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Living Well
Amazing Benefits of Cucumber Water For A Healthy Life!
Nov 29, 2017As the saying goes “You are what you eat.” This is a lifelong mantra for the ones who love eating healthy and staying fit. If the saying is true, wouldn’t it be great to be cool and crisp like a cucumber? Or in fact more like the refreshing cucumber water that is one of the healthiest and detoxifying drinks! The benefits of cucumber water are not just for people who have digestive issues but also for people who suffer from bone brittleness, bloating and more issues. Let’s look at a few benefits of cucumber water.
8 Benefits Of Cucumber Water
Keeps Muscles Healthy
Silica is an important nutrient to keep the connective tissues healthy in the muscles. Cucumber is a rich source of silica when consumed regularly. Just add a few slices of cucumbers in a water bottle and keep on sipping it so that this necessary nutrient is provided to your muscles all day long.
Keeps Bloating At Bay
Bloating happens due to an excessive water content in the body. The benefit of cucumber water is that it helps in flushing out excess water, waste, and toxins from the system. Cucumbers are diuretic in nature, thus triggering the kidneys to produce more urine.
Fights Free Radicals
Free radicals, which are unstable substances in the human body, can lead to chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and heart disease. These free radicals can be destroyed by antioxidants. The peel of cucumber is a rich source of vitamin C, beta-carotene, and several flavonoid compounds which all are antioxidants that help in destroying free radicals. The benefit of cucumber water is that it helps the body in assimilating the antioxidants quickly.
Helps in Hydration
The dangers of dehydration are well known. A minimum of 8 glasses of water per day is needed for the optimal functioning of the human body. Water is good for your skin, your mental health and your overall well being. Cucumber water means extra hydration for the body. It helps in maintaining your body temperature and even assists cardiac functioning.
Provides More Energy
Coffee and tea may be all-time favorite beverages but they don’t give the required energy to your body the way cucumber water does. The benefit of cucumber water is that it provides energy and also flushes out unnecessary toxins from the body to avoid lethargy and improve focus.
Maintains Blood Pressure
High sodium (salt) intake is one of the major reasons why blood pressure shoots up. The excess salt retains fluids in the body, which in turn increases blood pressure. Potassium is an important element for balancing the amount of salt that is held back by the kidneys. Cucumber water contains high levels of potassium. As a result, regulating blood pressure is one of the key benefits of cucumber water.
Relieves Pain
Traditionally cucumber was used as a remedy for headaches because its seeds are cooling and diuretic. The juice is used as a nutritive and as a demulcent in anti-acne lotions according to studies. Apart from that, one of the major benefits of cucumber water is that it contains flavonoids, which are anti-inflammatory substances. Cucumbers also have tannins, which have known to reduce pain.
Great For Skin
Only used cucumber slices at spas? Now drink them! The benefits of cucumber water are not only limited to silica for great skin but also extend to the antioxidants, which are good for anti-aging and supple skin. Acne marks or redness can also be reduced by simply washing the face with cucumber water.
Has Anti- Inflammatory Properties
Another major benefit of cucumber water is that it helps in cooling down the inflammatory response in the body. Cucumber extract helps in reducing undesirable inflammation by preventing the activity of pro-inflammatory enzymes.
Healthy Alternative To Sodas
Sodas and canned juices do more harm than good for the body! In spite of being aware of their health risks, many people drink them because plain water can be boring to drink all the time. However, cucumber water isn’t. It’s a good source of vitamins and minerals the body needs. Along with that, there are plenty of creative cucumber water recipes that can provide more antioxidants as well as vitamins to the body, while also being fun to drink.
Quick and Fun Cucumber Water Recipes
Quick and Fun Cucumber Water Recipes
Delicious Cucumber Lemon Water
Ingredients Needed
- Lemon Juice (from one big lemon)
- One tall glass of water
- 4-6 slices of cucumber
Put the slices of cucumber & lemon juice in a glass full of water and stir it properly. Keep it in the refrigerator for at least 4-6 hours before consuming it. This recipe can also be made in a full jug of water with slices of two full cucumbers and 2 lemons. You can throw in the lemons in the drink too after the juice is squeezed out. If you like cold drinks, prepare this drink the night before and refrigerate it, so that it will be refreshingly cool on the next day.
Refreshing Cucumber and Lime Popsicles
Cucumber can be a really boring food for kids to eat. This recipe includes cucumber water in a Popsicle format which will have the kids (and adults!) longing for it. This recipe makes for 6 popsicles.
Ingredients Needed
- 1 large cucumber, peeled and cut into large chunks
- 1 glass full-fat coconut milk (what you get after squeezing freshly grated coconut)
- Juice + zest of 2 limes (organic if possible)
- 3 tablespoons of sweetener of choice (honey or cane sugar)
- Pinch of salt
Blend all ingredients in a blender until the consistency of the mixture is smooth. Then pour the mixture into Popsicle molds or paper cups if molds aren’t available. Tap it a couple of times to eliminate any bubbles and freeze overnight. Don’t forget to add Popsicle sticks after 1 hour and return to freezer. To remove, run the mold under warm water for 30 seconds and slide out. Enjoy!
Energizing Cucumber and Apple Smoothie
This smoothie is the perfect health booster when a pick-me-up is much needed! The ingredients given below will make around two glasses.
Ingredients Needed
- 1 cup cucumber, chopped
- 1 cup fennel (also known as the saunf)
- 1 cup apple, chopped without the core
- 2 cups coconut water
- 1/2 avocado
- Juice from 1/2 of a lemon
- Dash of sea salt
Blend the cucumber, fennel, and apple together with all skins on. Scoop out the avocado flesh, add lemon juice and a dash of sea salt and blend again. If a cold smoothie is preferred, make sure the ingredients are cold. Ice will water down the smoothie. Pour into two glasses and get a power booster!
Cucumber Basil Sparkling Lemonade
This combination of cucumber, basil and lemons tickles all the right taste buds when a cool drink is needed! It’s perfect for guests and a good alternative to preservative filled juices.
Ingredients Needed
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest, plus 1 cup of fresh lemon juice (4 to 6 lemons)
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves (also known as tulsi leaves)
- 1 medium cucumber, thinly sliced
- 2 cups chilled sparkling water
In a small saucepan, bring the sugar, zest and 1 cup of water to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar dissolves for about 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the basil leaves. Let it cool for 30 minutes. Strain the lemon/basil syrup through a sieve into a pitcher. Add the cucumber slices and lemon juice. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours and just before serving, add sparkling water. Garnish with a sprig of basil and serve over ice.
Apoorva is a health & well being enthusiast who believes in eating fresh and eating right. She's an obsessive dancer who also enjoys an occasional yoga and boot-camp class. She is willing to spend hours hunting down a healthy but delicious smoothie!
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