The homeland of cucumbers is India, where cucumbers were cultivated already 3,5 thousand years ago.
From India, cucumbers have spread to all countries of the Old World, thanks to the English.
Loved and appreciated cucumbers in ancient Rome, they even related to the favorite food of Emperor Tiberius.
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Composition and properties of
In Northern Europe, Asia and the Middle East, cucumbers for salad were grown, usually in greenhouses.
In Russia cucumbers appeared in the 15th century after Byzantine traders brought them.
In the 16th century cucumber is mentioned in "Domostroe", and in the 17th century it is recognized as a curative plant. In their garden they were raised by Peter I.
Cucumbers are extremely popular among the slimming ones. Among non-lean cucumber neutral attitude - vegetable as a vegetable, everyone remembers from school that it consists, mainly, of water.
This is true, in cucumbers 95% water, structured, like any water of a living organism. The most useful, ground cucumbers contain:
- protein 0,8%,
- carbohydrates 3,0%,
- fiber 0,6%,
- fats are absent.
Carbohydrates are basically glucose and fructose, and sucrose is practically absent. Caloric value of 15 kcal / 100 g. Glycemic index - low and equal to 15 units.
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How to make a home whitening mask of cucumber is written on this page.
In less valuable greenhouse cucumbers, the carbohydrate content is reduced( up to 1.8%), because the sugars are formed during photosynthesis, and the lighting conditions in the greenhouses do not correspond to natural ones, and accordingly the caloric value is only 10 kcal / 100 g.
Vitamin contentin daily cucumber, daily norm and percentage of daily norm
| Vitamin | C | B5 | B2 | B1 | B6 | B9 | A | |||
| 10 | 0.27 | 0.04 | 0,03 | 0,04 | 0,004 | 0,20 | 0,10 | 0,01 | 0.0009 | |
| Daily Value( mg) | 70 | 5 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 14 | 8 | 1 | 0.15 |
| % of Daily Value per 100 g | 14.3 | 5.4 | 3.1 | 2,7 | 2,2 | 2,0 | 1,4 | 1,2 | 1,0 | 0,6 |
From the table it follows that if you eat cucumbers per day on the order of 200 g, then significantly( more than 10%) covers the daily norm of vitamins C( ascorbic acid) and B5( pantothenic acid).
Vitamin C performs many important functions in the body, is, in particular, an antioxidant and increases immunity, improves healing of damaged tissues of the body.
Vitamin B5 is part of almost 80 enzymes and is involved in various metabolic processes.
Other vitamins are supplied in the amount of less than 10% of the daily allowance.
Mineral content in ground cucumber( mg / 100 g)
| Mineral substance | Iron | Potassium | Magnesium | Phosphorus | Calcium | Sodium |
| Content( mg / 100 g) | 0.9 | 141 | 14 | 42 | 23 | 8 |
| Daily norm( mg) | 18 | 3.500 | 400 | 1.200 | 800 | 5.000 |
| % of the daily norm of 100 g | 5,0 | 4,0 | 3,5 | 3,5 | 2,9 | 0,2 |
From the table it follows that if you eat cucumbers per day on the order of 200 g, then significantly( more than 8%) covers the daily allowance onlyiron and potassium.
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Iron is necessary for the transfer and deposition of oxygen with hemoglobin, the synthesis of thyroid hormones.
Potassium regulates the water-salt metabolism of .The remaining minerals are supplied in the amount of less than 8% of the daily allowance.
In dietary food
What is the benefit of extracting us from the properties of cucumbers? They can supply people with vitamins and minerals, this is written above.
Pectins - soluble dietary fiber promote the healing of the intestines. Tarton acid inhibits the conversion of carbohydrates into fats.
Fresh cucumbers stimulate the secretory function of the gastric glands, which contributes to good digestibility of food.
Cucumbers stimulate intestinal peristalsis , normalize water-salt metabolism. Green vegetable has a diuretic effect and stimulates metabolic processes. This is especially important for women during pregnancy.
This is just a habitual snack in the winter-spring period. Salted, which are so fond of pregnant, contain the minerals of fresh cucumbers with almost complete absence of vitamins.
Salted cucumbers are contraindicated for cardiovascular disorders and liver diseases( gallstone disease, hepatitis) because of the high salt content. They increase appetite, promote digestion and slightly weaken.
Unloading cucumber day.
In the unloading day, cucumber is eaten 2 kg of cucumbers, divided into 5 or 6 meals.
You can eat them fresh or prepare salads, flavored with lemon juice, spices and herbs.
Because of the diuretic effect of cucumbers, it may be necessary to drink additional liquid while feeling thirsty. It can be herbal or green tea.
This unloading day can be held once a week, preferably on a day off with a minimum of physical and moral loads.
The unloading day is contraindicated in chronic kidney diseases( because cucumbers have a diuretic effect), and with gastritis and colitis( due to the presence of fiber in cucumber).
Three-day diet.
The three-day cucumber diet is 3, described above, unloading days one after another.
It should be understood that a three-day diet is not a method of losing weight, but an extreme remedy for getting rid of 2-3 kg if it is necessary, and that after a diet, weight will usually return.
The longer diets are not worth mentioning.
This is a banal low-calorie diet for 5-7 days, including in the diet, in addition to cucumbers, as well as meat, eggs, fruits, bread.
The effect of such diets is determined by their low calorie content, and not by special properties of cucumbers.
In no case should you succumb to calls to "lose weight" on cucumbers for a week or even more.
Such a "diet" you will only inflict harm on the body.
Pregnant, it is strictly prohibited ,
For some reason, the authorship of the "cucumber" diet is attributed to the famous TV presenter Ksenia Borodina.
Of course, the TV host does not have any relation to such an extreme diet.
Lose weight, if necessary, should be on a balanced diet with a caloric deficit of about 400 kcal, which, of course, does not prevent the inclusion of a menu of a similar diet cucumbers, which, based on their low caloric content, will provide you with a feeling of saturation.
In home cosmetology
Cucumbers do not contain allergens , and they are often used to make cosmetics( creams, masks, etc.).
However, just in case, check for an allergic reaction by making a wrist test. Cucumber cosmetics are used for cleansing, softening, whitening, moisturizing and nourishing the skin.
For the procedures, the most fresh, without bitterness, cucumbers are used.
Vitamins, organic acids and minerals, upon contact with the skin, nourish the upper layers of the epidermis.
- Structured water moisturizes dry and flaky skin.
- Vitamins B1 and B5 smooth wrinkles, refresh and tonify the fading skin.
- Vitamin C promotes the production of collagen in cells, which gives the skin elasticity and elasticity.
- Potassium promotes retention of skin cells by water and controls the production of sebaceous glands of sebum.
Folk recipes
Frozen cubes of cucumber juice can be prepared in ice molds. Rubbing the face in cubes in the morning rejuvenates the skin.
Lotion for dry skin. Cut the cucumber finely with the skin and cook it in a glass of milk for 5 minutes. With regular rubbing of the skin with this lotion, the skin will become soft and velvety.
Lotion for combination and oily skin. Scrub 3 cucumbers, squeeze the juice, pour the juice 1 cup of vodka and put in a dark place for 2 days. Lotion well narrows the pores and smooths the complexion.
The simplest cucumber mask. Cut the cucumber into slices and place on the face.
Refreshing mask. To 2 tbsp.l. Grated cucumber, add whipped egg yolk.
The mask is applied to the face for 20 minutes and covered with a napkin.
The remnants of the mask are washed off with cool water, after which a nourishing cream is applied. This mask, based on a high content of water in the cucumber, perfectly moisturizes the skin.
It also eliminates acne and pigmentation spots, smooths the skin and smoothes wrinkles, bags and dark circles disappear under the eyes.
Mask for removing dark pigment spots and removing redness. 2 tbsp.l.chop the cucumber with 1 tsp.warmed honey.
Anti-inflammatory mask. 1 tbsp.l.chop the cucumber with 1 tbsp.l.low-fat cottage cheese.
Whitening mask with lemon juice. 2 tsp.chop the cucumber with 1 tsp.fresh lemon juice. The mask is not suitable for overly sensitive skin.
Anti-wrinkle mask under the eyes. 2 tbsp.l.crushed cucumber mix with 2 tbsp.l.young potatoes.
Useful advice
Cucumbers are endowed with nature rich in vitamins and trace elements. But grown in greenhouses, it is not recommended to eat, especially to pregnant women, because they are subjected to intensive treatment with pesticides.
On the benefits and harm of tomatoes and cucumbers for human health and pregnancy is described in the program "Live healthy!".
