Cucumbers are members of the Cucurbitaceae or gourd household, that includes melons, consisting of bitter melon, squash and pumpkins. There are over 30 types of cucumber, Cucumis sativus having the most financial worth. Cucumber is a yearly, quickly grown vine with the fruits being technically categorized as berries. The 3 primary types are categorized as slicing, pickling and seedless. Cucumber’s fruits are a significant food around the world however the peel, leaves, flowers and seeds likewise have medical residential or commercial properties. Cucumbers have a really low glycaemic index (GI) ranking and they are taken in fresh in salads, fermented as pickles or consumed as a prepared veggie.
Active components
Cucumbers consist of cucurbitacins (a class of triterpenoids), apigenin, glycosides, anti-oxidants, lignans, flavonoids, vitexin, alkaloids, tannins, saponins and phenolic substances. They are a healthy food with a high water material of 96 percent, vitamins A, B, C and K, minerals calcium, magnesium, manganese, potassium and zinc, electrolytes and fiber, however are low in calories, cholesterol and salt.
Recovery impacts
Hydration
Appropriate hydration in the body is crucial in preserving health. Cucumbers, with their high water and electrolyte material, are among the most hydrating foods offered, and this capability to rehydrate the body makes up a crucial health-promoting home.
Heart disease
Swelling and oxidation play a crucial function in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular conditions consisting of high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, persistent heart problem and persistent kidney failure, and angiotensin II is thought about a significant source of both swelling and oxidative tension. An intriguing in vitro research study was done on cucumbers which discovered that this food considerably downregulated the inflammatory and oxidative impacts of angiotensin II, possibly showing cucumber as an exceptional food for cardiovascular and kidney defense.
Intestinal
Cucumbers have actually revealed several favorable results on gut function, consisting of minimizing irregularity through its rehydrating residential or commercial property and fiber material, antiulcer activity in ulcerative colitis, anthelmintic activity, especially versus tapeworms and pinworms, and antidiarrhoeal. Research studies have actually likewise revealed antiulcer activity of the fruit, seeds and delegates be comparable to the drug ranitidine.
Endocrine
Cucumber, specifically the peel, has actually been revealed to have a glucose-regulating function. While more research studies require to be done, the cucurbitacins are understood for their cardiovascular and antidiabetic activities.
Bone health
The vitamin K material of cucumbers with the peel materials over 20 percent of the day-to-day requirements for vitamin K, a primary nutrient needed for bone development.
Antioxidant
A research study was performed to identify the antioxidant levels of cucumber and its effect in healthy topics over the age of 60. Blood test results revealed that plasma glutathione peroxidase activity, vitamin C and overall phenolics were substantially increased, while uric acid and the DNA injury rate of blood mononuclear cells reduced, all favorable steps of increased antioxidant levels.
Topical usage
Fresh cucumber juice relieves skin inflammations, decreases swelling, stops itching and decreases the discomfort of sunburn. In skin health, cucumber minimizes hyperpigmentation and has quantifiable antiwrinkle and anti-ageing activity, with the anti-hyaluronidase and anti-elastase activities having excellent possible for cosmetic usage.
Cares and contraindications
For optimum advantage, consume the entire cucumber consisting of the peel and seeds. Guarantee you just consume cucumbers you understand are edible, as some ranges have high levels of cucurbitacins which can be poisonous. Individuals taking blood slimmers such as warfarin will require to be cautious consuming a lot of cucumbers due to the high vitamin K material.
Dr Karen Bridgman is a holistic specialist at Lotus Health and Lotus Dental in Neutral Bay.