5 Amazing Health Benefits Of Cucumber

Cucumber is a widely cultivated plant that belongs to Cucrubitaceae family, and was first cultivated in parts of Southern Asia. There are 3 main varieties of cucumber- slicing, pickling and burpless. Being an excellent source of essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients and polyphenols etc, cucumber provides several health and beauty benefits.

# Provides Relief From Constipation

The laxative properties of the dietar fibers in cucumbers improves our bowel movement, ensures smooth elimination of stool from the system and thus provides relief from constipation and other gastrointestinal problems like abdominal pain, gas, bloating, indigestion, flatulence and irritable bowel syndrome etc.

Vitamin C, vitamin A and other antioxidantal compounds like phytonutrients and polyphenols in cucumber protects the digestive system from free radical damage, and thus minimizes the risk of several cancers like colon cancer, abdominal cancer, pancreatic cancer and intestinal cancer etc.

# Regulates Blood Pressure

Eating 1 cup of cucumber provides 440 mg of potassium.Potassium is a natural vasodilator that relaxes our blood vessels, improves blood circulation and thus provides relief from hypertension or high blood pressure.

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a silent killer that affects millions of people around the world, and is a leading cause of several cardiovascular and other health problems like heart attack, heart stroke, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, blurred vision, blood in urine etc.

# Cucumber Helps In Managing Diabetes

Cucumber is good for people with diabetes and for those who are at the risk of developing diabetes. It has a low glycemic index of 15 and releases sugar into the bloodstream at a slow pace and thus helps in managing diabetes.

Dietary fibers in cucumber slows down the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream and thus regulates blood sugar level.It also contains a hormone which is required by the beta cells during insulin production.

# Helps With Body Functions

Cucumber is a natural diuretic that increases the frequency and flow of the urination, and helps in proper elimination of excess fluids, mineral salts, toxins and other unwanted substances out of the body. It minimizes the risk of urinary tract infections and improves functions of urinary bladder, kidneys, liver and pancreas.

The detoxifying properties of dietary fibers in cucumber eliminates toxins, pollutants and other unwanted substances from the body.

# Prevents Dehydration

Water plays an important role in keeping us healthy as it is needed for various functions in the body. Our body is made up of 70 percent water, and for some organs like lungs and liver are more than 80 percent water.

To live healthy, it is important to maintain the right fluid balance and lack of it can increase the risk of dehydration. Some symptoms of dehydration includes dry mouth, lethargy, muscle weakness, headache, dizziness, sunken eyes, dry skin, increased heart rate, and low blood pressure etc.