7 Incredible Benefits of Cucumber Juice

Did you know that cucumber, commonly thought by many as a vegetable, is actually a fruit? With its watery and refreshing taste, cucumber is best eaten raw or part of your salad. Aside from making it part of your delicacies, its promising phytonutrient properties are becoming known nowadays.

Cucumbers contain flavonoids, lignans, and triterpenes which serve different functions once taken by the body. The following are the 7 incredible benefits of a cucumber juice that you might not know yet.

It’s high in nutrients

Cucumbers are low in calories but high in nutritional content. With an average-sized cucumber made into juice, you can get about 4 percent of your daily potassium, 3 percent of your daily fiber and 4 percent of your daily vitamin C. It also provides small amounts of vitamin K, vitamin C, magnesium, manganese, folate and vitamin A. Surely you will get it from a glass of cucumber juice only.

It contains antioxidants

Antioxidants are agents that block the oxidation of highly reactive oxygen species forming free radicals that damage your cell integrity and genetic makeup causing development of chronic diseases like cancer. Cucumber contains essential antioxidants such as flavonoids and tannins that prevent the formation of free radicals. Several studies have proved the high level of antioxidant content in cucumbers.

It promotes hydration

Cucumbers are composed of 96% water. Our daily water intake does not solely involve the water that we drink, 40% of it also comes from the food we eat. One way of exhausting this 40% compartment of our hydration is by consuming cucumber. Studies have shown that eating cucumber improves hydration status of several children.

It is best for your weight loss

As mentioned, cucumber is a low-calorie food. It has very minimal carbohydrate, no fat, cholesterol, and protein –thus making it very appropriate for your weight loss program. Instead, this food is high in fiber and gives you a feeling of early satiety, thus suppressing your hunger.

It helps lower you blood glucose

Cucumbers have low glycemic index. This means that it provides you with a wide array of nutrients without giving you additional blood glucose. Phytochemical studies have obtained also the presence of cucurbitacins that help regulate the release of insulin from the pancreas, and controls metabolism of hepatic glycogen by gluconeogenesis therefore decreasing circulating blood glucose.

It promotes good bowel regularity

Cucumbers are high in fiber and fibers are non-absorbable plant carbohydrate. These fibers sweep off the colon contents leaving it healthy and clean. This is also one of the best options to combat constipation.

It’s best for your heart

American Heart Association (AHA) recommends consuming more fiber to help manage your cholesterol. A 142-g cup of unpeeled cucumber also provides 193 mg of potassium and 17 mg of magnesium. Reducing sodium intake and increasing potassium intake may help prevent high blood pressure. Additionally, the cucurbitacins in cucumber may also help prevent formation of atherosclerosis.

Now go prepare that cucumber juice and enjoy its fruity goodness.