Cucumbers are pretty amazing! Nutrient dense and budget friendly, these guys will give both your body and your wallet a boost. I started infusing my water with cucumbers (along with other whole foods like melons, strawberries, and basil), and I just love how it tastes. This infused water has been a hit with both kids and adults when I’ve shared it at events. Don’t underestimate these refreshing green members of the gourd family. With only 16 calories in a whole cucumber, cukes have a lot to offer. 1. They contain many of the vitamins and minerals we need everyday. Cucumbers are nutrient dense, meaning, that with a few calories they can really pack in a lot of good stuff. They contain Vitamins A, C, K, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, B6, Pantothenic Acid, Folate, Choline, Betaine. And minerals – Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Potassium, Selenium, and Zinc, just to name a few. Vitamin K supports bone health, and the Potassium and Magnesium supports heart and muscular health. 2. They are hydrating. Cucumbers are about 95% water, so munch on cucumbers and you’ll get the hydration you need along with all those vitamins and minerals! Planning on having some drinks and want to avoid a hangover? Hydration is important in helping the body eliminate waste. Eat some cucumber slices before going to bed. This will help replenish lost nutrients and keep your body in balance. You can also flavor your water with cucumbers. Infusing water is a great way to stay hydrated. Many people tell me they don’t like to drink water, but when they taste my infused water, they say that they would drink more water if their water tasted like the infused water. Put a few slices of cucumbers in your water bottle or keep a pitcher of infused water in your fridge. 3. They are energizing. Need a little pick-me-up in the afternoon? Instead of reaching for a coffee or caffeinated soda, eat a cucumber. Cucumbers were once used by European explorers for a quick meal to ward off starvation. With all those B vitamins, cucumbers can help give you the energy you need to make it through the rest of the day. 4. Phytonutrients in cucumbers provide protective benefits like preventing cancer, fighting inflammation and repairing free-radical damage. Phytonutrients, also called phytochemicals, are natural chemicals made from plants that give plants their beautiful colors. They are different from vitamins and minerals, which are essential for life. While phytonutrients are not necessary for keeping us alive, when we consume them as part of our diet, they can help protect us from diseases and help maintain proper functioning of the body. Many phytonutrients in cucumbers have been shown to have antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties, and can also protect the brain from Alzheimers. 5. Cucumbers soothe the skin and relax the mind. Ever see people relaxing with cucumber slices over their eyes? When used topically, cucumbers can cool and soothe the skin, which helps alleviate swelling or puffiness of the eyes. Cucumbers can also be used to help soothe sunburns. Not only are cucumbers great for the skin, their aroma is also soothing and relaxing and can help reduce stress. Feeling stressed out but no time for a visit to the spa? Boil a pot of water and place some sliced cucumbers in the pot. Breathe in the steam for a quick home spa treatment. Steam fogging up your bathroom mirror? Rub a cucumber slice on the mirror to eliminate the fog. It will also provide a soothing spa-like fragrance in your bathroom. 6. They can freshen your breath. Did you just have some garlic at lunch but you don’t have gum or mints? Have a slice of cucumber instead! Put on your tongue and press it to the roof of your mouth and hold it there for about 30 seconds, and viola! Fresh breath! The phytonutrients in the cucumber kills the bacteria in your mouth that causes bad breath. 7. Use them as a natural pesticide. Are grubs and slugs causing damage to your vegetable garden? Put a few slices of cucumber in an aluminum pie tin and place it near your plant bed. The cucumber has a reaction with the aluminum that gives off a scent that is despised by garden pests yet is undetectable by people. Cucumbers are pretty amazing! Nutrient dense and budget friendly, these guys will give both your body and your wallet a boost. I started infusing my water with cucumbers (along with other whole foods like melons, strawberries, and basil), and I just love how it tastes. This infused water has been a hit with both kids and adults when I’ve shared it at events. Don’t underestimate these refreshing green members of the gourd family. With only 16 calories in a whole cucumber, cukes have a lot to offer. 1. They contain many of the vitamins and minerals we need everyday. Cucumbers are nutrient dense, meaning, that with a few calories they can really pack in a lot of good stuff. They contain Vitamins A, C, K, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, B6, Pantothenic Acid, Folate, Choline, Betaine. And minerals – Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Potassium, Selenium, and Zinc, just to name a few. Vitamin K supports bone health, and the Potassium and Magnesium supports heart and muscular health. 2. They are hydrating. Cucumbers are about 95% water, so munch on cucumbers and you’ll get the hydration you need along with all those vitamins and minerals! Planning on having some drinks and want to avoid a hangover? Hydration is important in helping the body eliminate waste. Eat some cucumber slices before going to bed. This will help replenish lost nutrients and keep your body in balance. You can also flavor your water with cucumbers. Infusing water is a great way to stay hydrated. Many people tell me they don’t like to drink water, but when they taste my infused water, they say that they would drink more water if their water tasted like the infused water. Put a few slices of cucumbers in your water bottle or keep a pitcher of infused water in your fridge. 3. They are energizing. Need a little pick-me-up in the afternoon? Instead of reaching for a coffee or caffeinated soda, eat a cucumber. Cucumbers were once used by European explorers for a quick meal to ward off starvation. With all those B vitamins, cucumbers can help give you the energy you need to make it through the rest of the day. 4. Phytonutrients in cucumbers provide protective benefits like preventing cancer, fighting inflammation and repairing free-radical damage. Phytonutrients, also called phytochemicals, are natural chemicals made from plants that give plants their beautiful colors. They are different from vitamins and minerals, which are essential for life. While phytonutrients are not necessary for keeping us alive, when we consume them as part of our diet, they can help protect us from diseases and help maintain proper functioning of the body. Many phytonutrients in cucumbers have been shown to have antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties, and can also protect the brain from Alzheimers. 5. Cucumbers soothe the skin and relax the mind. Ever see people relaxing with cucumber slices over their eyes? When used topically, cucumbers can cool and soothe the skin, which helps alleviate swelling or puffiness of the eyes. Cucumbers can also be used to help soothe sunburns. Not only are cucumbers great for the skin, their aroma is also soothing and relaxing and can help reduce stress. Feeling stressed out but no time for a visit to the spa? Boil a pot of water and place some sliced cucumbers in the pot. Breathe in the steam for a quick home spa treatment. Steam fogging up your bathroom mirror? Rub a cucumber slice on the mirror to eliminate the fog. It will also provide a soothing spa-like fragrance in your bathroom. 6. They can freshen your breath. Did you just have some garlic at lunch but you don’t have gum or mints? Have a slice of cucumber instead! Put on your tongue and press it to the roof of your mouth and hold it there for about 30 seconds, and viola! Fresh breath! The phytonutrients in the cucumber kills the bacteria in your mouth that causes bad breath. 7. Use them as a natural pesticide. Are grubs and slugs causing damage to your vegetable garden? Put a few slices of cucumber in an aluminum pie tin and place it near your plant bed. The cucumber has a reaction with the aluminum that gives off a scent that is despised by garden pests yet is undetectable by people. 
