Cucumbers

Cucumber is apopular creeping vine plant in the Cucurbitaceae family that produces cylindrical fruits that are used as vegetables. Cucumber is an annual plant with three main varieties a slicing pickling and burpless/seedless a from which several cultivars have been developed. Cucumbers originated in South Asia but they are now grown on most continents due to the global market's demand for a variety of cucumber varieties.

Cucumber fruit is roughly cylindrical but elongated with tapered ends and can grow to be as long as 62 centimeters long and 10 centimeters in diameter. Cucumber fruits are 95 percent water. Cucumbers are classified as pepo in botanical terms which is a type of botanical berry with a hard outer rind and no internal divisions.

Reasons to Eat Cucumber:

Protect Your Brain: Cucumbers contain fisetin an anti-inflammatory flavonol that appears to play a major role in brain health. Fisetin has been shown to prevent progressive memory and learning impairments in mice with Alzheimer's disease in addition to improving memory and protecting nerve cells from age-related decline.

Antioxidant Properties: Cucumbers are high in antioxidants including the well-known vitamins C and beta-carotene. They also contain antioxidant flavonoids like quercetin apigenin luteolin and kaempferol which have additional health benefits. For example quercetin is an antioxidant that many people believe prevents histamine release dubbed "natural antihistamines."

Freshens Your Breath: Placing a cucumber slice on the back of the tongue may help remove bacteria that cause odour. Cucumbers may also help to relieve waste heat in your stomach which is thought to be a main cause of bad breath according to Ayurvedic principles.

Support Your Digestive Health: Cucumbers are high in two essential nutrients for digestive health: water and fiber. If you suffer from acid reflux you should know that drinking water can help suppress acute symptoms by temporarily raising stomach pH; water-rich cucumbers may have a similar effect. Cucumber skins contain insoluble fiber which contributes to stool bulk. This allows food to move more quickly through your digestive tract allowing for healthy elimination.

Maintain Healthy Weight: Cucumbers are low in calories but provide a satisfying snack. Cucumbers' soluble fiber dissolves into a gel-like texture in your stomach slowing digestion. This helps you feel fuller for longer which is one reason why fiber-rich foods may aid in weight loss.

Support Heart Health: Cucumbers contain potassium which is linked to lower blood pressure. Proper potassium balance both inside and outside your cells is essential for your body to function properly. As an electrolyte potassium is a positively charged ion that must maintain a specific concentration in order to carry out its functions which include interacting with sodium to help nerve impulse transmission muscle contraction and heart function are all under your control.