High BP? Cucumber works its magic

While there is much information available on the cucumber’s efficacy as an external aid for various health conditions, its benefits as a coolant for high blood pressure patients or as a high dietary fibre vegetable is not widely known.

Trying to get adequate dietary fibre on a daily basis is a challenge for many. Adding a crunchy cool cucumber to your salads is an especially good way to increase fibre intake because cucumber comes naturally pre-packaged with the extra fluid you need when consuming more fibre. Plus, get the added bonus of vitamin C, silica, potassium and magnesium.

The cucumber is an excellent beauty aid too. According to Allison Tannis, author of Feed your skin; starve your wrinkles, cucumbers can work their magic on the skin like no other vegetable, thanks to its high water and fibre content.

The author states that cucumbers have tonnes of skin-friendly minerals that help reduce fluid retention, while keeping the skin moist and toned. Its high water content helps to flush out toxins, giving your skin a radiant and fresh look. They also help hydrate, reduce puffiness and inflammation.

Cucumbers are rich in Vitamin C and caffeic acid, which help in combating water retention and inflamed and irritated skin.

How do you like it?

Do you peel your cucumber before slicing it or consume it with skin, in a recipe?  Well it may be a good idea to clean the cucumber really well and eat them with the peel.  This ensures that you don’t miss out on the magnesium, potassium, and fibre present in the peels.

So why are these nutrients important? They help lower your blood pressure.   High blood pressure can push fluid out of the blood and into other tissues including the skin which leaves you with a puffy inflamed face.  Lowering the blood pressure, therefore, takes care of this problem.

Silica, which is also found in the peel of cucumbers helps lighten and toughen up the skin which is loose and sagging. This is because silica makes up an important part of connective tissues.

The added attraction of cucumbers as  a ‘skin doctor’ is the fact that it is easily one of the best and stress-free vegetable, which can be consumed either in salads, soups, dishes or as a refreshing drink.

Perhaps adding this inexpensive miracle food to your diet routinely will make your skin look cool – cool as a cucumber.