The HEALING Power of CUCUMBER | Dr. Mandell
The cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is a widely cultivated “gourd” and member of the Cucurbitaceae plant family. Cucumbers have been studied most in regard to their diuretic effects. This has earned them a reputation as a healing food in both traditional folk medicine and modern medicine.
Technically, is a cucumber a fruit or a vegetable? It’s actually a fruit, although treated more like a vegetable.
Eating cukes can add a decent amount of nutrients to your diet. According to cucumber nutrition data published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a half cup of cucumbers with the peel (approximately 52 grams) has about:
- 7.8 calories
- 1.9 grams carbohydrates
- 0.3 gram protein
- 0.1 gram fat
- 0.3 gram fiber
- 8.5 micrograms vitamin K (11 percent DV)
- 1.5 milligrams vitamin C (2 percent DV)
- 6.8 milligrams magnesium (2 percent DV)
- 76.4 milligrams potassium (2 percent DV)
Researchers have found that cucurbitacin, a type of triterpene compound, may induce cancerous cell death (a process known as apoptosis). The most significant mechanisms with regard to the apoptotic effects of cucurbitacins are their ability to modify activities via nuclear factors or genes and to activate anti-tumor proteins.
As such, eating plenty of high-antioxidant foods like cucumbers may help lower your risk of cancer.Cucumbers are one of the vegetables with the highest water content. This means cucumber nutrition offers valuable vitamins and minerals, yet is super low in calories — with only about 16 calories per cup.
Cucurbitacins are a category of diverse compounds found in the plants of family Cucurbitaceae, including cucumbers. These compounds can support the digestive tract and liver.
Cucumbers are also a natural diuretic food. This means they can help the body produce more urine to carry out toxins and waste.
Plan on eating the whole cucumber whenever possible, since the skin and seeds contain important compounds. Cucumber skin is a good source of vitamin A that can aid in skin health, plus cukes and their skin have diuretic effects that can reduce puffiness.
Fresh cucumber juice has been used to naturally nourish damaged, dry or sensitive skin for centuries. According to some studies, cucumber slices or seeds applied directly to the skin gives a soothing and cooling effect against skin irritations and reduces swelling and redness. They’ve even been used to naturally treat acne, scars and other blemishes.
Cucumbers also have the power to relax and alleviate pain, blotchiness and swelling following a sunburn, providing sunburn relief. The fruit is considered a “refrigerant, haemostatic and tonic, useful in treating hyperdipsia or thermoplegia.”
In other words, cucumbers help stop bleeding, reduce heat buildup associated with inflammation, quench your thirst, relieve dehydration and fight “sunstroke” all at the same time.
Cucurbitacins found in cucumbers have been researched for their cytotoxic, hepatoprotective, cardiovascular and anti-diabetic effects. Lignans found in cucumbers have well-documented immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory effects that are beneficial for fighting cardiovascular disease.
Studies investigating the effects of consuming ligans from plant foods have found beneficial associations with C-reactive protein levels, a lowering effect on total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and improved blood pressure levels.
Cucumbers also provide important minerals that help maintain a healthy heart, including potassium and magnesium.
Potassium is linked to healthier blood pressure levels since it helps control fluids in the body. Therefore, low potassium intake from fruits and veggies is often correlated with poorer heart health.
Magnesium-rich foods are also beneficial for blood pressure in addition to general nerve functioning, heartbeat regulation, fluid balance, better blood sugar stability and higher energy expenditure.
Cucumber Nutrition: Helps You Detox & Lose Weight