Cucumber Nutrition
With regards to cucumber nutrition, you won't look far before reaching the conclusion that the cucumber is not quite up there with some other fruit or vegetable favorites. Take carrots for example. A superstar as far as nutrition is concerned, carrots seemingly do every thing short of taking out the garbage. Even cabbage shines brighter than the cucumber when it comes to nutritional value.
Comparing cucumbers to carrots however, is actually a little bit like comparing apples to oranges. The cucumber is, in fact a fruit, and not a vegetable. So are melons. But we grow them in our vegetable garden, and speak about them as being another one of the vegetables.
This is not to say that cucumbers are not good for anything besides making pickles. Far from it. While cucumber nutrition may not get the highest of marks, the cucumber still provides many of the vitamins and minerals we need, and has a few other benefits as well.
Cucumbers are a good source of vitamins A and C. Vitamin A promotes healthy skin and hair, vitamin C is a known fat burner, and also aids in the proper functioning of our immune system. Both vitamins are used in many of our body's tissues and organs, down to the individual cell level.
While the amount of trace minerals and elements in cucumber is small, the same can be said for most other fruits and vegetables. The body does not require large amounts of these elements, but they are for the most part, essential to life itself. Cucumbers are a source of iron, needed in the blood cells, and zinc, important for thyroid and immune system functioning. Cucumbers also provide copper, which works hand in hand with zinc, and calcium, essential for strong bones and teeth.
Other trace elements provided by the cucumber include potassium, manganese, folate (folic acid), magnesium, and molybdenum. The vegetable is high in dietary fiber and is an excellent digestive aid and bowel cleanser. One of the more interesting nutrition elements found in the skin of the cucumber is sterol. Sterols are components of a plant's membranes which function similarly to cholesterol in humans, and have been shown to aid in lowering our cholesterol levels, particularly LDL. The message then, is it's better to eat cucumbers with skins still attached, than to peel them.
Cucumbers are often an important part of the diet for those suffering from blood pressure disorders. Potassium, magnesium, and the other essential nutrients, can help keep blood pressure at safe levels. Because of the water content of cucumbers, eating them can help keep the body sufficiently hydrated. At the same time, the presence of caffeic and ascorbic acids in the plant prevents water retention.
The cucumber is low in calories and makes an excellent component in any weight loss program. It is one of those foods that, while actively helping you lose weight, provides you with needed nutritional elements at the same time. The cucumber is much like cabbage in that respect. Low caloric content combined with fat-burning vitamin C can be a one-two punch.