Cucumbers are so much more than just a salad ingredient. They are technically fruits, but used as vegetables. Our day actually begins by juicing cucumber as one of the ingredients in our go-to juice recipe.

Cucumbers have a long and storied history: they’ve appeared in the legend of Gilgamesh, the Bible, and the writings of Pliny the Elder! Three thousand years of cultivation can’t be wrong. It’s easy to bring more Cucumber into your modern diet.

Besides being a heavily documented ancient fruit, cucumber has many amazing health benefits.

Cucumber has a high water content, making it great for:

• Increasing hydration
• Aiding weight loss
• Clearing up the skin

If you’re looking for a way to get more cucumber in your diet, juicing is the perfect solution.

Incredible Health Benefits of Juicing Cucumber

1. You Stay Hydrated

Did you know: 95% of a cucumber is water?

Cucumbers are extremely hydrating, which is great for boosting the water levels in your body. After a workout, it has been found that cucumbers can re-hydrate your body twice as effectively as water. Consuming cucumbers can help you stay more hydrated for longer. Because of their high water content, cucumbers make a great liquid base for Juice.

Cucumber water can also be consumed on its own!

To make the perfect cucumber water, add thinly sliced cucumbers, ice, and a dash of sea salt to a pitcher of water. Refrigerate before drinking. This cucumber water can be kept in the refrigerator for a few days, so you always have a refreshing and healthy glass on hand.

The best time to drink cucumber juice or cucumber water is in the morning, when you wake up, or twenty minutes before a meal.

2. It Supports Heart Health

Maintaining a healthy blood pressure is important to keeping your heart healthy. Potassium lowers blood pressure to a healthy level, which reduces risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease. Most people are not consuming the daily recommended amount of potassium.

Cucumbers could be the answer to boosting potassium intake. Cucumbers are high in potassium, and make an easy and delicious snack. By consuming even just one cup of sliced cucumber or cucumber juice, you can meet your daily potassium requirements.

Eating cucumbers also increases your intake of vitamin K, which helps your blood clot. This will help your body heal wounds faster.

3. Prevention of Neurological Diseases

Age-related cognitive diseases are a fear for many people as they grow older. Cucumbers contain fisetin, a substance that helps support brain health, especially as the body ages. Fisetin has been found to strengthen the connection between brain cells, which means that it helps memory. These tests have been conducted in rodents thus far.

Fisetin also reduces inflammation in the brain and prevents against memory deficits. It can be effective in preventing stroke and dementia. Even though fisetin is still undergoing human trials, it has been proven effective in rodents and there’s no downside to incorporating more cucumber in your diet.

4. Improves Skin

There’s a reason for those stereotypical cucumber slices over peoples’ eyes at the spa – cucumbers are great for your skin! They can work just as effectively from the inside as from the outside. Though putting cucumbers over your eyes will calm puffiness, there are many more benefits for your skin from ingesting cucumber.

Since cucumbers have such a high water content, eating cucumbers and drinking juice is great for keeping your skin hydrated. Hydrated skin doesn’t age as quickly and keeps a supple, smooth texture. The magnesium and potassium in cucumbers is also great for helping the skin’s elasticity. The cucumber juice benefits for skin go on and on, but one thing is clear: there are no downsides to consuming more cucumber!

SEE ALSO: Best Juicers of 2019: How to Find One for Your Needs & Budget

5. Helps Treat Diabetes Symptoms

Diabetes is caused by the body’s inability to control sugar levels. Cucumber is great at helping to reduce spikes in blood sugar that make diabetes difficult to control. Cucumber can help to stimulate the release of insulin, which helps to regulate blood sugar.

Since cucumbers contain natural sugars without adding carbohydrates, they don’t increase the glucose in blood while still providing nutrients to the body.

Of course, cucumbers cannot replace insulin treatment, and consultations with your doctor are still recommended!

6. Helps with Weight Loss

Cucumber water has nearly zero calories and a lot of flavor to make up for it! Cucumbers can be used as a base in fresh juices without adding too many calories. When you feel hungry, chances are, you’re actually thirsty.

By grabbing a glass of cucumber water or a fresh juice, you can curb hunger while still staying away from empty calories. Drinking cucumber juice on an empty stomach can give you a full feeling for longer.

Cucumbers are low in calories, even in large amounts. Even eating a whole, unpeeled cucumber won’t add more than about 30 calories to your daily intake, and can be both filling and hydrating. Cucumber is the perfect supplement to any diet. If juicing is part of your weight loss plan, check out our article on slimming juices to get started.

SEE ALSO: 4 Delicious Juicing Recipes That Are Great For Weight Loss

Delicious, Nutritious Cucumber Juice Recipes

1. Celery, cucumber, apple, lime, orange, ginger

This juice is full of citrus and vitamin C, and the cucumber acts as a great, refreshing base that is more flavorful than water. The lime in this juice will help the cucumber and ginger in speeding up weight loss and preventing heart disease. Celery is also a great source of water to increase the hydrating benefits of this juice.

This juice has a lovely, light green color and is a perfect start to the day. If you’re a beginner and a little nervous about having a full-on green juice, this is a good, fruity start to get you comfortable before graduating to a full green juice. To see some of our other green juices, check out the benefits of juicing.

2. Strawberry, cucumber, apple, carrot

This fruity juice is excellent for heart health. Strawberries are not only delicious, but they don’t have sodium, fat, or cholesterol, which makes them a great low-calorie, high-nutrient snack. Strawberries can also help to lower blood pressure.

The apples and cucumber in this juice help prevent against cognitive disorders. Apples contain antioxidants that can lessen the effects of Alzheimer’s disease, just like cucumbers. Combined, these fruits pack a powerful punch in keeping your brain healthy.

3. Watermelon, cucumber, lime

There is nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day than this watermelon, cucumber, and lime juice. Like cucumber, watermelon has a high water content to keep your body hydrated. Watermelon lowers inflammation in the body, helping to fight pain from osteoporosis and joint pain, and can help relieve muscle soreness.

This is the perfect post-workout drink to keep your body from feeling stiff and sore. The water in the cucumber and watermelon will rehydrate your body and repair your muscles after exercising. The lime adds an extra punch of tart flavor and enhances the taste of the watermelon and crispness of the cucumber.

4. Pineapple, celery, cucumber, lime

Pineapple is another fruit with excellent anti-inflammatory properties. The potassium in pineapple combined with the potassium in coconut water is perfect for getting your daily dose of nutrients, especially if you are looking for heart-healthy ingredients.

Combining the celery and cucumber gives this juice a flavorful base with a high water content. Instead of using plain water to dilute this juice, just add more cucumber or celery juice until you get the flavor and consistency that you prefer.

5. Cucumber, lemon, mint

This cool, refreshing juice is perfect for a hot summer day. The best part is you probably have these ingredients on hand all the time. Adding low calorie artificial sweetener, like Stevia, can also transform this delicious juice into a healthy lemonade.

Mint is especially useful in:

•       Soothing an upset stomach
•       Treating bad breath
•       Reducing nausea
•       Sharpening mental focus
•       Reducing stress

If you’re suffering from any of these symptoms, this juice is a great way to treat yourself. The cooling cucumber and mint combined with the tart lemon will create a smooth, delightful juice to keep you sharp and refreshed.

6. Pineapple, mango, cucumber, lemon

This refreshing and tropical juice is packed with antioxidants and nutrients. Mangos boost immunity and help digestive health. In this juice, they’re especially effective in teaming up with the cucumber to support heart health. Also, while the cucumber supports an aging brain, mango is helpful in keeping your eyes healthy as you age.

Pineapple and mango are also great for your skin and hair. The nutrients help hair and nails to grow longer faster. Cucumber juice benefits for hair come from the high water content. The hydration from cucumber is great for keeping your skin smooth and maintaining your hair’s natural shine.

SEE ALSO: 5 Easy and Tasty Juicing Recipes for Beginners

Crazy About Cucumber Juicing

Ancient civilizations weren’t exaggerating when they lauded cucumbers – the fruit is great for your health!

Eating cucumbers will keep you hydrated, help your body function well as you age, and keep your skin looking great.

This fruit is not just for salads and pickles. Keep incorporating it as a delicious base for your juices and reap the benefits of juicing cucumber.

What is your favorite way to eat cucumber?

Share in the comments below!

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