The season of cucumbers just started, as they are freshest and most flavorful during the warm season when they are also grown locally. As a food, cucumbers contain a large quantity of water, just like melons, so they are a very refreshing food especially when served cooled in the fridge. You can eat cucumbers in salads, alone with yogurt topping or in combination with other vegetables and leafy greens, in healthy smoothies, or as cucumber water. But, however you like to have cucumbers, make sure to add them to your diet and enjoy them as soon as possible, as they have numerous benefits for your body.

• They protect the body against inflammation

Besides cooling your body temperature down, when it is hot outside, cucumbers are capable of adjusting the inflammatory response of the organism, reducing it and keeping the joints away from unwanted inflammatory reactions. Studies made on animal models proved that cucumber extracts can help in this direction.

• The brain is protected as well

Cucumbers have anti-oxidant substances in their composition that promote the health of the brain and keep it protected against oxidative stress. Thus, your memory will be improved and your brain will be safe against the degeneration that is triggered by advancing in age. So, if you are a student or would you learn something new easier, cucumbers are the food that will help you out.

• Cucumber water keeps you hydrated and aids weight loss

The best part about cucumbers is that they are very low in calories, so they are one of the best foods you can have if you’re looking to lose weight. Also, because during the warm season it is important to stay hydrated, an aspect that also helps in weight loss, cucumber water is an ideal alternative to plain water. It is refreshing, filled with vitamins, and easy to make, plus the benefits of cucumber water are numerous. To name a few, you should know that cucumber water hydrates and detoxifies your body, it regulates blood pressure, keeps the heart healthy, promotes a beautiful skin, curbs appetite, and it is rich in precious nutrients.

• Cucumbers keep cancer at bay

This simple and fresh food is capable of protecting your body against cancer due to the presence of certain polyphenols, known as lignans, which is believed to reduce the risks of developing prostate, uterine, breasts, and ovarian cancer. Besides this, cucumbers contain some phytonutrients that are believed to have the same anti-cancer action, so this delicious vegetable can be considered a real weapon against illnesses.

• They keep your body young and healthy

Cucumbers are potent antioxidants, so they keep your organism safe against premature aging. Beta-carotene and vitamin C are two of the most known anti-oxidants contained by cucumbers, although this type of vegetable contains others as well, like powerful flavonoids that continue the anti-oxidant action of the cucumber.

• They help you enjoy a fresh breath

Did you ever imagine that a food can actually improve the freshness of your breath? Well, cucumbers can do so. To remove the bacteria that may cause a bad odor in your mouth, simply take a slice of fresh cucumber and place it on the roof of the mouth and keep it there a while. Also, eating cucumbers will lower the temperature in your stomach, which is believed, in Ayurveda, to be the cause of unpleasant breath.

• Cucumbers promote a great digestion

Whether you are looking to lose weight or simply wish to maintain a balance in your body, then the secret is a great digestion. And cucumbers have everything they need to be a food that stimulates the digestion, as they contain water in a proportion of over 90% and fibers, which is exactly what you need. To enhance your favorite salad or juice, and make sure that you enjoy the right portion of fibers for the day, all you need to do is add cucumbers to the recipe. Also, do know that it would be recommended not to peel off the skin of the cucumbers, especially if you have a slow digestive transit. The skin of this vegetable is not just healthy, but it also contains a type of fiber that doesn’t dissolve, so it makes the stool more compact and helps it get through your digestive system faster.

• Chases stress away

There aren’t too many foods that can actually help with the reduction of stress, but cucumbers are among those foods. Due to their high content of vitamin B, more precisely B1, B5, and B7, they can prevent the appearance of anxiety and help your body manage it better if it occurs, plus it is believed that B vitamins help reduce the impact of stress on your organism.

• They help you maintain an ideal weight or lose some if you want

Can you believe that one full cup of cucumber slices has only 16 calories? Yet, cucumbers are very filling at the same time, in spite of their low-calorie content, due to the high amount of fibers they contain. These fibers turn into a sort of gel once they reach your digestive system, which makes you feel full for longer. So, if you want to have a generous salad and stay guilt-free when it comes to your silhouette, cucumbers are the best choice.

• Cucumbers promote a healthy heart

Among the minerals they contain, cucumbers are a great source of potassium, an electrolyte essential for keeping our body balanced. This particular electrolyte works by reducing blood pressure and maintaining it within normal limits. But, you need to have this electrolyte present in your body in certain quantities if you want to make sure that it will do its job right, as electrolyte deficiencies always lead to problems in the body. This is why you need to make sure that you consume fresh cucumbers as often as possible, in order to enjoy their minerals, vitamins, electrolytes, and fibers, while maintaining a low-calorie intake with every portion in which cucumbers are integrated.