Cucumber

Nutritional Properties

The cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is an annual herbaceous plant, belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family. Originally from the East Indies it has been cultivated since ancient times for food purposes.

The fruits it produces (cucumbers) are consumed mainly fresh, to embellish mixed salads, or destined for the canning industry of pickles.

Cucumbers have an oblong shape with a smooth or warty outer surface. Under a consistent peel they hide an almost colorless pulp but rich in water, vitamins and mineral salts. Although the micronutrient content is on average lower than other vegetables, fresh cucumber is in fact a good source of fiber, thiamine, vitamin B6, folate, pantothenic acid, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper and manganese. The presence of vitamin C and vitamin K (concentrated in the outer skin) is significant.

ENERGY [100 grams of peeled cucumbers]

12 Kcal

50.2 Kjoule

Carbohydrates

2.2 g

Fat

0.2 g

Proteins

0.6 g C vitamin 3.2 mg (5%) Vitamin K 7.2 mcg (9%) Folate 14 mcg (3%) Vitamin B6 0.1 mcg (3%) Pantothenic acid 0.2 mg (2%) Potassium 136 mg (4%) Manganese 0.1 mg (4%) Copper 0.1 mg (4%) Magnesium 12 mg (3%) Nutritional values ​​PEELED CUCUMBERS

Fresh cucumbers are mainly composed of water (95%) and this characteristic, combined with the moderate vitamin and mineral content, gives them good refreshing, antigout and purifying properties.

Their use in salads is recommended during the sultry months of the summer and, after cooking *, in case of subfebrile states, intoxications, gout, arthritis, stones, colic and intestinal irritation.

* for some subjects, cucumber is a food that is difficult to digest. In these cases, to increase digestibility, it is advisable to remove the peel, cut it into slices, add salt and leave it in a colander for at least half an hour.

How to choose them at the supermarket

At the supermarket it is good to choose cucumbers with a shiny and well-stretched skin, not wrinkled. The two ends should be firm, not mushy. The size of the fruit is also a good criterion for evaluating the quality of the product: cucumbers that are too small or too large can in fact be, respectively, an indication of poor and excessive ripening. The larger fruits are also richer in seeds.

Recipes with Cucumbers

Tzatziki sauce



Tzatziki sauce

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Cucumbers and cosmetics

Cucumber is also used in cosmetics for skin applications with an emollient action. The external use is indicated in the presence of skin irritations and impurities (acne, dermatosis, oily or too dry skin, chapped lips).

Wrinkles

Cucumber slices applied to the face as a beauty mask, keeping the pulp side resting on the skin for about half an hour

Freckles Raw milk based lotion in which cucumber slices are macerated Oily skin

Lotion prepared by recycling unsalted cooking water. Massage the area to be treated and let it absorb. Apply several times and rinse.

Defend the skin

by sun and wind

Combine carrot and cucumber juice in equal parts. Massage the area to be treated and let it absorb. Apply several times and rinse.

Dry skins

Dermatosis

Cracks

of the lips

Cream based on animal fat (500g), conditioner (1g), rose water (6g) and filtered cucumber juice (600ml).
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