Do you like the taste of crunchy cucumbers? If you find cucumbers tasty, you should include them as a regular part of your diet. Cucumbers can do wonders for your health. Here are several reasons why you should eat cucumbers regularly:
Low In Calories
Cucumbers do not contain many calories. They do contain some carbs, however. A whole medium-sized cucumber contains around 30 calories in total. If you are trying to limit your calorie intake to lose weight, consider eating cucumbers. They contain significant amounts of fiber and water, so eating cucumbers can make you feel full even though you have not consumed many calories at all. Cucumbers are an excellent food choice for anyone on a weight loss diet. Try them in my delicious Greek Village salad recipe.
Great For Hydration
Cucumbers are full of water. If you are one of those individuals who struggle to drink enough plain water, a big bowl of cucumber slices can provide you with extra hydration. Staying well hydrated helps your organs to work more efficiently since it’s easier for your cells to get the nutrients they need. This is the reason in my Tzatziki recipe, that I ask you to salt and leave the cucumber to extract all its juices; you do not want the juicy cucumber water to be in the recipe as it will make the Tzatziki runny, instead of thick and creamy.
A Nutrition Boost
Cucumbers contain vitamin K, vitamin C, and B vitamins. They are also a great source of phosphorus, copper, magnesium, and potassium. Cucumbers pack quite a nutritional punch considering they are so low in calories. Eating them can help your body get vital nutrients needed for optimal functioning.
Packed With Antioxidants
Cucumbers are packed with antioxidants, too. The antioxidants in cucumbers include beta-carotene, vitamin C, manganese, triterpenes, flavonoids, and lignans. Antioxidants help to protect the body from free radical damage. Free radical damage is associated with health conditions such as cancer and heart disease.
Full of Fiber
Do you ever get constipated, bloated, and gassy? If so, you should eat cucumbers. Cucumbers are full of fiber and water. Eating them will help keep your bowels regular. Life is a little less inconvenient and painful when you are not constipated.
Versatile and Easy to Eat
Many people like to add cucumbers to salads. Some people enjoy eating a simple bowl of cucumber on its own. Did you know that you can also roast or stir-fry cucumbers? Cucumbers are a key ingredient in delicious Greek tzatziki sauce, too. It is astonishing how divine cucumber tastes when combined with yogurt, raw garlic, oregano, and olive oil.
If you want to access recipes that call for cucumber, look online. The Internet has many great cucumber recipes, so you are sure to find one you would like to try.
Which Cucumbers Are Best?
Cucumbers come in all different sizes. Large cucumbers are very juicy because they contain lots of water and seeds. Smaller cucumbers are less juicy and more flavorful. Choose whatever type of cucumber you fancy eating. I personally love the small mini-cucumbers, or sometimes they are called Persian cucumbers.
Mini or Persian cucumbers
These small cucumbers are prevalent throughout the Middle East. If these are not available then I eat the English cucumbers, sometimes referred to as burpless cucumbers.
English cucumbers
But under no circumstance, will you ever find me eating the American slicer cucumbers. They are tasteless and full of seeds that make this very unappealing to me.
Slicer cucumber
If you can afford it, purchase organic cucumbers because they are the healthiest. Always wash cucumbers thoroughly before eating them. Washing is especially needed if your cucumbers are not organic. It will help to remove any traces of pesticide.
Where to Buy Your Cucumbers
If you can grow your own cucumbers, do so. Home-grown cucumbers are particularly delicious. Farmer’s markets and WholeFood stores also sell yummy cucumbers. If you generally shop in an ordinary supermarket, look for organic cucumbers.
Enjoy Your Cucumbers
Do you feel like eating some cucumber now? Ideally, what you have read about cucumbers will inspire you to eat them more often and explore different methods of preparing them. Everybody who enjoys the taste of cucumbers should eat them often for health reasons.
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