One of the best parts of the spring and summer months is the huge variety of fresh fruit and veg that make an appearance in our stores. They are not just fresh, but refreshing, and can help us replenish all the nutrients and minerals that we have been missing out with the heartier winter meals that have kept us warm and cozy. One of the most underrated but delicious vegetables to come out of this season is the cucumber. Many people forget about it until they taste its delicious flavor and then fall in love with it all over again, year after year. But the cucumber does not just offer amazing taste, it also has incredible health benefits, and no, we are not just referring to the depuffing effect that spas use it for.
As with most fruits and vegetables, we tend to peel cucumbers when we eat them or add them to our water bottles to make it taste more interesting, but you might want to reconsider doing this for maximum benefit, plus, in this case, the skin actually does taste pretty good, so you might be missing out by removing it altogether.
We know that this can be controversial advise as many will tell you to remove the outer most layer to ensure that there is no dirt or debris and as little trace of pesticides as possible, but of you wash them properly in abundant water and maybe even a little vinegar if they are very dirty, you should not have any issues with this, so consider leaving the skin intact when you eat it, or just eating it separately if you do not like it in a specific dish.
The great properties of the cucumber peel that will make you fall in love with it.
Cucumber peel is well known for having a very high fiber content, which is great for improving digestive function, especially in the summer when drinking enough water and eating enough fiber can be hard due to the heat. Because of the, eating cucumbers with the peel improves intestinal transit, prevents constipation, and helps control body weight, as fiber has the additional benefit of providing a greater feeling of satiety.
But eating the peel has a lot more benefits, namely that it is filled with antioxidants, such as vitamin C and beta-carotenes. Antioxidants have many benefits for the overall health of our bodies, but the main one is that they help protect cells from oxidative damage caused by free radicals, which is associated with a lower risk of chronic diseases and healthier aging. Since they are so packed with minerals, cucumber peels also have minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and silicon which are lifesavers in the summer months. Potassium helps keep blood pressure under control, magnesium promotes proper muscle and nerve function, while silicon contributes to healthy skin, hair, and nails.
And last but by no means least, cucumber peel has an important anti-inflammatory action, as thanks to its flavonoid and tannin content, the peel helps reduce inflammation in the body and promotes a better immune response. Studies also suggest that the compounds in the peel can help lower blood glucose levels and have positive effects on metabolism, although definite proof for that still has not been obtained.
Since consuming the peel can be so beneficial to your health, the question now is how to do it in a way that will provide as many of these benefits as possible. The first and pretty much only thing is that you need to consume it raw in order to get the benefit it provides. Other than that, you can have it in any medium you choose.