Cucumbers do not only make delicious salads but its also one of the world's healthiest foods. Find out how these low-calories cucumbers will help maintain good health and nutrition.
Scientifically known as "Cucumis Sativus," cucumbers belong to the family of melons along with cantaloupe, squash, and watermelon. Aside from slicing and eating it fresh, cucumbers are produced for processing into pickles, WHFoods reported.
Cucumbers do not only add taste to foods but also it helps prolong life and maintain a healthy body due to its health benefits and nutrition. To make it clear, cucumbers are fruits and not vegetables as most people believe.
Originally, cucumbers are the good source of phytonutrients like lignans, flavonoids, and triterpenes. According to Live Science, these phytonutrients are anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-cancer. Among all parts of the cucumbers, the peel and seeds contain the most nutritious parts for it contain fiber and beta-carotene.
Angela Lemond, a Plano, Texas-based registered dietician nutritionist said, "Beta-carotene is an antioxidant which helps a person's immunity, eye, skin and a great way to prevent cancer." Her belief was supported by a study which was published in the Pakistan Journal of Nutrition stating that the seeds of cucumbers contains calcium and is the good source of minerals.
Another registered dietitian nutritionist, Megan Ware from Orlando Florida added that cucumbers are natural foods that are low in sodium, fat, carbohydrates, cholesterol, and calories. Furthermore, Ware added that cucumbers even provide the small amount of Vitamin C, magnesium, Vitamin K, potassium, Vitamin A, and manganese.
Moreover, cucumbers are useful sources of staying hydrated for it is made up of 95 percent water. While its anti-inflammatory compound helps remove waste in the body, serves as anti-wrinkles, reduce skin irritation and works as an anti-aging.
Most of all, cucumbers have cucurbitacins, a compound that blocks the pathways for the survival of cancer cells. And its lignans compound helps a person stays protected from cancer and bacterial growth in the digestive tract.
