Health Benefits Of Cucumber
When the cucumber became important as a health food in the
eighteenth century, it did not take long for people to forget
those medical properties which had been well-known first of all
to the Greeks and Romans and then later to the Arab physicians.
Today we see the cucumber as a provider of a very healthy juice
beneficial for its properties as an increaser of the flow of
urine and as a complement to the effects of celery and carrot
juice for rheumatic conditions, while at the same time being a
soothing skin lotion.
Japanese research in the first half of this century indicated
that there was a valuable substance present in the cucumber
juice for the treatment of the whole intestinal tract. Sad to
say this work has not been pursued and the active factor still
retains the secret of its identity.
Other health benefits of cucumber is derived from the fact that
it is very low in calories, about 4 per ounce (54KJ per 100g)
being an average figure. Very high potassium contents have been
claimed for the plant which from the most up-to-date analyses
available would seem to be an exaggeration. The vitamin content
is also generally to be found between low and average for the
edible vegetable.
Nevertheless, cucumber juice is certainly beneficial the
treatment of rheumatic conditions. It does not matter too much
that the reason for this effect is not clear. What is important
is that it helps many sufferers.
Although the whole juice is the best skin lotion it is worth
remembering that the peel itself, like lemon peel, should always
be retained and used on the hands especially after they have
been in a strong detergent or in very hot water. It is not
necessary to rub hard - indeed skin care with cucumber should be
a gentle, fragrant art.