Beneficial properties and harm of cucumbers for the human body. The benefits and harms of fresh cucumbers for the body, healing potential straight from the garden

It would seem, what else can be said about the benefits of cucumbers that you and I have no idea about? For many people, this vegetable has indeed become too common a product. But it’s worth looking at it with the serious, thoughtful gaze of a scientist to be convinced of its undeniable benefits and numerous medicinal qualities.

• The basis nutritional value The advantage of cucumber is that it can be eaten in an unripe state. This vegetable perfectly quenches thirst, because it consists of 95% “living water”. Such water can bring serious benefits to your body and improve the functioning of all organs and systems. It is no coincidence that cucumber has become a popular ingredient in preparing vegetarian cocktails and smoothies.
• Fresh cucumber juice contains a large number of valuable microelements: magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, calcium, iron, manganese. Carotene is also present, a little essential oils, fiber, starchy substances and vitamins (A, B, C, PP, E and H).
• Fresh cucumbers are also rich in iodine in an easily digestible form, which is especially beneficial for thyroid gland. And “cucumber” silicon and sulfur are necessary for the growth of hair and nails.

What is the benefit

Dietary properties

Harmful properties

1. Cucumbers increase acidity gastric juice. That is why they should be eaten with extreme caution by people suffering from diseases of the stomach and duodenum.
2. Pickles are contraindicated for people with impaired water-salt metabolism, in large quantities - for pregnant women, as well as for those who suffer from edema, hypertension, atherosclerosis, nephritis and decreased activity of the thyroid gland.
3. Greenhouse cucumbers, unlike ground cucumbers, often contain prohibitive amounts of nitrates. To reduce harm, the cucumber skin should be peeled off and the ends cut off by about 2 cm on both sides.

When purchasing cucumbers, choose vegetables with green skin without yellow spots. The cucumber should be firm and elastic, the tail should not be limp. This vegetable will bring maximum benefits to the body.

Dec-21-2016

What is a cucumber?

What is a cucumber, the benefits and harms of cucumber for the human body, what medicinal properties does it have? All this is of great interest to those who healthy image life, monitors his health, and is interested in traditional methods treatment, including with the help of vegetables and fruits. So we will try to answer these questions in the following article.

Cucumber is our old friend, a frequent guest of holidays and feasts, a constant companion. Everyday life. There is always a place for fresh cucumber on our table. The mind-blowing smell of the first fresh cucumbers- evidence of summer coming into its own.

But how much do we know about cucumbers, for which the definition of “ordinary” is firmly attached?

This may surprise some, but cucumber is the closest relative of melon. False berry of the Cucurbitaceae family - this is how botanists classify the emerald vegetable. This family, indispensable for humans, includes zucchini, pumpkin, melons, watermelons and, of course, cucumbers.

According to recent research by scientists, melon and cucumber have 95% genetic similarity. The very name of the vegetable is borrowed from ancient Greek, as opposed to the name of the southern beauty. Cucumber is one of the few plants whose fruits we eat unripe. Melon, on the contrary, shows its best qualities in highest degree maturity.

Although cucumbers are called one of the most ancient known to mankind vegetables, the homeland of this crop is not known for certain. It is believed that the cucumber originally appeared in India, then in China. Today there are practically no borders for cucumbers. They are grown in Asia and Europe, Africa and America.

Useful properties of cucumbers:

First of all, cucumbers are good for our health. It is so arranged that we feel good and lead a full life only if all the organs of our body work harmoniously, and this requires a certain ratio of organic and inorganic compounds and elements in the body. And fresh vegetables and fruits can help us with this.

How and how can a cucumber help?

Although the cucumber consists of ninety-six percent water, it still has a good set of elements beneficial to humans.

Many people in early spring(and some for a whole year) suffer from a lack of vitamin C. The fact is that vitamin C is not produced by the body, like some others useful elements, we get it through food, mostly plant origin, so reserves of this vitamin should be replenished periodically. 250–300 g of fresh cucumbers can satisfy daily deficiency vitamin C and give you back your strength, so include cucumber salads in your diet or eat them at fresh, since most of the reserves of this vitamin are concentrated in the green skin of the cucumber.

A lack of vitamin B3 in the body manifests itself in a similar way, but along with reduced resistance to disease and constant fatigue The lack of this vitamin affects the acidity of gastric juice and the condition of the skin. Cucumber will come to the rescue in this situation too, since it contains the missing vitamin.

Science is moving forward, and all sorts of forms of purification, processing and refining of food are being improved. All these measures have their reverse side– we do not receive enough vitamin B1, which is necessary for the normal functioning of the body, to maintain it internal environment. As a result, metabolism is disrupted, food is poorly digested, and body fat. You can help your body compensate for the lack of vitamin B1 by eating as many vegetables as possible, including cucumbers.

People who are weakened, suffer from heart disease or have undergone surgery need to supply their body with vitamin B6, which is found in cucumbers.

Cucumbers restore balance in the human body, long time who used various kinds medicines, especially antibiotics.

The green skin of the cucumber contains vitamin A, which regulates the growth process and significantly affects vision. If at dusk you have difficulty distinguishing objects, and during the day the once bright colors look faded, then you need vitamin A. Of course, a cucumber will help replenish your reserves of this vitamin.

In addition to the above vitamins, cucumbers also contain some other elements and compounds, such as potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, iodine, fiber and organic acids, which our body cannot do without.

Contraindications:

Who can cucumbers be harmful to? Cucumbers can cause harm to people with stomach diseases with high acidity, gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, as they increase the acidity of gastric juice.

Pickled and pickled cucumbers are harmful to those who suffer from liver disease, hypertension, atherosclerosis, disorders water-salt metabolism. They are also harmful for those who have reduced thyroid function, during pregnancy and with nephritis.

Spring cucumbers can contain large amounts of harmful nitrates! To reduce the likelihood of causing harm to health, spring cucumbers need to be peeled from the skin, in which the maximum amount of harmful substances accumulates. You also need to cut off the ends by two centimeters on both sides of the cucumber. So be careful and remember that cucumbers can be not only beneficial, but also harmful!

What are the benefits of pickled cucumbers?

“What is the use of cucumbers that have passed heat treatment? – many will ask.

It turns out that all cucumbers have beneficial properties, and pickled cucumbers are no exception. The advantages of the snack include:

• preservation of some microelements and vitamins;
• a high level of fluid saturates the body with oxygen;
• acid enhances digestion and increases appetite;
• pickled cucumbers have a mild laxative effect;
• pickles neutralize the harmful effects of alcohol on the body.

Like any food, pickles can bring not only health benefits, but also harm.

Doctors do not advise eating such pickles for people suffering from hepatitis, cholecystitis and pancreatic diseases. The consumption of pickled cucumbers should be minimized in case of atherosclerosis. It should also be taken into account that eating several cucumbers at once can provoke a sharp drop in blood pressure. It is also better for those who suffer from heart disease to limit their content in the diet.

Small children should not eat a lot of pickles, as this can lead to impaired kidney and liver function. Pregnant women are allowed pickles, but also in in moderation.

What are the benefits of cucumbers for older people?

The diet of older people often includes cucumbers, including those grown with their own hands. summer cottage. They have been eaten for 6,000 years. The first printed mentions of cucumbers in Russia date back to the beginning of the 16th century.

Cucumbers are pumpkin vegetables that are made up of 95–97% water and therefore have low calorie content(10–16 kcal per 100 g). They contain a low content of vitamins A, C, B1, B2 and minerals (mainly potassium, 140–190 mg per 100 g of product, as well as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, iron, iodine in an easily digestible form).

Cucumbers grown in open ground are somewhat richer in vitamins and minerals compared to greenhouses; the latter, however, contain more potassium.

For older people, cucumbers are useful for cooking if they are obese. low-calorie dishes(including due to the presence of tartronic acid in them, which prevents the body from converting carbohydrates into fats). In addition, cucumber fiber stimulates secretory and motor function gastrointestinal tract, so they are recommended for use by older people for constipation. Cucumber fiber removes excess cholesterol from the body, improves the functioning of the digestive system, and increases motor activity intestines. Fresh cucumbers are also included in meals when cardiovascular diseases, diseases of the liver, kidneys, joints.

Cucumbers are also prophylactic to maintain healthy skin, hair and teeth due to the presence of potassium, silicon and sulfur. The enzymes contained in cucumbers activate the formation of vitamin C in the human body and promote the absorption of vitamin B2 from other foods.

In terms of the amount of alkaline salts, cucumbers are second only to black radish; they neutralize inorganic acidic compounds that enter the human body with meat, eggs, fats, reduce the acidity of gastric juice and maintain the alkaline reaction of the blood.

The bitter taste of cucumbers is due to the content of steroid saponins cucurbitacins. These substances are produced by many members of the pumpkin family. As proven in last years, some cucurbitacins are capable of inhibiting pathological tissue growth and, therefore, may find use as anticancer agents.

100 grams of cucumber puree every day

Cucumbers have been used in medicine for a very long time, since the time of the great Hippocrates.

• They are very useful for people suffering from diseases of the heart, blood vessels, and kidneys, because they contain a lot of potassium salts, which help remove water and table salt from the body.
• For colitis, it is recommended to eat 100 g of cucumber puree daily during the cucumber season, without exacerbation of the disease.
• For Botkin's disease, it is useful to take a decoction of cucumber lashes. A decoction of ripe fruits and roots is drunk for chronic hepatitis. For jaundice and liver diseases, it is useful to drink a decoction of overripe cucumbers.
• At renal colic A decoction of cucumber seeds helps.
• Dry fruits ground into powder (without seeds) are used as a powder for skin diseases, tumors and burns. For an itchy rash, you can apply grated cucumber to the sore spot.
• For constipation, it is useful to drink 4 glasses a day cucumber pickle. Overripe cucumbers have a good laxative effect.
• If you are obese, it is useful to arrange fasting “cucumber” days once a week, eating up to 2 kg of cucumbers per day.

At the same time, in the diet of older people, cucumbers are limited or completely excluded during exacerbation of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, in acute and chronic enteritis and colitis).

Along with this, pickled and pickled cucumbers are not recommended for consumption by elderly people suffering from acute hepatitis and cholecystitis, cholelithiasis. It is also undesirable to use them for hypertension and atherosclerosis. In addition, pickles should be excluded from the diet when chronic nephritis in the acute stage, as well as for elderly people suffering from chronic renal failure, urolithiasis and pyelonephritis.

The most delicious cucumber preparations:

Fresh cucumbers in egg white:

Select the best young cucumbers, cutting them in such a way that you can later hang them by the stem. Then wash the cucumbers thoroughly and dry thoroughly.

Cover cucumbers egg white, forming a hard layer through which air cannot penetrate.

Dry the cucumbers greased in this way and hang them in a dry place on ropes by the stems.

Hanging cucumbers can for a long time kept fresh.

Storing cucumber for such a long time does not spoil its taste.

Before consuming cucumber, remove the preservative.

Fresh cucumbers with a candle:

Do not wash fresh cucumbers just removed from the garden, but only wipe them with a dry cloth. Sterilize a 2-liter jar for 20 minutes.

Place a wax candle in a jar and place cucumbers in it. When the jar is full, light the candle for 10 minutes. Then extinguish it and seal the jar with a metal lid.

Using this method of canning, you can have fresh cucumbers on your table all winter.

Swiss-style cucumbers in vinegar:

• 1 kg cucumbers (gherkins)
• 1 kg small onions
• 3–4 bay leaves
• 8–10 g black pepper
• 9% table vinegar
• tarragon

Peel the cucumbers and put them in jars, add peeled onions, herbs and black pepper.

Pour in cold vinegar, seal and place in a cool place. The product is ready for use after 1.5 months.

Cucumbers in mustard:

• 1 kg small cucumbers
• 150 g onions
• 1 bunch of dill
• 300 ml wine or 9% table vinegar
• 350 g dry mustard
• 1 Bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon pepper

Wash small cucumbers and wipe dry. Chop the onion and dill and, together with dry mustard, put in vinegar and heat; add mashed bay leaf and pepper, then boil, stirring; Place the cucumbers, carefully turning them over, into the liquid, let it boil, remove from the heat and, while hot, place them together with the liquid in jars and immediately seal them.

Cucumbers in pumpkin-apple juice:

• 1 kg cucumbers
• 1 liter pumpkin juice
• 300 ml apple juice

Wash small cucumbers well, pour boiling water over them, and place in a 3-liter jar. Prepare a filling from pumpkin and apple juice (you can only use apple juice).

Pour the boiling solution over the cucumbers, after 3-5 minutes pour the solution into the pan and bring to a boil again. Repeat 2 more times. After the third time, seal the jar.

Recipes for treating various diseases with cucumbers:

Cucumber preparations have a mild laxative effect, help normalize the functions of the liver, heart, and reduce blood pressure, are effective and safe diuretics. Cucumber juice is a good antitussive, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and rejuvenating agent. There is information that regular use eating cucumbers reduces the risk of developing malignant neoplasms. This vegetable is widely used in medical cosmetology.

Indications: stool retention, hemorrhoids, chronic diseases kidneys and liver, hypertension, coronary heart disease, gout.

Contraindications: gastritis with high acidity, stomach and duodenal ulcers, dysfunction of the thyroid gland.

And in addition to the above diseases, tomatoes will help in the treatment of these:

Diuretics for gout, kidney disease, bladder disease and cardiovascular disease

Take 100 ml of cucumber juice 5 times a day 1 hour before meals. The course of treatment is 7 days.

0.5 l cucumber juice mix with infusion corn silk, 1 tablespoon of dill juice and 3 tablespoons of carrot juice. Take 100 ml 5 times a day 1 hour before meals. The course of treatment is 3–4 days.

How to treat cough with cucumber?

Mix 200 ml of cucumber juice with 1 tablespoon of honey and 3 tablespoons of saffron infusion. Take 2-4 tablespoons 6-8 times a day for dry cough.

Mix 200 ml of cucumber juice with 1/2 teaspoon of garlic juice and 2 tablespoons of black radish juice, add 1 teaspoon of honey and 2 teaspoons of rosehip syrup. Take 2 tablespoons 6 times a day for dry and wet cough.

Treatment of hemorrhoids and stool retention with cucumber

Grate the cucumber, apply it to gauze and apply it to the bumps for external hemorrhoids. Carry out the procedure 2 times a day until the bumps disappear. During the entire course of treatment, take 100 ml of cucumber juice 2-3 times a day.

For chronic stool retention, eat about 1 kg of cucumbers daily in the form of a salad, seasoned with unrefined sunflower oil. Treatment is carried out until the stool is completely normalized.

How to treat acne with cucumbers?

Cut the seed cucumber and pour 250 ml of vodka, leave for 7 days, shake occasionally. Strain the tincture and use as a lotion to cleanse the skin of the face, neck and décolleté. For prevention acne The procedure should be carried out once a day (in the evening), for treatment - 2-3 times a day for 7-10 days.

Mix 100 ml of cucumber juice with vodka in a 1:1 ratio, shake. Use to treat skin with acne. Carry out the procedure at least 3 times a day for 7 days.

Kidney cleanse:

The cleansing procedure lasts 21 days. The diet is normal, but should be excluded from the diet harmful products: sweets, smoked foods, carbonated and alcoholic drinks, mayonnaise, ketchup.

Days 1–3: eat only dishes made from fresh cucumbers (you can with bran bread), drink 100 ml of cucumber juice at night.

From the 4th to the 7th day: take 100 ml of cucumber juice 5 times a day 1 hour before meals. At night, do an enema with distilled water (2 l).

From the 8th to the 14th day: eat 300 g of fresh cucumbers daily and drink 0.5 liters of cucumber juice (no more than 100 ml at a time).

From the 15th to the 21st day: mix cucumber juice with an infusion of lingonberry leaves or corn silk in a ratio of 2: 1. Take 100 ml 4 times a day 1 hour before meals.

Recipes from the book by Yu. Nikolaeva » Berries, fruits and juices. Useful properties and the best folk recipes."

How to eat cucumbers if you have diabetes?

Sick, suffering diabetes mellitus, often have problems with the thyroid gland. For such diseases, doctors recommend eating cucumbers. In case of complicated diabetes, in the presence of edema and excess weight For a patient, cucumbers are simply irreplaceable in his diet. Experts strongly advise including them in the diet, despite the fact that they contribute to a slight increase in blood sugar due to the presence of carbohydrates in them. Microelements and mineral salts they contain a very successful combination that is beneficial for health.

The alkaline salts present in cucumbers lead to a decrease in the acidity of gastric juice, and the potassium contained in them is beneficial for the kidneys, liver and heart, strengthens blood vessels and calms the nervous system, which is important for a sick person. Diabetes is often accompanied by obesity and salt deposition in the joints. Cucumbers help against these diseases.

In the absence of contraindications modern medicine advises organizing fasting “cucumber” days.

It will be very useful to eat not only fresh, but also pickled and pickled cucumbers. Designed for patients special diet based on this product. This diet is called No. 9. Also, pickled cucumbers for diabetes normalize carbohydrate metabolism.

You should not limit your consumption of this product; pickles for diabetics are salted according to the usual recipe, but if the composition contains sugar, then it should be replaced with sorbitol.

How to eat cucumbers with pancreatitis?

Cucumbers for acute pancreatitis:

Cucumbers are a rather rough food containing fiber that is poorly digestible in the human body. Admission to gastrointestinal tract Such difficult-to-digest components can greatly harm the already suffering pancreas. This is why cucumbers acute form Pancreatitis is not recommended for use.

Cucumbers for chronic pancreatitis:

The chronic course of the disease involves a gradual expansion of the diet after the attacks have subsided. However vegetable salads It’s still better to cook without including cucumbers. The reason for this is the same fiber that is difficult to digest.

And only if there are no attacks for a long time, you can try introducing half a medium-sized cucumber into the daily menu. But at the same time, it is necessary to cut off the peel and thoroughly rub the pulp of the fruit on the finest grater.

It is best to eat cucumbers that you yourself have grown in your own garden plot, without using any fertilizers or chemicals to increase productivity. Patients with pancreatitis need to remember that fruits sold in markets can sometimes simply be “off scale” in their content of nitrates or pesticides. The appearance of such dangerous products obtained by unscrupulous agricultural producers will not betray the uncontrolled use of chemicals in growing vegetables.

As for such common dishes as salted and pickled cucumbers, then chronic pancreatitis they will have to be forgotten forever. The fact is that the recipes for these vegetable preparations require the presence in them of certain components that are extremely dangerous for consumption in case of diseases of the pancreas:

• citric acid
• vinegar
• excess salt
• black pepper
• garlic

What are the benefits of cucumber? This is exactly what the video is about!

Cucumbers in home cosmetology:

Cucumber - unsurpassed vitamin composition vegetable, thanks to its rejuvenating qualities, it has long been used in home and commercial cosmetology.

Cucumber is 80% water, which is why it perfectly softens and moisturizes the skin. The remaining 20% ​​of the composition are useful substances and microelements, which have an extremely beneficial effect on different types skin. Therefore, leading cosmetologists recommend applying cucumber masks to the face and using cucumber-based lotions regularly.

How to make cucumber face lotion at home?

Tested by more than one generation of women, the product truly has universal action. Helps treat acne, including juvenile acne. Will get rid of fine wrinkles, will put things in order oily skin, bleach if necessary.

We will need:

• Homemade cucumbers – 3 – 4 pcs. medium size.
• Good quality alcohol or vodka.

This is the number of cucumbers for a half liter jar, the product will be infused in it, it’s more convenient.

Grate the cucumbers directly with the peel, put the mixture in a jar and fill to the very top with vodka or alcohol. But if you take alcohol, first dilute it with clean boiled water in a 1:1 ratio.

Find the brightest and brightest in your apartment sunny place, usually a window sill, close it tightly with a nylon lid and let it brew for 2 weeks.

Strain and pour into a bottle for permanent storage. Now all that remains is to put the bottle in the refrigerator and take out the lotion as needed. And the need comes twice a day. Treat your skin in the morning by wiping it with a pad soaked in... large quantities facilities. And in the evening, don’t forget too - beautiful colour, healthy and youthful skin is guaranteed to you.

One of the most common vegetables in our dachas and gardens, unpretentious and very juicy, and at the same time the most ancient vegetable crop. What is this? Of course, cucumber.

This vegetable was given to us by mysterious India, where wild cucumbers are a tropical vine growing in forests. The name itself was given to the vegetable back in ancient times; the Greeks called this vegetable “aguros,” which literally means “unripe, unripe.” Indeed, the smaller, greener and more immature the cucumber, the better and tastier it is.

The ancient use of cucumbers by mankind is evidenced by cucumber seeds found in the ruins of the Khazar city of Sarkep. And in Ancient Egypt cucumbers were depicted on sacrificial tables and placed in the tombs of the most famous pharaohs.

The wide popularity and prevalence of cucumbers is due, first of all, to their unique beneficial properties, which are used traditional healers for the treatment of many ailments. Moreover, not only fresh cucumbers are used, but also cucumber juice and seeds.

Composition of cucumber

Cucumber is the most dietary of all dietary foods. The thing is that its composition is 95-98% water, which means it contains a minimum of calories. But in addition to water, cucumber is a source of valuable alkaline salts, vitamins, fiber and other nutrients.

Not everyone knows that the small spines that cover cucumbers serve to remove excess moisture.

100 g of cucumbers contain the following substances:

15 Health Benefits of Cucumber

1. Cosmetic properties

   Cucumber is rich in silicon, which is an important component, helping in the development of strong and healthy connective tissues of muscles, ligaments, tendons, cartilage and bones. Cosmetologists often recommend cucumber juice to give the skin a healthy and glowing effect. Thanks cucumber high content water also has excellent moisturizing properties and is often used externally for treatment various types skin diseases, including sunburn and puffy eyes. Ascorbic acid and caffeic acid found in cucumbers are vital compounds that prevent water loss from the body.

2. Healthy Digestion

   Cucumbers due to their perfect combination dietary fiber and water help protect your body from constipation and cope with ailments such as ulcers, increased acidity of gastric juice, gastritis. Cucumber improves intestinal motility, and also facilitates the work of the pancreas and is easily absorbed in digestive tract and without her participation.

3. Healthy heart and blood vessels

   Numerous studies show that consuming foods high in magnesium, potassium and fiber can normalize blood pressure.

4. No to diabetes

   Cucumbers are great product, normalizing blood sugar levels. Besides glycemic index of this vegetable is zero, and the carbohydrates contained in cucumbers are easily digested and do not increase the level of glucose in the blood of patients with diabetes.

5. Healthy bones and joints

   Due to the content of silicon, vitamins A, B1, B6, C and D, calcium, magnesium and potassium, cucumbers have a diuretic property and can actively remove accumulated metabolic products and toxins from the body. All these substances help strengthen joints and bone tissue. Cucumbers have been proven to be effective in treating arthritis and rheumatic diseases, and in combination with carrot juice can reduce the symptoms of gout.

6. Prevention of cancer

7. Helps with hangover

   Due to their high content of water, sugar and vitamins, cucumbers cope well with hangover syndrome And unpleasant symptoms, his accompanying people.

Cucumbers are extremely low in calories, contain no fat, only water, vitamins and mineral salts. Therefore, the product is an ideal ingredient in any diet salad or smoothie. Moreover, you can, without fear, eat cucumbers for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

8. Healthy teeth and gums

   Cucumber juice is effective in treating gum inflammation, periodontitis, and consumption raw cucumber increases salivation and reduces the harmful effects of acids and other substances contained in the food consumed on tooth enamel. In addition, eating cucumber after the main meal will reduce bad smell from mouth.

9. Gets rid of worms.

   It is believed that cucumber seeds, ground into powder, - natural remedy prevention and control of tapeworms in the digestive tract.

10. Beautiful and healthy hair

    Cucumber juice stimulates new hair growth due to the silicon and sulfur content in its composition. Hair especially needs these nutrients, so experts recommend drinking half a glass of freshly squeezed cucumber juice. For best results, try combining cucumber juice with carrot juice, lettuce juice, or even green spinach juice.

11. Healthy eyes

    Everyone knows that cucumber slices, due to their high water content, are good for relieving inflammation around the eyes and even large circles under the eyes. And vitamins, minerals and antioxidants can support healthy vision.

kerescan - Jun 23rd, 2015

Common cucumber, so called annual herbaceous plant pumpkin family. This amazing fruit was known more than 6 thousand years ago. Their homeland is considered to be the tropical and subtropical regions of India and China.

The calorie content of cucumbers is low, 15 kcal per 100 grams of product.

Fresh cucumbers contain 95% water, very few carbohydrates and proteins.

The remainder includes vitamins C, B1, B2, P, carotene and macro and microelements. That is why cucumbers are so useful, because these substances are essential for maintaining the metabolic process. Cucumber also contains a lot of potassium, which helps quickly remove excess water from the body.

Health Benefits of Cucumbers

The benefits of fresh cucumbers for the body are multifaceted; they have choleretic, diuretic, laxative effects, and improve appetite.

They are used for diseases of cardio-vascular system, liver, kidneys, obesity, gout and many others.

There are enzymes in cucumbers that promote better absorption animal proteins, prevents carbohydrates from being converted into fats. Because of this property, nutritionists believe that meat dishes Best paired with cucumber salad.

Fiber, which is abundant in cucumbers, removes “bad” cholesterol from the body. Fresh cucumbers are recommended for atherosclerosis.

Cucumbers also help with burns, and they are also used against acne and certain skin diseases.

Cucumber is rich in alkaline salts that neutralize acidic compounds, thereby improving metabolic processes, obstruct premature aging, deposition of stones in the liver and kidneys.

Cucumber is also a good source of iodine, a compound that is well accepted by the body.

Fresh cucumber is an indispensable assistant for those who want to lose weight; it can be eaten in large quantities and added to any diet. It quite effectively controls appetite, improves digestion, and creates a feeling of fullness.

Cucumbers are also used in cosmetics; extracts from fresh cucumbers are included in whitening products; alcohol-based cucumber tincture is also used for oily skin.

In winter, pickled cucumbers are useful. They remove toxins and waste well and help in the absorption of protein. Pickled cucumber brine is used as a laxative.

Harm and contraindications of cucumbers

Harm from cucumbers can affect increased stomach acidity. Therefore, cucumbers are contraindicated for peptic ulcers of the digestive system.

There are restrictions on pickles. They are not recommended for people with liver, kidney, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, atherosclerosis and during pregnancy.

Cucumbers became a common product of daily consumption not so long ago - with the advent of cheap polymers, greenhouse cultivation of cucumbers became profitable. Vegetables are no longer a seasonal crop. A salad of fresh herbs is common in winter.

Crispy cucumbers are eaten whole and cut into salads, as part of okroshka and cold summer soups, salted and lightly salted, canned and pickled. There is nothing surprising in the very formulation of the question about the benefits and harms of cucumbers.

The pedigree of greens goes back centuries. Until now, in the subtropics of India and China natural conditions Hardwick's cucumber grows.

Historians don’t know for sure, but there is a beautiful hypothesis: cucumber seeds found their way into ancient Hellas during the campaigns of Alexander the Great to the East. Even the name “cucumber” itself is a transformed Greek word “aoros”, translated as “unripe”. The Greek name perfectly reflects the difference between cucumber and other vegetables: greens are eaten unripe.

Minerals and vitamins - what cucumbers are rich in

We are already accustomed to seeing these greens on the table. all year round, consume them both fresh and processed. Fresh vegetables open ground deservedly popular.

This dietary product It has a low calorie content of 15-20 kcal/100 g, consists of 95-97% water, and contains many trace elements and vitamins. Scroll useful components includes more than 3 dozen items. Among them there are unique ones, the content of which in cucumber is very high.

Unique components of cucumber

Greenhouse fruits differ in elemental composition from ground fruits very slightly, within 5-10%, which is not of fundamental importance.

Nutritional value of 100 g of cucumbers

Beneficial properties of fresh cucumbers for human health

The main component of cucumber is water. It moisturizes the skin, flushes out toxic substances and impurities.

1. The presence of potassium in the solution normalizes electrolyte balance body. Vegetables act as a diuretic - they remove excess fluid and eliminate swelling.
2. Fresh cucumbers reduce the acidity of gastric juice, exhibit moderate choleretic and laxative effects, and improve intestinal motility.
3. Consumption of vegetables reduces cholesterol levels - an excellent prevention of atherosclerosis.
4. Normalizes blood pressure.
5. Normalizes the body's metabolic processes: such a diet slows down aging and prevents the deposition of stones in internal organs.
6. Young cucumbers are rich in ascorbic acid, which is responsible for the immune system.
7. Normalizes processes nervous system(magnesium and phosphorus, B vitamins), helps cope with fatigue and anxiety, and normalizes sleep.
8. The presence of iodine in vegetables helps restore thyroid function.
9. The juice helps cure dry cough.
10. Fresh cucumber is used as first aid for burns and bruises - apply a fresh cut to the affected area of ​​the skin.

Not all the properties of this vegetable have been studied: recently, doctors came to the conclusion that cucumber bitterness (cucurbitacin) suppresses the development of cancer cells.

Vitamins and antioxidants contained in cucumbers. slow down the aging of the body. And the cosmetic effect of using these fresh vegetables was known to our great-grandmothers.

Application in cosmetology

To improve the condition of the skin, all parts of greens are used - pulp, juice, peel, seeds. The effect of cucumber compositions on the skin is universal.

1. Components fresh cucumber nourish the skin with vitamins, moisturize it, make it soft, elastic and silky.
2. The drugs have a regenerating effect, tighten pores and have rejuvenating properties.
3. The lotion cleanses the skin and removes toxins.
4. Masks neutralize harmful effects ultraviolet rays.
5. The juice whitens the skin well and helps remove freckles and age spots.
6. Cucumber masks relieve swelling and dark circles under the eyes.

For home use You should know that the most useful part of greens is 1-3 mm directly under the skin. Unfortunately, nitrates also accumulate there due to excessive use of fertilizers.

Cucumbers don't cause allergic reactions. Unpleasant consequences Eating vegetables is a reaction to increased levels of impurities, a consequence of improper fertilization of beds.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding - the benefits and harms of cucumbers

In moderate doses, cucumbers should definitely be included in the diet of pregnant and lactating women. The reason is quite clear:

• they normalize water balance;
• increase immunity;
• strengthen bone tissue and teeth (vitamin K);
• prevent the development of anemia (0.7 mg of iron per 100 g of vegetables).

Despite all the benefits of cucumbers, they should not be abused, especially for pregnant women: they may cause side effects - increased gas formation, belching. 2-3 greens a day is a completely normal dose that provides daily requirement women.

The notorious pickled and pickled cucumbers should also be consumed in reasonable moderation. 1-2 pieces cannot harm anyone, only salt puts a strain on the kidneys, and acetic acid destroys tooth enamel.

Don't forget that vegetables have diuretic properties. Eat fresh cucumbers and add them to salads only in the first half of the day so that this does not in any way affect night’s sleep, which is so important for a pregnant woman.

Cucumbers in baby food - how much and when

It is enough to wash the cucumber from your garden well, provided that you have not overused fertilizers. For this reason, you should be wary of greenhouse vegetables. Grown hydroponically and nutritional compositions, such vegetables may contain nitrates.

Cases of allergies in children are associated not so much with the vegetables themselves, but with chemical fertilizers and protective agents used in agricultural technology.

Even if the baby liked the new product and the body accepted it well, you should not overuse it and allow the child to eat more than 1 fresh cucumber (about 100 g).

We use it as medicine

Since the time of Hippocrates, people have used all parts of the cucumber plant to prepare effective medicinal compounds.

Cucumbers are shown in rehabilitation period after operations and after long-term use medicines, especially antibiotics.

Cucumber juice and its benefits for the body

Any cucumber is 95% water. When squeezing the juice, the greens almost completely turn into liquid, which is in no way inferior in mineral and vitamin composition, but is much more convenient to use.

In fact, cucumber juice is structured and enriched useful substances water that enters the body:

• helps maintain optimal water balance;
• improves the functioning of the digestive tract;
• helps the body get rid of waste and toxins;
• normalizes metabolic processes.

Amazing facts about medicinal properties freshly squeezed cucumber juice.

An effective recipe from chronic constipation for pregnant and lactating women:

• 1 glass of freshly squeezed juice;
• 1 tbsp. l. natural honey;
• take daily for at least 3 weeks.

Speaking about the use of juice, one cannot remain silent about the very important feature. Combined with other juices useful actions are only getting stronger. For example, the beneficial properties of cucumber juice mixed with carrot juice become much stronger. Juice cocktails have a beneficial effect on the functioning of all body systems.

From the video you can learn about others beneficial properties cucumbers, to whom they are contraindicated, and why they are useful in diets.

About the benefits of salted and lightly salted cucumbers

In the absence of contraindications, moderate consumption of winter preparations cannot harm health. Moreover, pickles are beneficial not only in winter.

1. Some vitamins and useful microelements are preserved even after the fermentation process.
2. The acid contained in pickled cucumbers increases appetite and enhances digestion.
3. Fermented cucumbers have a mild laxative effect.
4. Pickles and brine help cope with alcohol withdrawal syndrome - a hangover.

When cucumbers are prohibited

The good news is that not all cucumbers are banned for everyone, but only salted and pickled ones.

1. Gastritis, peptic ulcer stomach or duodenum, all gastrointestinal diseases associated with high acidity completely exclude the consumption of pickled products and, especially, pickled cucumbers (they increase the already increased acidity gastric juice).
2. Hepatitis, cholecystitis, pancreatic diseases - pickles are contraindicated for these diseases.
3. Pickled and pickled cucumbers are contraindicated in cases of impaired water-salt metabolism, hypertension, and atherosclerosis.
4. It is strictly forbidden to consume salted and pickled cucumbers for anyone who has kidney problems (urolithiasis, nephritis and pyelonephritis, chronic renal failure).
5. Reduced thyroid function is one of the contraindications.
6. Any cucumbers are contraindicated for diarrhea.

In very moderate (we emphasize) quantities, salted and pickled cucumbers can be consumed by pregnant women. Children from 2 to 5 years old should be given pickled cucumbers little by little, very carefully. Pickles and marinades provoke dysfunction of the liver and kidneys.

The list of restrictions for consuming fresh cucumbers is much shorter.

1. Caution does not hurt when preparing salads from greenhouse cucumbers: cut off the ends of the greens and remove the skin by 1-3 mm - areas of maximum accumulation of nitrates.
2. Hypotonic people should not overuse fresh cucumbers - eating 3-4 cucumbers at once can cause a decrease in blood pressure.

Don’t be afraid to appear to be playing it safe: if in doubt, ask your doctor about the consumption of fresh and salted cucumbers.

Cucumber diet - inexpensive and effective

Short term diet for fast weight loss enjoys deserved popularity.

1. Economical diet - in the summer, during the cucumber season, cucumbers cost mere pennies, and the result is excellent - up to 5 kg in 1 week.
2. In addition to the lost kilograms and centimeters, intestinal function is normalized and the skin is cleansed.

The disadvantage of such a mono-diet is an incomplete menu, so you should definitely take vitamin complexes For wellness during this week.

The calorie content of fresh cucumber is only 15 kcal/100 g of product. The microelements and vitamins contained in the vegetable allow you not only to lose weight, but also to improve your health.

The basic principle of the cucumber diet is that during the day you need to eat 1.5-2 kg of fresh cucumbers just like that or in the form of salads. The main thing is not to consume salt. At all.

• Have breakfast as you are used to.
• Tea, coffee, water - unlimited.
• During the day, eat a salad of 1.5-2 kg of cucumbers in 3 doses: at 12-13 o'clock, at 16-17 o'clock and at 19-20.

Benefits of the cucumber diet.

1. There is no need to exhaust yourself by endlessly drinking water, the mainstay of all newfangled diets. Daily dose cucumbers (2 kg) contains almost 2 liters (1,900 ml) of water.
2. Natural fiber cleanses the intestines of waste and toxins and normalizes digestion.
3. The diuretic effect of cucumbers expels excess water from the body and helps to acquire the desired shape.
4. Happening general health improvement body.

The diet is intended for people without special problems with health. If your body’s condition allows you to eat cucumbers in such quantities, why not try it.

The usual vegetable from the garden turned out to be not only tasty. However, even healthy foods should be consumed in moderation. This especially applies to pregnant and lactating women, toddlers and preschool children.

Regular consumption of fresh and salted cucumbers diversifies your diet and helps you stay healthy.