14 Health Benefits of Cucumbers (And a Few Refreshing Recipes)

Crunchy, refreshing, and easy to eat, the cucumber is a delicious and nutritious veggie! The health benefits of cucumbers can make quite an impact if you eat them regularly.

Cucumbers are packed with antioxidants and a wide variety of vitamins, making them a super healthy addition to your diet. Plus, it’s the best way to give yourself a perfect crunchy snack that’s low in calories!

From promoting healthy skin to improving your memory, check out the top 14 health benefits of cucumbers below.

And if you’re lucky enough to have a load from your garden or farmers market on hand, you’ll definitely want to check out some of our favorite cucumber recipes too!

The Health Benefits of Cucumbers

1. Promote Hydration

This is one of the best benefits of cucumbers! They are a great way to keep hydrated and improve water intake on a hot day, as they are made up of 95 percent water.

Cucumbers also contain anti-inflammatory compounds to help remove body waste and reduce skin irritation.

Due to their high water content, they also make for a great juice or smoothie ingredient. Some refer to the cucumber as one of nature’s most hydrating foods!

2. Improve Memory

Cucumbers contain an anti-inflammatory flavonol called fisetin, which plays a significant role in brain health. Fisetin helps protect brain neurons from aging, along with the effects that come with it—including weakened memory.

And while fisetin is found in other vegetables, cucumbers, in particular, contain a more concentrated amount.

Due to this, cucumbers have been cited to improve memory and help prevent memory loss.

3. Aid in Weight Loss

When it comes to weight loss, calories are important. And thanks to only 16 calories per one-cup serving, cucumbers are a great food to aid in weight loss! They can fill you up without adding many calories to your day.

They also contain loads of essential vitamins to give your body a healthy dose of nutrients which is key for losing weight in a healthy way.

Related: 6 Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar and How To Use It

4. Improve Digestive Health

Any vegetable high in water content will be able to promote healthy digestion by keeping you hydrated. Cucumber skin contains insoluble fiber which helps to add bulk to your bowel movements and aid in the clean-out process. 

If you can ferment cucumbers at home to make pickles, you’re even more likely to improve your gut health! Cucumber pickles contain even more probiotic bacteria that help aid digestion.

(Side note: At-home fermentation gives you more probiotic bacteria than the cucumber pickles you find in the grocery store!)

5. Reduce Blood Sugar Levels

Cucumbers have been shown to be especially beneficial for diabetics as they’ve been shown to reduce blood sugar levels.

Cucumbers have a low glycemic index, and their fiber content also slows down the digestion of carbohydrates and sugars which can reduce blood sugar levels.

6. Provide Anti-Cancer Benefits

Eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables is one of the best things you can do to stay healthy and reduce your risk of cancer. Cucumbers contain high amounts of Cucurbitacin B (CuB), which is a naturally occurring plant compound that may have an effect on cancer cells.

Specifically, it is thought to help fight liver, breast, lung, and prostate cancer.

7. Reduce Inflammation

Inflammation in the body can lead to a whole host of problems. But thankfully there are plenty of foods that can combat inflammation, namely cucumbers.

This is due to the presence of phytonutrients such as flavonoids, lignanes, and triterpenes, which offer anti-inflammatory benefits.

Related: Juicing Recipes and Tips For Beginners

8. Promote Healthy Skin

There’s a reason why every spa seems to have cucumbers on hand. Not only does cucumber water make for a super refreshing that can promote relaxation, but cucumbers also have amazing skin benefits when applied topically. 

Cucumbers, most popularly placed on the eyelids, apply a cooling effect to the area and ease facial swelling – cool as a cucumber, right?

Cucumbers can also serve as a great way to soothe skin irritations and ease pain from sunburn!

9. Diminish Bad Breath

No one enjoys a case of bad breath! Instead of reaching for a piece of gum, you can actually grab a slice of cucumber.

Cucumbers’ high water concentration prevents dry mouth and the crunchy texture can help eliminate odor-causing bacteria by removing food particles and plaque and stimulating saliva production.

10. Lower Blood Pressure

High blood pressure? Say hello to another one of the convenient health benefits of cucumbers!

Of course, cucumbers alone aren’t going to lower your blood pressure single-handedly, but as a part of a healthy overall diet, they can aid in lowering blood pressure in large part due to their potassium content.

One large cucumber contains 442mg of potassium which is an essential mineral for regulating blood pressure.

11. Provide Heartburn Relief

There’s no question: heartburn is a pain. Whether it’s brought on by some late-night pepperoni pizza or the joys of pregnancy, finding relief while it’s happening is a top priority. 

Heartburn happens due to acid from the stomach reaching into the esophagus and throat, which causes that fiery burn.

Instead of reaching for a Tums, however, cucumber can be a great preventative and reliever. Cucumbers contain enzymes that clean the intestine by killing bacteria and help neutralize acid in the body.

12. Help Maintain Healthy Hair & Nails

Healthy, glowing hair and strong nails are a goal for many of us. But with age, they can be more difficult to come by. 

Silica and vitamin C, found in cucumbers, help promote collagen production, which is essential for maintaining healthy hair and nails.

Just make sure not to peel off the skin of a cucumber, which is where most of the silica, as well as various other nutrients, are found.

13. Combat Stress

Cucumbers contain essential B vitamins, which may help reduce stress.

Eating a healthy diet, which includes cucumbers, is key to managing stress levels! Not to mention, the crunchiness of this particular veggie can be a great choice for anxiety-prone times.

14. Improve Bone Health

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin known for its crucial role in blood clotting and maintaining strong bone health.

It is also thought to have great anti-aging benefits, including the prevention of osteoporosis and bone fractures, especially in postmenopausal women.

Just one cup of cucumber slices contains 22 percent of your daily value of vitamin K! A diet rich in vitamin K is an effective way to improve bone density and promote healthy aging.

Try These Healthy, Refreshing Cucumber Recipes

So who’s ready to dive into some cucumber recipes? Now that we know about the amazing health benefits of cucumbers, it’s time to incorporate them into our diet!

Of course, we have no opposition to eating them all by themselves, but when you’re looking for something with a little more pizazz, these recipes bring out the best that cucumbers have to offer:

1. Cucumber Water

Adding cucumber to your water is one of the easiest and tastiest ways to get them in your day! You might also enjoy cucumber juice or these healthy water infusion recipes.

2. Beet Salad with Cucumber, Mint, and Feta

For a fun spin on cucumbers, try spiralizing them in this tasty salad recipe! It’s a delicious way to get your cucumber fix and reap all the health benefits.

3. Cucumber Lemonade Fizz Cocktail

This refreshing drink is a great way to use up your fresh cucumbers lying around. Plus, it’s packed with flavor due to the fresh lemon juice, mint, and rosemary.

4. Low-Carb Pesto and Turkey Cucumber Roll-Ups

This turkey cucumber roll-up recipe involves cutting cucumbers lengthwise into thin rectangular shapes and stuffing them with hummus, turkey, arugula, and more. It’s a great healthy snack or light lunch.

5. Greek Turkey Pitas

This Greek turkey pita recipe is perfect for lunch or dinner and will send your mouth straight to Greece.

These flavorful turkey burgers are served in toasted pita bread and the herbs and zippy cucumber yogurt dressing really make this dish amazing.

6. Cucumber Mint Smoothie

Cucumber and mint are a delicious flavor combo and this smoothie recipe is packed with fruits and veggies. Plus, it’s vegan, dairy-free, and one you’ll want to make again and again!

7. Quick Pickled Cucumbers and Onions

These pickled cumbers are delicious on their own but also make a great addition to salads and These pickled cumbers are delicious on their own but also make a great addition to salads and sandwiches.

These are something I keep on hand all summer long! Get this recipe from the kitchen of Street Smart Nutrition.

8. Additional Cucumber Snack Ideas:

Try one of these for a healthy snack with the refreshing taste of cucumber:

• Cucumber Sandwiches: Simply slice cucumbers and place them between whole wheat sandwich bread. Spread your favorite yogurt-based sauce (we love Trader Joe’s Cilantro and Chive Yogurt Dip!) for a delicious and easy concoction.
• Cucumber Bruschetta: Transform cucumbers into a fun bruschetta by cutting them into 1/4-inch thick circles and top with fresh feta or goat cheese, tomatoes, basil, balsamic, or anything your taste buds are craving!

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