Cucumber is grown all over the world and holds extraordinary health benefits for us. Each slice of cucumber provides the body with as many vitamins as it needs on a daily basis. A large proportion of these are in the peel, so care should always be taken to eat untreated cucumbers. Plus, cucumbers have only 12 calories per 100 grams, so they’re an all-around healthy snack.
Here’s what you should know about cucumber
Each slice of cucumber provides the body with as many vitamins as it needs on a daily basis. Of these, a large proportion is in the peel, so care should always be taken to eat untreated cucumbers. The cucumber season is from April to September – in Germany mainly from mid-June to September. Its flavor has a savory note – one of the reasons why it is counted as a vegetable. In terms of phylum, it is actually a berry fruit, as it belongs to the cucurbits, so it is also related to the zucchini and watermelon. There is disagreement about the origin of the cucumber. Originally, it is said to have come from northern India and reached northern Europe in the Middle Ages. Others say that the cucumber was cultivated on the southern slopes of the Himalayas 4000 years ago. Other opinions are that it came to Europe from Central Africa via Egypt. Today it is now cultivated all over the world, sometimes under glass. Turkey, Iran, Ukraine, the Netherlands, the USA, Japan and China are now the main growing areas for “the water bottle of the vegetable garden”, as the ancient Romans called the cucumber due to its enormous water content of 97%. They do well in warm and dry summer weather, being very sensitive to cold. It is best to grow them in a sunny position and in a well-drained soil, which should be rather low in organic matter. Only from female flowers cucumbers develop, and for this they need to be fertilized by the male flowers. Still this work is done by insects such as bees, but their activity is increasingly limited. Thus, there are now cultivated forms that no longer require fertilization, because they produce only female flowers. Cucumbers cannot boast a distinctive flavor of their own, but they are very refreshing and can develop wonderful aromas when processed with the right additives.
Importance for health
For health, cucumber should be regularly on the menu, because it is a great source of vitamins. In addition, the green vegetable provides the body with sufficient liquid, which at the same time helps to flush toxins from the body. As a skin care product, the cucumber is well known, especially on puffy eyes a slice of cucumber is very helpful. Its anti-inflammatory effect can also be applied to sunburns or other skin irritations. Cucumber also contains many secondary plant compounds, which, for example, kill mouth bacteria when a slice of cucumber is pressed against the roof of the mouth with the tongue for 30 seconds. At the same time, the secondary plant compounds ensure fresh breath. Just under the skin, cucumber contains antioxidants that lower or balance blood sugar levels, so they are highly recommended for diabetes. They control blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, support the natural defense against cancer and protect against cardiovascular diseases. As an alkaline food, cucumber supports the balance of the acid-base balance which ensures that the body is protected from gout and rheumatism. Its enzymes also ensure that the intestines are cleansed and bacteria in the intestines are killed. Its low calorie count is due to its high water content. This is especially beneficial in the summer when you tend to drink too little – a piece of cucumber can compensate wonderfully. Its draining function can also help with swollen feet and legs.
Ingredients and nutritional values
| Nutritional information |
Amount per 100 gram |
| Calories 16 | Fat content 0.1 g |
| Cholesterol 0 mg |
Sodium 2 mg |
| Potassium 147 mg | Carbohydrates 3.6 g |
| Protein 0,7 g |
Vitamin C 2.8 mg |
Apart from the high water content, the cucumber still contains about 4% carbohydrates, as well as small amounts of fats and proteins. As for minerals, it contains abundant calcium, manganese, potassium, iron, zinc and magnesium.Among the vitamins, the B group is particularly strongly represented, but the cucumber is also rich in vitamin E and vitamin C, which are particularly accumulated in the peel. Other ingredients are peptidases, which help to break down proteins. These enzymes help digest protein-containing products more easily, which is very important in meat and sausages, for example.
Intolerances and allergies
There are very many people who suffer from food allergies. Unfortunately, the yet so healthy cucumber is not exempt from this. The possible causes for a food intolerance are large. Often such intolerances occur as cross allergies. This means that in the case of an already existing allergy, such as to pollen for example, further allergic reactions can occur if substances with a similar protein structure are ingested as in the case of the already existing allergy. In the case of cucumber, for example, it is the mugwort pollen. So it is important, if you are allergic to pollen or house dust, to pay attention to such cross-reactions. Cucumbers should always be chewed well because they can also sometimes cause digestive problems. Flatulence can occur if eaten carelessly, so it is always beneficial to season a cucumber dish with dill, paprika powder or caraway seeds. Those who suffer from intolerances will make their cucumber dish wholesome and easily digestible in this way. However, those who have to follow a gastrointestinal diet should rather avoid cucumber dishes.
Shopping and kitchen tips
You should only buy cucumbers whose skin is nice and dark green and not already discolored into yellowish. It should also be nice and crisp and firm with no soft spots, as this indicates that they are overripe and will spoil quickly. Cucumbers are best stored at about 12 degrees Celsius, because it is a very cold-sensitive vegetable. Too much cold will quickly show sunken and watery rot. If it is exceptionally stored in the vegetable compartment of the icebox for a few days, it should never be stored next to apples or tomatoes. Since these foods emit the gas ethylene, the cucumbers quickly become soft and yellow.
Preparation tips
Especially in the warm months, cucumber is a delicious refreshment as a salad or cold soup. Then in winter and autumn they can be a delicacy as pickled cucumbers in a jar. As a warm soup with noble ingredients such as pieces of salmon, as a raw vegetable or salad, it can also be prepared excellently. Who does not know the popular cucumber salad with cream-dill dressing or vinaigrette? And after partying, you don’t need aspirin, a few pieces of cucumber help just as much. That does the electrolytes with vitamin B and sugar. A detox tip would be a smoothie for the hangover, put cucumber, mint, water and lemon in the blender for that – headache guaranteed to be gone in a minute.
