Most of us have our own opinions about cucumbers, often thinking that they are tasteless, boring and somewhat useless. But even though it tastes mild, cucumber is anything but boring and there are many really good reasons to eat it.
To begin with, cucumber is disguised as a vegetable, but it is actually a fruit. That’s interesting, isn’t it? More than that, cucumber has a surprising amount of nutrition, both in the flesh and the skin. Cucumber also has no fat, very few calories and a lot of water, which makes it great for maintaining proper hydration and supporting weight loss.
So, if you’ve left out cucumber because you think it doesn’t make sense, it’s time to reconsider. Eating cucumber every day is very good for you, inside and out. Cucumber can even provide some protection against cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
Here are all the positive body changes you can expect when you start eating a cucumber every day. You’re going to love #3, but you may secretly appreciate #6 most of all!
1. Protection from disease
Cucumbers contain a large amount of antioxidants, which are molecules that can prevent oxidative damage in the body. They bind to and neutralize unpaired electrons called free radicals to protect you from problems such as chronic disease and premature aging. In fact, free radical damage has a strong association with heart and lung problems, cancer, and autoimmune diseases.
When you eat cucumber daily, you’re increasing your intake of antioxidants, especially the powerful variety of flavonoids and tannins. Research supplementing the diets of 30 older adults with cucumber powder revealed that for each participant, the level of antioxidant activity improved significantly from baseline.
