As cool as a cucumber
What better way to pamper yourself on a hot summer’s day than to lie on your bed with a facemask and two cucumbers over your eyes. Doesn’t it already sound so relaxing? Have you ever wondered why cucumbers are so refreshing on a scorching sunny day? They have an exceptionally high water content of about 96.4 per cent. The old saying “as cool as a cucumber” is actually true. They tend to have a cooling effect on our blood. Cucumbers are used in various beauty products but more importantly they are extremely nutritious as well.
Kheera ka raita is one of my favourites. I often slice them, add some rock salt and eat them. You could also chop them into fine pieces and make a salad with some chopped carrots, tomato and lettuce. This salad can also be mixed with some roasted mumra to which you could add some green chutney and date chutney making a tasty bhel.
The cucumber flesh is primarily composed of water but also contains vitamin C which is good for your skin and helps in the absorption of iron and protein. Its hard skin is rich in dietary fibre, making it a natural laxative. Cucumbers are also a digestive aid. Their skin is rich in minerals such as silica, magnesium and potassium. Silica is an essential component of your connective tissue, which includes the muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and bone. It helps improve the complexion of your skin. A cucumber’s potassium and magnesium content makes it beneficial in regulating blood pressure. Magnesium helps to relax the nerves.
Cucumbers are also great kidney cleansers as they help to wash away the stones and debris from the kidney and bladder. Finally, they are low in calories and sugar content.
The writer is a Mumbai-based nutritionist
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