KINGSTON-BASED NUTRITIONIST Donavon Grant says "cucumber is a very wonderful vegetable which is usually highly underrated.
"The cucumber is a common ingredient of salads valued mainly for its crisp texture and juiciness. However, it is underrated for both its nutritional as well as medicinal properties."
Cucumbers are scientifically known as Cucumis sativus and belong to the same family as pumpkin, zucchini, watermelon and other types of squash.
Varieties of cucumber are grown either to be eaten fresh or to be pickled. According to Donavon Grant, the vegetable contains more than 95 per cent organic water.
"This is water that is very compatible with the body, unlike water from the pipe. The juice also has a cooling effect on the body, hence our cucumber cooler juice for the stomach.
"Juice from the plant also has a good amount of minerals which nourish the cells of the body. Cucumber juice can also be used internally in the treatment of skin blemishes, including acne," said Grant. Cucumber is also used externally for the treatment of burns and sores. Cucumber slices can be placed on the eyelids to refresh tired eyes. The juice, as well as the pulp, also has good detoxifying and purgative properties. Studies have also shown that the leaves of cucumber have been used to make a tea for lowering blood pressure in Clarendon.
Blood pressure
In the United States, when people who participated in the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) Study added foods high in potassium, magnesium and fibre to their diet, their blood pressure dropped to healthier levels. Those people in the study who ate a diet rich in these compounds in addition to the other foods on this diet (low- fat dairy foods, seafood, lean meat and poultry) lowered their blood pressure by 5.5 points (systolic) over 3.0 points (diastolic).
It is noted that while the flesh of cucumbers is primarily composed of water, it also contains ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and caffeic acid, both of which help soothe skin irritations and reduce swelling. Cucumbers' hard skin is rich in fibres and contains a variety of beneficial minerals including silicon, potassium and magnesium.
The silica in cucumber is an essential component of healthy connective tissue, which includes intracellular cement, muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and bone.
Silicon
Cucumber juice is often recommended as a source of silicon to improve the complexion and health of the skin, plus cucumber's high water content makes it naturally hydrating a must for glowing skin.
Cucumbers are also used topically for various types of skin problems, including swelling under the eyes and sunburn. Two compounds in cucumbers, ascorbic acid and caffeic acid, prevent water retention, which may explain why cucumbers applied topically are often helpful for swollen eyes, burns and dermatitis.
If you are trying to get adequate dietary fibre on a daily basis adding a crunchy cool cucumber to your salads is an especially good do it. Plus, you get the added bonus of vitamin C, silicon, potassium and magnesium.
Grant notes that cucumber is an excellent diuretic. These are substances which help to remove excess water from the body and also help to clean the kidney and the bladder.
Cucumber has a cleansing action within the body by removing accumulated pockets of old waste material and chemical toxins. It might help in the treatment of arthritis since it helps eliminate uric acid. Cucumber's poor content in calories makes it the perfect food for diet.
The nutritionist notes that some people do not digest cucumber very well. This might be due to the high cellulose content. The advice to this individual is to prepare the cucumber a few hours before serving. Cut them into small pieces and sprinkle them with sea salt. Let them stand for at least an hour in the refrigerator. You can also peel them.
In addition, because of how cucumber is digested in the body, it is better to take cucumber before noon. If this does not help, it perhaps would be wise for these people to avoid eating cucumber.
Grant notes that in his classes he uses cucumber blended in coconut water to reduce high blood pressure. If there is no problem of digestion, cucumber should be added in some form at least once a day to the diet.
Information Sources; Nutritionist Donovon Grant at Eden Gardens, Kingston, www.dietobio.com and ww.whfoods.com.
