Even with 95 per cent of water content, cumbers are still among the most delicious and nutritious vegetables that should not miss on a balanced menu.

Just like watermelon, the fresh of cucumber is laden with juice and range of nutrients that are necessary for the body.

"Consuming cumbers on a daily basis is good for cardiac and diabetic patients since the negligible amounts of lipids present are less likely to cause damage,” says King Faisal Hospital Nutritionist, Rene Tabaro.Nutritional facts

Nutritional facts per 100gm of cucumber also reveal that the flesh contains 0.6gm of vitamin C. This almost makes up the largest proportion of the vegetables content of protective nutrients.

Just like most vitamins, ascorbic acid has the capacity to boost the body’s immune functions although it is mainly associated with maintaining the skin in a healthy condition.

According to Mayo Clinic, cucumber contains other antioxidants such as beta-carotene, manganese and flavonoids known as triterpenes and lignans.

The flavonoids and antioxidants have anti-inflammatory properties whereas beta-carotene, a precussor of vitamin A is known for promoting clear vision.

Tabaro, however, adds that on top of this vitamin content, nutrients such as proteins are part of the cucumber flesh.

"On a scale, 100gm of the cucumber contains 0.6gm of proteins and 2g of carbohydrates,” Tabaro explains.

He adds that the vegetable is very rich in mineral salts and energy that are needed every day.

"For example potassium is useful in coordination of impulses along the nervous system. It is also confirmed that a cucumber rich diet provides 10 kilo calories of energy per 100gm,” he adds.

Tabaro, who maintains that maximising the nutrients in cucumber requires a balanced menu says that the vegetable is more beneficial when consumed alongside other fruits and vegetables.

And although cucumbers occur in a range of colours, the commonest type on the local market is green and a few times with stripes of cream.

Fighting diseases

Joseph Mbabazi, a nutritionist, however points out that origin and colour may not necessarily impede nutritional composition since around the globe all types of cucumber are deemed necessary in the fight against certain diseases.

"Cucumbers contain phytonutrients that fight cancer and hence most researches on cancer are now looking into the direction of using this vegetable,” Mbabazi says.

Studies published in the Journal of cancer research examined curcurbitacin, a phytonutrient in cucumber and looked at its effect on pancreatic cancer cells.The research concluded that cucurbitacin supplements inhibit the growth of seven pancreatic cancer cell lines by 50 per cent.

Similar research published in the British Journal of Cancer found a significant correlation between cucumber compounds and prostate cancer.

On the other hand, studies published in the Journal of Nutrition after from about 800 American women found that those with the highest lignin (a component of plant cell walls also present in cucumber) intake had the lowest risk of ovarian cancer.

According to Mbabazi, the minerals present are also necessary for bone growth and work along to increase bone density.

"People who have enhanced intake of cucumbers have plenty of supply to vitamin K and D that work to increase bone density together with the minerals,” he adds.Origin of cucumber

The origin of cucumber dates back to 3000 years ago in India. Over the years cucumbers have been cultivated in France, England and North America although the earliest cultivators were Indians before spreading them to other parts of the world like Africa. Most times cucumbers are consumed in a raw form as salads. Nonetheless, in absence of destructive cooking, most of the nutrients end up in the body.

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Benefits of Cucumber

l Drink juice of fresh cucumber or use raw cucumber for the prevention of burning sensation in chest and acidity in stomach. 

l If you have wounds or ulcers in the stomach or in small intestine then drink about 100-150ml of cucumber juice every two hours daily, stomach ulcer will gradually reduce and you will be comparatively comfortable.

l If your eyes got red and you feel burning effect and are tired then take two slices of cucumber and place them on your eyes and lay down and take rest for about 30 minutes, you would get refreshed and a bit energetic.

l If your skin got red due to heat then in order to give cooling and comfort to your skin apply the juice of cucumber over your skin, on your back and other areas of your skin, it would cure the heat burn sensation.

l For the release of stomach bugs eating crushed dry seeds of cucumber is very useful.

l For better kidneys’ health drink juice of fresh cucumber or use raw cucumber so that you have more urination. The internal paths of urine can also be cleaned by eating cucumber.

l Cucumber is better to cure diabetes. Cucumber juice contains a hormone which is needed by the cells of the pancreas for producing insulin which has been found to be useful for diabetic patients.

l Cucumber reduces cholesterol and has high water content so it is an ideal diet for people who are looking for weight loss. Daily consumption of cucumbers can be useful to cure chronic constipation.

Agencies