Who said cucumbers are lame and boring? Cucumbers are cool vegetables and not because they actually keep you cool and hydrated. They are literally cool! Cucumbers should be given a special, honorable, place in the green aisle. They are simply amazing.
Growing up, it was a different story. I never liked them. My father loved pickled cucumbers so they were always around. Actually, I never liked them until I moved to Florida. I find cucumbers here to be juicier, lighter in flavor and with a smoother texture. They had me at the first bite.
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In general, when we think of cucumbers we think of facials and beauty, or sliced plain added to house salads. These “giants” go beyond that. Not only nutritionally speaking, but also when it comes to the various ways to use them. Cucumbers make great soups, dips and yes, delicious fried sticks too. What you might not know about cucumbers will change the way you see them forever!
Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day. Just one cucumber contains Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, and B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc. They are also a good source of natural sugar, electrolytes and carbohydrates that can provide fast hydration making them a great quick afternoon snack.
Also, cucumbers are natural diuretics and very powerful ones. If you feel bloated with extra water retention in your body and want to avoid the water pills, just juice 8 ounces of fresh cucumbers. They do wonders for the kidneys and the liver!
Here are some fun cucumber recipes to help you add these nutritional powerhouses to your diet.
