Amazing health benefits of Cucumber
This water vegetable is part of the Cucurbitaceae family and has been wildly cultivated. It is a creeping vine plant and there are three main varieties, pickling, slicing and seedless. In one cup of cucumber there are 16 calories, 1g of protein, 0 g of fat, 1g of fibre, 4g of carbohydrates, 2g of sugar and 2g of sodium.
There are many health benefits of adding cucumbers to the diet.
- They are 95% water
- Good for the digestion
- Flushes out toxins
- Contains vitamin K
- Reduces cholesterol
- Contains potassium
- Helps to regulate body temperature
- Promotes hair growth
- Contains manganese
- Rich in antioxidants
- Regulates blood alkalinity
- Promotes joint health
- Contains magnesium
- Relieves sunburn
- Smooths muscle pain
- Helps heal diseased gums
- Builds connective tissues
- Regulates blood pressure
- Rich in vitamin A,B1,B6, C,D
- Contains folate
- Contains calcium
- Great for weight loss
- Prevents headache
- Aids in blood sugar regulation
- Helps maintain health nails
- Reduces dark circles around the eyes
- Reduces cancer risk
- Relieves gout and arthritis pain
- Acts as a diuretic
- Treats tapeworms
- Eases heartburn
- Helps dissolves kidney stones
- Helps rid bad breath
- Laxative effect
By including this wonderful delicious watery vegetable you will be adding to one of your five a day Eating your five day is part of a healthy balanced diet. and its important that you eat another as they are packed full of nutrients.
Recommendations
There has been many study’s that has produced evidence that suggests their are significant health benefits to eating your five a-day.
The recommendation which has been suggested by the World health organisation (WHO) is 400 grams a day, this will help to lower the risks of many illnesses and diseases such as some cancers, strokes and heart attacks, it can also lower the risks of diabetes, high blood pressure and keep your immune system topped up to protect you from common colds and flu’s, and constipation.
Fruits and vegetables should be eating as a variety to maximise their nutritional properties. Most fruit and vegetables are generally low in calories along with fat when eaten raw or cooked in a healthy way such as steaming.
Almost every fruit and vegetable will count towards your five a day, and can be eaten fresh, canned, frozen, dried or juiced. Although juiced fruit and vegetables should be kept to 150ml a day. this is because the process of juicing them will release the free sugars with in the fruit or vegetable.
What counts as a portion
80g of fresh fruit and vegetables either frozen, fresh, canned . However canned fruit and vegetables should be brought in water.
30g of dried fruits, which should be eaten with a meal to help lower the risks of tooth decay.
80g of beans and pulses
By Aaron Christopher Slade
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Nutritional value of refined grains. – ACS (acsnutritionaltherapist.co.uk)