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Cucumbers.....
Every salad must have cucumbers.
A salad is not a salad without cucumbers.
I love cucumbers, but I used to think they were sort of boring because I had no idea what to do with them. Other than toss them into my salads.
Or......
Slice them nice and thin, add yogurt and make a delicious, cooling Cucumber Riata. That's a side dish Indians usually serve with meals to balance the heat from all that spicy curry. I really enjoy Indian Cuisine, so I make Cucumber Riata very often.
Some folks eat cucumber sandwiches: paper-thin slices of cucumber placed between two slices of crustless, lightly buttered white bread. It's a British thing, traditionally served with afternoon tea. Leave it to the Americans to make it even more fattening by using cream cheese instead of butter.
So....other than adding them to salads, mixing up a refreshing Cucumber Riata, or sticking them between two slices of white bread with butter or cream cheese, which, by the way, does not sound appealing to me at all, what else can I do with cucumbers?
Quite a few things, actually, but before I get into that, let's talk about some of the amazing health benefits of cucumbers. This certainly changed my opinion of them and perhaps you will decide to include cucumbers in your daily diet.
First, I wish to clear up one tiny, little misconception about cucumbers. We usually refer to them as vegetables. They have enclosed seeds and develop from flowers so botanically speaking, cucumbers are really classified as fruits. We're just accustomed to thinking of them as vegetables because we prepare and eat them as such.
Here are some of the benefits of cucumbers:
They're are relatively cheap, even in the winter. They're low in calories, have no fat, and are very high in water content. This means they are excellent to eat if you;re interested in weight loss. The high water content and dietary fiber in cucumbers are very effective in ridding the body of toxins from the digestive system, aiding digestion. Daily consumption of cucumbers can be regarded as a remedy for chronic constipation.
They are an excellent, quick pick me-up. Cucumbers are a good source of B vitamins. B vitamins provide energy so they are perfect to eat when you're feeling tired or less than energetic.
Cucumbers hydrate body and replenish daily vitamins. They are 95 percent water, keeping the body hydrated while helping the body eliminate toxins. Cucumbers have most of the vitamins the body needs in a single day. Don't forget to leave the skin on because the skin contains a good amount of vitamin C, about 10 percent of the daily-recommended allowance.
Cucumbers are excellent for skin and hair care. If you don't like to eat the skin, it can be used for skin irritations and sunburns as aloe would be used. Place a slice over puffy eyes and its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce puffiness. The silicon and sulfur in cucumbers help to stimulate hair growth.
Cucumbers can help prevent cancer. They contain lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol. These three lignans have a strong history of research in connection with reduced risk of several cancer types, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and prostate cancer.
Cucumbers are great breath fresheners. Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.
Cucumbers are excellent for hangovers. To avoid a morning hangover or headache; eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish many essential nutrients, reducing the intensity of both hangover and headache.
Cucumbers can help cure diabetes, reduce cholesterol and control blood pressure. Cucumber juice contains a hormone which is needed by the cells of the pancreas for producing insulin which has been found to be beneficial to diabetic patients. Researchers found that a compound called sterols in cucumbers may help reduce cholesterol levels. Cucumbers contain a lot of potassium, magnesium and fiber. These work effectively for regulating blood pressure. This makes cucumbers good for treating both low blood pressure and high blood pressure.
Cucumbers help promote joint health, relieve gout and arthritis pain. Cucumbers are an excellent source of silica, which is known to help promotes joint health by strengthening the connective tissues. They are also rich in vitamin A, B1, B6, C & D, Folate, Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium. When mixed with carrot juice, they can relieve gout and arthritis pain by lowering the uric acid levels.
WOW! Who knew the boring, little old cucumber was so powerful?
I never, ever peel cucumbers. That gorgeously green skin contains fiber and tons of nutrients. Most people peel them because they don't like the bitter taste of the skin. That bitter taste is the result of the wax used to cover conventionally grown cucumbers. You'll know immediately if your cucumbers are waxed because they will be very pretty and glossy. Cucumbers don't come out of the ground that way. Skip the shiny cucumbers at the grocery store and go for organic ones. They will be a bit more expensive, but they taste so much better and are much healthier for you. If you absolutely cannot find or afford organic cucumbers, wash them very well and definitely peel before eating.
Here are a few recipes, including one for Cucumber Riata. These are all Vegetarian. You can make adjustments to make them Vegan, if you wish.
Fennel Cucumber Salad
Lebanese Rubbed Salad
Chef John's Gazpacho
Cucumber Riata
Yours in Good Health,
Cynthia
xo
