Health Benefits of Cucumbers

The health benefits of cucumbers are numerous but first let's talk a little bit about the cucumber itself. In order to receive the most health benefits of cucumbers it is best if they are eaten unpeeled because that is the best source of fiber and minerals. The majority of store bought cucumbers have a waxed coating or pesticide residues on the outer skin which can be hard to remove; therefore it is safer to purchase organic or to grow your own.

Before you start growing cucumbers, be sure you have plenty of room in your garden or you give them something they can climb on. Cucumber plants are vines and if they are grown on the ground can spread to over six feet in length. If your garden is not large enough to handle these long, trailing vines, you can train your cucumbers to climb on a trellis or up a fence. A trellis trained cucumber plant will usually produce cucumbers that are better formed.

When you get around to choosing your cucumber types you will find a large selection. You will find large, narrow cukes for eating right out of the garden, and the short, fat, pickling cucumbers. The nice thing about cucumbers is that you can also eat raw the short, fat, pickling ones and you can pickle the long, narrow slicing ones.

Cucumbers will need plenty of moisture so water them frequently and spread a heavy layer of organic mulch or black plastic mulch to help keep the soil damp. If you end up with weeds even though you have spread mulch just pull them out by hand as to not damage the shallow root systems of the cucumbers. The slicing types are ripe once they reach 6 - 8 inches long and the pickling type at 1-1/2 - 3 inches. Always pick the cucumbers when they are still green, the yellow ones are overripe.

Now let's talk about some of the health benefits of cucumbers; they are surprisingly nutritious and healthy in more ways than one. Cucumbers are well known as natural eye pads; they help to reduce swelling around the eyes and the dark circles under the eyes. They also help the tired eyes to relax after a long days work. The cucumber and your skin have the same level of hydrogen, therefore helping the cucumber to mask problem areas. They help to soothe and soften which makes you more relaxed. The ingredients in cucumbers help in the treatment of many skin problems.

The cucumber calories are great for anyone trying to lose weight. A medium sized cucumber has only 42 calories and is filling at the same time because of its fiber content. They are good for replacing any of the fluids that get lost due to sweating because of their high water content. Eating foods that have high water content protects the body from dehydration and heat exhaustion during the summer.

They are an excellent source of magnesium and potassium that helps control blood pressure. These important minerals help lower blood pressure. Cucumbers are a source of the antioxidant vitamins A and C as well as folic acid. Some benefits of cucumbers can reduce heartburn or to soothe an acid stomach by drinking its juice; this will also help those suffering from gastritis or ulcers. Drinking cucumber juice daily may help control eczema, arthritis, and gout.

For best results keep cucumbers cool so they will not get soggy by refrigeration or away from direct sunlight. If you do not like the bitterness, peel the skin and cut off the ends. You also want to avoid pickled cucumbers for two reasons; pickling causes them to lose most of their vitamins and they are high in sodium. In order to receive the best health benefits of cucumbers is to grow your own organically.