The cucumber is a creeping vine that roots in the ground and grows up trellises or other supporting frames, wrapping around supports with thin, spiraling tendrils. Cucumbers are scientifically known as Cucumis sativus and belong to the same botanical family as melons.
Cucumbers are grown for eating fresh or preserving as pickles. They mature quickly and are best suited to larger gardens. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.
Benefits of Cucumbers
Cucumbers are easy to grow if you give them good soil, full sun and sufficient moisture, and wait for weather to warm before planting. Cucumbers widely cultivated food provides us with a unique combination of nutrients. Here is a short list of the impressive health benefits that a cucumber carries:
- Promotes digestion
- Relieves joint pain (arthritis/gout)
- Reduces cholesterol
- Aids in weightloss
- Fights cancer
- Rehydrates and remineralizes the body
- Prevents headaches
- High silica content for silky hair
- Cures diabetes
- Controls blood pressure
Cucumber, with peel, raw
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
- Energy : 65 kJ (16 kcal)
- Carbohydrates : 3.63 g
- Sugars : 1.67
- Dietary fiber : 0.5 g
- Fat : 0.11 g
- Protein : 0.65 g
- Water : 95.23
- Thiamine (vit. B1) : 0.027 mg (2%)
- Riboflavin (vit. B2) : 0.033 mg (3%)
- Niacin (vit. B3) : 0.098 mg (1%)
- Pantothenic acid (B5) : 0.259 mg (5%)
- Vitamin B6 : 0.04 mg (3%)
- Folate (vit. B9) : 7 μg (2%)
- Vitamin C : 2.8 mg (3%)
- Vitamin K : 16.4 μg (16%)
- Calcium : 16 mg (2%)
- Iron : 0.28 mg (2%)
- Magnesium : 13 mg (4%)
- Manganese : 0.079 mg (4%)
- Phosphorus : 24 mg (3%)
- Potassium : 147 mg (3%)
- Sodium : 2 mg (0%)
- Zinc : 0.2 mg (2%)
- Fluoride : 1.3 µg
Cucumbers can be sauteed and served warm with a little chopped dill as a side dish. Besides, cucumber can be eaten directly just like ordinary fruits. For daily nutrition, you also can try lemon water.
