a medium-sized cucumber with half a cup of organic milk and half a cup of water [3]. Western science now also recognizes the soothing effect of cucumber juice on the skin against irritation [2].

5. Supports digestion

You can also drink our fresh cucumber juice to support your metabolism and digestion. This is partly because this juice is high in calcium. This mineral plays a role in the activity of enzymes involved in metabolism. In addition, calcium supports the maintenance of healthy digestion. So a big glass of cucumber juice is ideal to drink alongside your meal.

Also consider making a juice for the stomach with cucumber and, for example, lemon juice, mint, celery and apple. Or check out our juice Hydrate, a refreshing juice with cucumber, watermelon and coconut water.

6. Good for the skeleton

Not only for your digestion, but also for your bones, calcium is an important mineral. In fact, calcium is important for the composition of your bones and helps keep your bones strong. Since your bones are the foundation of a strong and healthy body, it is important to give your skeleton the proper support on a daily basis.

7. Good for the heart

The dose of vitamin B1 in our cucumber juice has a beneficial effect on your heart. This is because thiamine (or vitamin B1) contributes to the normal functioning of the heart. Moreover, vitamin C in this juice helps keep your blood vessels strong and supple. A heart-healthycombination!

8. Good for muscles

In every movement you make, your muscles are important. Even your heart is a muscle. For people who do a lot of sports, muscles are of course extra important. But it is also important to keep your muscles strong and flexible in order to age fit and healthy. This is where our cucumber juice can make a nice contribution. This is because this fresh juice is rich in the mineral potassium. Potassium plays a role for muscle function and maintaining strong and supple muscles.

9. Hydration for after exercise

We’ve already mentioned it a bit; cucumber juice is a super hydrator. It has probably been used as a natural “electrolyte drink” for a long time. Nowadays you have the AAs and Mountaindews, but how much more fun are you doing your body with, say, a juice made from cucumber and watermelon?

On a hot day, during illness or after intense exercise and sweating, this is a nice way to provide your body with extra fluids while also taking in the pure, clean water that comes from these fruits and vegetables. Also wonderfully refreshing on a hot day is a blend of cucumber, mint, water and lemon and you will be surprised how nice it is to add a little sea salt in there.

10. Helps with fatigue

Finally, cucumber juice is also a good drink to help reduce lack of energy. Are you having a busy time feeling tired? Then cucumber juice can be an excellent addition. Several vitamins and minerals in this drink (including vitamin C and B vitamins) help reduce fatigue.

Does cucumber also have health risks?

You might not think it, but the cucumber is not the healthiest snack in all circumstances and in all quantities. As you can read above, the plant has many powerful activities and some of them are not always convenient! For example, the high moisture content of cucumber causes you to urinate often, which can be inconvenient, for example, during pregnancy or during a conference.

Furthermore, cucumber can cause flatulence in some people. If your stomach is sensitive to cabbage, broccoli and onion, it is also better to treat the cucumber with some caution.

Cucurbitacins come in many varieties, and some can actually be harmful to the body. You will never run that risk if you buy a cucumber in the store (or a cucumber juice), but you will if you grow them yourself: if a cucumber (or a squash or a zucchini) tastes bitter, it’s better not to eat it!

The final, rather strange “risk” is that people with milk allergies can sometimes have a reaction to cucumber. This has nothing to do with the cucumber itself, but rather with the wax coating applied to (also often organic) cucumbers: it contains a component derived from milk.

Is cucumber juice healthy?

All in all, we believe that cucumber juice is absolutely healthy. The various vitamins and minerals it provides and its high moisture content are all super important qualities that our bodies can put to good use. Not to mention those glowing, brighter eyes after a cucumber mask, of course.

But don’t overdo it: there’s no need to eat three cucumbers a day, and during a bout of the flu, maybe take it easy on this green friend.

Cucumber Juice Recipe

Medical Medium Anthony Williams recommends juicing two whole cucumbers without any other ingredients. To do this, take two organic cucumbers, chop them into smaller pieces (with skin!) and run them through the (slow) juicer. You can also use a blender, but according to Williams, it is important to strain out the fiber afterwards by running the juice through a fine sieve or cheesecloth.

If you still find the above juice a little too boring, here we give you a slightly tastier alternative.

Ingredients:
– 1/2 cucumber
– 3 stalks of celery
– 1 lemon
– 2 sprigs of mint
– 2 sprigs of parsley
– 1 green apple
– optional: half a yellow bell bell pepper

Wash all ingredients. Even organic cucumbers often contain a layer of wax, so you do well to scrub them a bit. Remove the zest from the lemon and the seeds from the bell bell pepper, if you are using them. If the mint has woody sticks, it’s best to remove the leaves. Cut all the ingredients into pieces about three inches long and feed them one by one to your juice press. And ready is this delicious fresh, hydrating and cooling juice. Super convenient for a deacidification and immune boost.

You can also juice the same ingredients in a blender; use a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth to strain the fibers from the juice.

Conclusion

There is more to the cucumber than we thought! Both ancient traditions and modern science recognize its healthy qualities: in juices, smoothies and salads, it brings many important nutrients and healthy properties. We like to see the cucumber frequently in our diet.