1. Disease Protection
Cucumbers contain a great deal of antioxidants, which are molecules that can prevent oxidative damage in the body. They bond with and neutralize unpaired electrons called free radicals to protect you from issues like chronic illness and premature aging. In fact, free radical damage has a strong association with heart and lung problems, cancer, and autoimmune disease.
When you eat cucumber on a daily basis, you’re upping your intake of antioxidants, especially the powerful flavonoid and tannin variety. One study that supplemented the diets of 30 older adults with cucumber powder found that for each participant, the level of antioxidant activity improved significantly from baseline numbers.
2. Better Hydration
Obviously we all understand that hydration is important, yet many of us struggle to actually drink enough water each day. Maybe you get too busy, or maybe you don’t care for it. Whatever the reason, it is a problem because water plays a #critical #role in #temperature regulation, metabolism, physical performance, and waste removal. A chronic low level of dehydration can seriously impact your overall wellness.
The good news is that you can get more water in your diet by eating water-rich foods like cucumber. All fruits and vegetables contain a significant amount of water, but cucumber is actually 96% water. That can net you a big gain in hydration for relatively little effort. Studies show that increased fruit and vegetable consumption improves hydration status. In fact, it is perfectly acceptable to get up to 40% of your daily hydration needs from food.
3. Potential Weight Loss
The humble cucumber actually offers several #means of #weight loss in conjunction with other lifestyle changes – reducing your intake of added sugars being chief among them. Cucumbers help because they are very low in calories but high in fiber. Eating them helps you feel full and satisfied without a lot of weight-spiking carbohydrates.
If you eat a whole cucumber every day, you will only take in 45 calories (and no fat) but gain a significant amount of protein, vitamin C, vitamin K, magnesium, potassium, and manganese. But let’s not forget about the water. Studies show that eating a diet packed with high-water foods is associated with a significant reduction in body mass.