CUCUMBER HEALTH BENEFITS

Cucumber, it is a poicpular vegetable cultivated in large scale. Botanically it is known as Curcumic sativus belongs the family cucurbitaceae. Commonly cucumber and in sanskrit sukasa

Originally in India it was known to Egypt, Greek, Roman and China from the ancient time. Now it is cultivated allover the world

It is diuretic, laxative, electrolyte, cooling, nutritive, demulcent, tonic, refreshing, aromatic It contains protein, small amount of fat, fibre, minerals, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, iron, Vit. C, Vit. Bcomplex

MEDICINAL USES 

1. Constipation- Laxative in nature , it corrects costipation. Two cucumbers per day is advised for removing habitual constipation. 

2. Peptic ulcer- For stomach disorders , the juice is a useful vegetable as it corrects acidity, gastric  and duodenal ulcers. A cup of fresh juice 3-4 times daily is helpful. It gives immediate relief in burning sensation of stomach

3. Rheumatism-In rheumatic problems its juice along with the juice of carrot and beet brings relief as it washes out uric acid  decomposition in arthritis , gout, etc

4. Urinary- In urinary disorders cucumber is very beneficial. It increases the flow of urine and useful in dissolving the gravel in urinary tract and have urine acidity reduced.

5. Nausea and cholera- It immediately stops nausea and vomiting . A glassful fresh juice mixed with coconut water given one cup hourly controls cholera . It is a wonderful remedy for electrolyte imbalance in case of dehydration
6. Skin- It can be used for skin irritations and sunburns. Place a slice over puffy eyes and its anti inflammatory properties help reduce puffiness. The silicon and sulphur in cucumbers help to stimulate hair growth. It is also an effective blood cleanser  hence good for acne, and general health of skin
7. Cancer-Cucumber are known to contain lariciresinol, pinoresinol and secoisolariciresinol. These three ligans have a strong history of research in connection with reduced risk of several cancer types including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, utrine cancer and prostate cancer
8. Relieves bad breath- Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds, the phytochemicals will kill the bacteria in mouth responsible for causing bad breath.
9.Hangover cure-To avoid a morning hangover or headache , eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, Vit. B, and electrolytes to replenish many essential nutrients, reducing the intensity of both hangover and headache
10. Cures diabetes, reduces cholesterol and controls blood pressure-Cucumber juice contains a hormone which is needed by the cells of the pancreas for producing insulin which has been found to be beneficial  to diabetic patients. The compound called sterols in cucumbers may help reduce cholesterol levels. Cucumbers contain a lot of potassium , magnesium and fibre. These work effectively for regulating blood pressure. This makes cucumbers good for treating both low and high blood pressure.
11. Aids in weight loss and digestion- Due to its high calorie and high water content cucumber is an ideal diet for people who are looking for weight loss. The high water content and dietary fibres in cucumber are very effective in ridding the body of toxins from the digestive system aiding digestion. Daily consumption of cucumbers can be regarded as a remedy for chronic constipation
12. Retention of urine- Seeds of cucumber 10 gm mixed with sour gruel and salt should be taken. It removes severe retention of urine