What Is Cucumber Juice?

Cucumber juice is packed with nutrients that boost immunity, promote digestion, protect eyesight, and do a whole lot more. Prepared with organic cucumbers, this juice can serve as your go-to drink to get some hydration during summer. Its high vitamin content beautifies the skin, combats aging, and does many more wonders. Cucumber juice is a perfect replacement for energy drinks and certain supplements. Let`s see the health benefits of cucumber juice.

10 Health Benefits of Cucumber Juice

Treats Hormonal Imbalance

Cucumber juice treats the malfunction of the thyroid and pituitary glands. Its calcium content wards off hormonal imbalance and bone deterioration.

Detoxifies the Body

Cucumber juice contains adequate water content to hydrate the body, hence it increases urination and flushes out toxins, excess salt, chemicals, and other waste materials. You might want to add some lemon and mint leaves to your cucumber juice to have a perfect detox juice.

Combats Osteoporosis

Cucumber juice contains calcium, potassium, copper, and magnesium. These minerals ensure bone density and combat symptoms of osteoporosis and other bone disorders.

Boosts Immunity

Cucumber juice boosts the immune system, hence it reduces the risk of illnesses. Its high level of antioxidants neutralizes the unhealthy effects of free radicals. Regular consumption of cucumber juice keeps you healthy at all times.

Improves Eyesight

Cucumber juice is rich in vitamins A and K, both of which protect the eyes and prevent eye diseases which may be age-related or as a result of oxidative stress. Regular consumption of cucumber juice keeps your eyes in a healthy condition.

Controls Bleeding

Damaged tissues cause bleeding gums, bloody nose, and hemorrhoids. To treat damaged cells and tissues, consume cucumber juice regularly. People who experience heavy menstruation also benefit immensely from cucumber juice. What`s more? Cucumber juice`s vitamin content replenishes energy lost as a result of excess bleeding.

Treats Insomnia

Cucumber juice has calming effects that reduce stress and induce sleep. Insomniacs who consume cucumber juice regularly have fewer troubles sleeping.

Improves Skin Health

Have you seen people place thin slices of cucumber on their eyes to eliminate dark circles and puffiness? Perhaps you do it too.  This skin benefit of cucumber extends to its juice form. Cucumber juice contains loads of vitamins and minerals that soothe the skin and alleviate inflammation. Regular consumption of cucumber juice eliminates blemishes, puffiness, redness, wrinkles, fine lines, skin elasticity, and saggy skin. Cucumber juice also prevents premature aging.

Promotes Digestion

Cucumber juice contains dietary fiber which regulates bowel movements and acts as a natural laxative to treat chronic constipation. Amazingly, the same juice wards off diarrhea.

Combats Obesity

Cucumber juice contains no fats and calories, and it`s got antioxidants that boost metabolism, and all of these are essential to weight loss. Its dietary fiber content curbs increased appetite, hence keeps you full for hours. Its nutrients keep your body energized for exercises, so you don`t have to consume energy drinks.

How to Make Cucumber Juice

Ingredients

• 3 medium-sized cucumbers
• 1 glass of water
• Lemon or lime juice

Method

• Remove the skin of the cucumbers and slice them.
• Blend the cucumbers.
• Add some water to the blended cucumber, and blend again if it feels too thick.
• Pour the blended cucumbers in cheesecloth and filter its juice into a container.
• Add some lemon or lime juice for flavor.
• Refrigerate the juice and serve chilled.

Side Effects of Cucumber Juice

Risk of Toxicity

Cucumber juice contains cucurbitacins and tetracyclic triterpenoids, toxins that bring about the somewhat bitter taste of cucumbers. Excess consumption of the juice may cause an accumulation of these toxins, hence some health risks.

Risk of Excessive Vitamin C Intake

Vitamin C is immune-boosting. It is essential to combating flu and scurvy, due to its antioxidant effect. However, exceeding healthy intakes of this vitamin can be harmful because it acts as a pro-oxidant against its anti-oxidative nature. This causes the growth and spread of free radicals which increase the risk of acne, cancer, premature aging, and some other health conditions.

Risk of Dehydration

The cucurbitin content of cucumber possesses diuretic properties which have mild effects, however, can be harmful in cases of excessive consumption. It may result in excessive elimination of fluid from the body, hence negatively affecting electrolytic balance. It may cause severe dehydration in extreme cases.

Risk of Pregnancy Discomfort

Cucumber juice is generally safe for pregnant women, however, excessive intake may cause frequent urination due to its diuretic nature. It may also cause irritation, abdominal pain, and some other stomach issues.

Risk of Heart Issues

Cucumber contains over 90% water. Excessive consumption of cucumber juice results in a higher net volume of blood, due to its water content. Over time, this exerts pressure on the blood vessels, and the heart, and some imbalance in the electrolyte levels of the blood. These conditions are characterized by frequent and obstructed breathing.

Bloating and Flatulence

The cucurbitacin content of cucumber juice may trigger indigestion in people with who have a sensitive digestive system. Indigestion comes with bloating and flatulence. People whose digestive systems react to cabbage, onions, or broccoli may find cucumbers disturbing.

Risk of Hyperkalemia

Excessive consumption of potassium may cause hyperkalemia, which is characterized by abdominal cramps, bloating, and intestinal gas. Over time, the symptoms worsen as the condition affects the kidneys, and then puts the entire renal system at risk.

Worsens Sinusitis

People with sinusitis and other chronic respiratory conditions are advised to stay away from cucumber juice because it may worsen their conditions.

21 Cucumber Facts

• Cucumbers originate from South East Asia.
• Varieties of cucumber fall in three major categories: slicing (large cucumbers that have rough skin), pickling (small cucumbers used for pickling), and burpless (seedless cucumbers with smooth skin).
• Using your tongue to press a slice of cucumbers to the roof of your mouth for 30 seconds kills bacteria and cures bad breath.
• The waxy coating of a cucumber can eliminate pen marks.
• Christopher Columbus took cucumbers to Haiti in 1494.
• China is one of the world`s largest exporters of cucumbers.
• The cucumber plant produces bright yellow flowers during the summer and early autumn.
• The cucumber plant produces hermaphrodite flowers; bees and bumblebees are its main pollinators, however, some cucumbers self-pollinate.
• A cucumber plant produces 25 to 125 fruit.
• The cucumber fruit is cylindrically-shaped, about 3 to 24 inches long, and it`s covered with green skin and white tubercles on the surface.
• Cucumbers are hydroponic. They can grow in water and soilless areas.
• The cucumber plant has large leaves that give shelter to its developing fruit.
• Christopher Columbus took cucumbers to Haiti in 1494.
• Sowing of cucumber seeds to harvesting fruit takes 12 weeks.
• You can rub cucumber slices on noisy things to lubricate them.
• Cucumber is used in the cosmetic industry to produce fragrances, soaps, shampoos, and lotions.
• You can get rid of fog on your bathroom mirror by rubbing a cucumber slice on it.
• If you eat cucumber slices before going to bed, you will wake up feeling fresh and headache free!
• If you eat a cucumber slice before going to bed, you wake up feeling fresh and without a headache.
• Rubbing a fresh cucumber over your shoes give them a good shine.
• The Bible records that the Israelites ate cucumbers while in Egypt.

Now That You Know…

Having read all this, what are you waiting for? You can enrich your body with a glass of cucumber juice daily, to enjoy its super health benefits.