What Are Cucumbers?
Cucumbers are a popular long, thin, and green garden vegetable. Technically speaking, they are fruits from the same family as watermelons and pumpkins, but most people think they are vegetables.
“Cucumbers are native to India and have a slight melon-like taste, and sometimes they can be slightly bitter.
Types of Cucumber
There are two main types of cucumber:
- Slicing cucumbers: Slicing cucumbers are eaten fresh, often in a salad. They can be 12 inches or longer and usually have smooth skin. There are "burpless" varieties that have less of a plant compound called cucurbitacin. That gives them a milder taste, and it may make you burp less after you eat them. You may also hear them called “seedless cucumbers” or “European cucumbers.”
- Pickling cucumbers: Pickling cucumbers are much smaller and are the type used to make pickles. They can be 3-7 inches long, and they typically have bumps or spines on their skin.
Nutritional Benefits of Cucumber
A serving of cucumber -- one-half a cup -- is about 8 calories. They have small amounts of vitamin K and vitamin A and are about 95% water. They also have several phytonutrients (plant chemicals) called lignans.
One medium unpeeled, raw cucumber has the following:
Calories: 30
Total fat: 0 grams
Carbs: 6 grams
Protein: 3 grams
Fiber: 2 grams
Vitamin C: 10% of the recommended daily value (DV)
Vitamin K: 57% of the DV
Magnesium: 9% of the DV
Potassium: 12% of the DV
Manganese: 9% of the DV
Health benefits of cucumber
- All the water in cucumbers can help you stay hydrated. In addition, the fiber boost they give you can help you stay regular and avoid constipation.
- Vitamin K helps blood clots and keeps bones healthy. Vitamin A has many jobs, such as helping vision, immune system, and reproduction. It can also ensure that organs such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys work the way they should.
- The lignans may help prevent osteoporosis, heart disease, and some cancers.
- Antioxidants such as beta carotene in cucumbers can help fight free radicals in your body, unpaired electrons that damage cells and can lead to disease.
- Cucumbers may also be good for health outside of your body. Putting them on your skin may help relieve sunburn pain, swelling and damaged skin. This is why people sometimes put one or two of it under their eyes, hoping to shrink the bags under the eyes and relieve puffiness.
- Cucumbers are loaded with vitamin C and manganese which both play a role in supporting sexual health, elevating energy and increasing libido. Vitamin C specifically improves blood flow which can help erectile function. Cucumbers are also known for their undeniably erotic shape.
Risks of Cucumber
- The risk of eating cucumbers is small. One problem may be the pesticides used by farmers. Before you eat them, peel off the skin or wash in warm tap water. This will ensure that your cucumber is safe to enjoy.
- Cucumbers have natural wax on their skin. Washing cucumbers after picking will take away the wax, so manufacturers add synthetic wax before sending them to the grocery store. Wax helps them keep shelves stable for longer, but it also holds bacteria. The wax itself is not harmful, but peeling cucumbers before eating can reduce the risk of contamination. However, the skin is where most nutrients live. A better option may be to buy organic and wash your cukes well before enjoying.
How to Prepare and Store Cucumbers
- Most people wash, slice, and toss their cucumbers into a salad. Before you do, you may want to soak them in salt water first. That will lower the amount of water in them and keep the cucumbers from making your salad dressing watery.
- You can eat the peel of cucumber. In fact, it will add fiber and vitamin A to your diet. Be sure to wash the cucumber first.
- When you buy cucumbers, please skip yellow, puffy or sunken areas, cucumbers with raised or wrinkled ends. Those overripe cucumbers don't taste good. Instead, look for bright, sturdy, medium to dark green, slender cucumbers. Any bruises or dark spots are signs of decay.
- Store the unpeeled cucumbers in the fresh-keeping drawer of the refrigerator. If they have a wax coating, give them a shiny appearance and use them within a week. If they do not have a wax coating, please use them as soon as possible. Do not keep them at room temperature for a long time, otherwise they will become soft and limp.
