21 Cucumber Nutrition Facts: Why Cucumbers Is Essential

Cucumbers are melon-like vegetables that originated from India and can be slightly bitter at times.

Cucumbers are the most common garden vegetables. They are tall, slender, and green. Despite the fact that they are technically fruits related to watermelons and pumpkins, most people see them as vegetables.

Cucumbers, being members of the Cucurbitaceae family of plants, contain large quantities of cucurbitacin, a bitter-tasting nutrient. Cucurbitacins may help in cancer prevention by preventing cancer cells from replicating, according to an article published in the International Journal of Health Services.

According to the World's Healthiest Foods, cucumbers are high in phytonutrients (plant chemicals with protective or disease-preventive characteristics), such as flavonoids, lignans, and triterpenes, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects.

Cucumbers are also abundant in water and soluble fiber while being low in calories. According to the World's Healthiest Foods, this makes them great for encouraging hydration and weight loss.

According to Cornell University's Growing Guide, cucumbers exist in hundreds of kinds and dozens of colors, but the edible variety is classed as being for slicing or pickling. Cucumbers for slicing are grown for fresh consumption, whereas cucumbers for pickling are grown for use in brine jars. Cucumbers for slicing are typically bigger and thicker-skinned than cucumbers for pickling.

'Cucumbers are misunderstood,' the Cleveland Clinic wrote on Twitter. Vitamin K, potassium, phosphorus, copper, and manganese are all abundant in them. Slicing cucumbers are typically eaten fresh in salads.

They can grow up to 12 in (30 cm) long and have smooth skin. Fresh vegetables may be poisoned in a variety of ways, according to Glenda Lewis, a foodborne illness expert with the Food and Drug Administration. This low-calorie food offers a variety of nutritional advantages in your daily diet, including hydration and important elements.

Even one cucumber a day might help! Water makes up the majority of a cucumber. As a result, you will probably not be ill if you eat more than one.

Cucumbers are high in a substance called cucurbitacin. It can cause indigestion in people with a sensitive digestive system, in addition to being diuretic.

Eating too many cucumbers under regular conditions might cause bloating and gas. If you're having trouble eating raw cucumber, consider sautéing or grilling it instead. Type-2 diabetes patients might reduce their blood sugar levels by eating cucumber, according to research published in the journal Plant Foods for Human Nutrition.

Diabetes patients can virtually eat as many as they want since they're so low in carbs. This indicates that you can eat a lot of cucumbers without weight gain, and they indirectly lead to weight loss.

Cucumber Nutrition Table

One cup of cucumber contains 0.0004 lb (0.2 g) of total fat, 0.0002 lb (0.1g) of saturated fat (0% saturated fat), zero lb (zero g) of trans fat, 0.0002 lb (0.1-g) polyunsaturated fat, zero lb (zero g) of monounsaturated fat, zero lb (zero g )of cholesterol.

It also contains 0.08 lb (four mg) of sodium, 0.65 lb (295 mg) of potassium 8% potassium, 0.01 lb (7.3g) of carbohydrates in total , 0.002 lb (1 g) of dietary fiber (4%), 0.007 lb (3.4 g) of sugar, 0.002 lb (1.3 g) of protein, 9.4 % vitamin A, 2.5 % vitamin C, and 3.1 % calcium.

A half-cup of sliced cucumber weighing 0.11 lb (52g) contains eight calories, 0.0006 lb (0.3 g) of protein, 0.002 lb (1.9 g) of carbs, and 0.0002 lb (0.1 g) of fat. Cucumbers are high in potassium, as well as important vitamins K and C. The USDA has given the following nutrition information.

You'll receive 14-19 % daily values of vitamin K from just a single cup of cucumber slices.

A half-cup of cucumber slices contains about 0.004 lb (two g) of carbs and 0.0006 lb (0.3 g) of fiber. Cucumber also contains 0.001 lb (0.9 g) of natural sugar. Cucumber has a 15 glycemic index which is very low, indicating that it will not elevate blood sugar levels.

It has nearly negligible fat, with only 0.0002 lb (0.1 g) per serving of a half cup of slices. Its small fat content is largely unsaturated fat, which is considered 'good fat' since it may help decrease cholesterol levels.

Cucumbers are not a high-protein food, with only 0.0006 lb (0.3 g) per raw serving size. As a result, if you want to increase your protein intake, eat your cucumber alongside foods that are rich in protein, such as meat, nuts, and seeds.

Cucumbers have a high water content; hence there is a significant decrease in relative nutritional concentration. They do, however, contain potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin K. Cucumber is also high in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamin A. Cucumber is a low-calorie food, with only eight calories in a half-cup weighing 0.11 lb (52g) with the skin.

Cucumber with a length of 8.25 in (20.95 cm) has around 45 calories in it. So, if you're limiting your calorie intake, these raw vegetables fit into low calories.

Cucumber Side Effects

Cucumber has a variety of health benefits, but it also has a few negative consequences. Two of the most typically reported side effects of eating cucumber are an uncomfortable belch and itching skin.

The presence of toxins in cucumber, such as cucurbitacins and tetracyclic triterpenoids, is a cause for concern. These components are known to cause the bitter taste in these excellent cucumbers, according to studies.

Cucumber consumption in excess, according to studies, can be life-threatening. The seeds of cucumbers contain cucurbitin, a substance with natural diuretic effects. Even if the diuretic effect is minimal, excessive consumption may be dangerous.

When consumed in significant amounts, diuretic substances cause an excessive loss of fluid needs from the body, disrupting the electrolytic equilibrium. It's possible that you'll become very dehydrated if you're exposed to harsh temperatures.

Vitamin C is a powerful immunity booster. It also aids in the prevention and treatment of a variety of illnesses, such as the flu and scurvy. It's also an excellent antioxidant. However, surpassing the acceptable limits has its own set of negative consequences. When consumed in excessive amounts, this vitamin functions as a pro-oxidant, counteracting its natural anti-oxidative properties.

Hyperkalemia is a medical disorder that occurs when the body's potassium levels are too high. Initially, it causes bloating, stomach cramps, and intestinal gas. The problem develops with time, impairing the kidneys' ability to work properly. As a result, your renal system is in danger of suffering from injury.

Cucumber, as you are probably aware, contains more than 90% water. The more the total water intake, the larger your blood's net volume will be. This, in turn, puts strain on the heart and blood arteries.

As a result, your heart and blood vessels will suffer irreversible damage. Water in excess can induce an electrolyte imbalance in the blood, which can lead to seepage in cells. This will result in frequent headaches and respiratory difficulties.

Cucumber Health Benefits For Kids

Cucumbers are a good source of nutritional benefits for kids when compared to many other fruits and vegetables on the market since they contain a lot of water, which helps children stay hydrated. It also assists in body temperature regulation and the prevention of constipation.

Cucumbers, though commonly mistaken for vegetables, are actually fruits. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including slicing, pickled, and seedless kinds.

Pickled cucumber nutrition facts show that they are high in probiotics, which are beneficial microorganisms for intestinal health. It also defends against illnesses.

Cucumbers are abundant in beta-carotene, an antioxidant that your body converts to vitamin A. Antioxidants are chemicals that prevent oxidation, which produces extremely reactive atoms with unpaired electrons known as free radicals. The buildup of these harmful free radicals can result in a variety of chronic diseases.

Oxidative stress caused by free radicals has been related to tumors, heart problems, lung problems, and immune deficiency.

Cucumbers, like some other fruits and vegetables, are strong in antioxidants, which may reduce the risk of a variety of ailments. Cucumbers contain vitamin K, which the body utilizes to halt bleeding by clotting blood.

Calcium and iron are also present. Cucumbers, on the other hand, are abundant in antioxidants and can provide additional hydration.

All of that hydration might also help your child maintain his or her regularity. If you are concerned that your youngster is constipated, adding water from cucumbers to his or her dietary supplements will help get his or her bowel motions to get back on schedule.

Cucumbers provide critical elements such as vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin D, folate, potassium, magnesium, silica, and manganese, despite being a relatively bland vegetable by some people's standards. Keep in mind, however, that studies demonstrating the nutritious worth of cucumbers are often done on adults and focus on eating a third of a cucumber.

While these veggies are nutrient-dense, they are not a substitute for providing your kid with a well-balanced diet.

Many manufacturers offer cucumber as a target ingredient to aid with not just hydration but also skin soothing and puffiness reduction. Cucumbers, on the other hand, can provide the same advantages even in infancy.