Drinking cucumber juice is a relatively new trend, but it’s been touted as a potentially concentrated source of health-boosting nutrients. Cucumbers are peeled vegetables with a thin, waxy skin that helps keep them fresh, so they’re often used in culinary applications. If you want to drink the juice (rather than cook with it), juicing this easy-to-prepare vegetable is an excellent way to access many of its healthy nutrients.
According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, peeled cucumbers and their juice might be rich in certain vitamins, minerals, dietary fibers, antioxidants, and other polyphenolic compounds – all things that can improve your physical or mental well-being. Cucumber juice isn’t entirely new – it originated from Eastern Europe in the 18th century.
However, since most people don’t think about juicing cucumbers (since they’re not commonly available in stores), making it at home is much easier than finding prepared glassware at your grocer.
Like many other fruit juices, cooking with cucumber leaves you with fewer nutrients because heat degrades many healthful properties. However, if you want to enjoy the detoxifying benefits of this simple green vegetable without cooking it up first for tons of other dishes in
Benefits of Cucumber Juice
Some of the many health benefits of cucumber juice include strengthening your kidney function, controlling bleeding disorders, increasing bone mineral density, and more.
May Reduce Cholesterol
One double-blind, placebo-controlled study suggests that a 500mg daily dose of cucumber seed extract can lead to desirable effects on serum lipid profile in adult hyperlipidemic patients. This is because the components of cucumbers promote high levels of good HDL cholesterol and lower levels of bad LDL cholesterol. Nevertheless, more studies need to be done to confirm these results in larger populations. [2]
May Boost Immunity
If you want to boost your immune system, then drinking an orange juice like this one can be a great choice. Among other things, this juice contains notable levels of vitamin C, which can stimulate the production of white blood cells and act as a potential antioxidant by seeking out harmful free radicals.
May Balance Hormone Levels
A number of factors can cause hormonal imbalances, but even if your thyroid or pituitary glands are having issues, the increase in calcium from this juice can help to balance hormone levels. You should always visit a physician for any ongoing issues you may be experiencing.
May Detoxify the Body
Juicing cucumber offers many benefits, like high water and collagen content. The juice is perfect for hydrating all day long because it can easily be added to various beverages, like coffee. Drinking cucumber also provides soothing effects to the skin, according to a review by the journal Fitoterapia.
May Help Blood Coagulation
If you suffer from any of the following health issues, don’t forget to look into vitamin K: heavy menstruation, hemorrhoids, and bleeding gums. You may have a deficiency of this essential vitamin due to low levels found in cucumber juice. Vitamin K can help trigger clotting in the body and speed up the healing process for damaged tissues.
May Strengthen the Nervous System
This juice is especially effective in high-calcium situations, and it also has a high level of calcium, which plays a key role in nervous communication to the muscles. In other words, this beverage will help optimize your physical activities and your body will fire on all cylinders!
May Have Anticancer Properties
The Pharmacognosy Reviews journal recently published data suggesting that cucurbitacins, plant compounds present in cucumbers, have anticancer properties. The authors of this study also noted that some of the active ingredients and lignans found in cucumbers can be directly linked to anti-cancer effects, making this juice a healthy addition to your diet.
May Protect Vision
This juice contains small amounts of vitamin A, plus other antioxidants that may be found in cucumbers. These substances can help to protect the eye health of people as they age, because macular degeneration is caused by free radicals that can lead to vision loss. A study from the International Research Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology found that low doses of cucumber can also help to delay cataractogenesis (cataract formation).
How to Make Cucumber Juice
One of the three types of cucumber is a good type for juicing. You should choose seedless or slicing varieties and avoid pickling cucumbers because they have a lot of seeds. Blend the cucumbers with water to make them less thick.
Uses of Cucumber Juice
Cucumbers can be a delicious, healthy summertime snack, but they also have many other benefits. For example, cucumber juice can promote healthy hair and skin, as well as relieve puffy eyes or eye irritation. This vegetable contains vitamin C, copper and vitamin K which promote healthier skin. It also has cooling qualities that may help to relieve inflammation in the scalp and deliver nutrients directly to the hair follicles for stronger and more shiny locks.
Side Effects of Cucumber Juice
There are very few side effects of cucumber juice, although it can be bad if consumed in excess. People have reported allergic reactions and gastrointestinal discomfort, among other side effects. Cucumbers also have pesticides and trace amounts of toxic substances like herbicides, so they should be eaten in moderation. Organic cucumber juice is the best way to avoid these issues because there are less chances of pesticide exposure.
Cucumber juice is a fantastic way to get your water intake and increase your vitamin intake at the same time. One of the best parts about cucumber juice is that it has almost no side effects. Allergic reactions, stomach pain, and kidney issues are possible–but rare. All of these can be remedied by drinking organic cucumbers about two glasses a day.