HEALTH BENEFITS OF CUCUMBER
DESCRIPTION
The cucumber is a type of melon and comes from the same family as watermelon, zucchini and other squash. It is cylindrical in shape with lengths of approximately 6 to 9 inches.
Its skin is very similar to watermelon, ranges from green to white. Inside, the flesh is pale green and very juicy.
The cucumber is a tropical plant but is also easily available in most part of the world. However, in some cultures, cucumber is more often used to make pickles, of which most of its nutrients would have been lost.
NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS
Cucumber has an impressive amount of water (about 96%) that is naturally distilled, which makes it superior to ordinary water. Its skin contains a high percentage of vitamin A, so should not be peeled off.
The cucumber contains alkaline-forming minerals and is an excellent source of vitamin C and A (anti-oxidants), folate, manganese, molybdenum, potassium, silica, sulfur, and lesser amounts of vitamin B complex, sodium, calcium, and phosphorus.
You have seen beauty practitioners use slices of cucumber on their eyes. It is found that the caffeic acid in this vegetable helps to prevent water retention and when applied topically, helps reduce puffy and swollen eyes.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Most people are unaware of the immense health benefits of cucumber and would avoid eating cucumber where possible. Fresh cucumber may taste “bland” to some but its thirst-quenching and cooling properties are refreshing. It acts as an anti-oxidant when taken together with fried and barbequed foods.
You can mix cucumber juice with carrot or orange juices.
Here’s a list of health benefits of cool cucumber:
Acidity: The alkalinity of the minerals in cucumber juice effectively helps in regulating the body’s blood pH, neutralizing acidity. The juice is also soothing for the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers.
Blood pressure: Like celery, this colorless drink can help regulate blood pressure because of its minerals and traces of sodium.
Connective tissues, building: The excellent source of silica contributes to the proper construction of connective tissues in our body as in the bones, muscles, cartilage, ligaments and tendons.
Cooling: During dry and hot weather, drink a glass of cucumber + celery juice. It wonderfully helps to normalize body temperature.
Diuretic: Cucumber juice is diuretic, encouraging waste removal through urination. This also helps in the dissolution of kidney stones.
Fever: The temperature regulating properties in cucumber juice makes it a suitable drink when you have a fever.
Inflammation: The Chinese think that cucumbers are too “cooling” and not suitable for people with rheumatism. But we know now that cucumber can help counter uric acids that are causing inflammation in joints. When cucumber is taken it does its cleaning work at the joints, thus stirring up pain as it eliminates the uric acid. This means it also help other inflamed conditions like arthritis, asthma, and gout.
Hair growth: The silicon and sulfur content in cucumber juice makes it especially helpful in promoting hair growth. Drink it mixed with carrot, lettuce or spinach juice.
Puffy eyes: Some people wake up in the morning with puffy eyes, probably due to too much water retention in the body (or having cried to sleep). To reduce the puffiness, lie down and put two slices of cucumber on the eyes for a good ten minutes.
Skin conditions: The high amount of vitamin C and anti-oxidants in cucumber makes it an important ingredient in many beauty creams for treating eczema, psoriasis, acne, etc.
Sunburn: When there is a sunburn, make cucumber juice and rub it on the affected area for a cooling and healing effect.
Water retention: It supplies the necessary electrolytes and restores hydration of the body cells, thus reducing water retention.
CONSUMPTION TIPS
Choose cucumbers that are dark green in color and firm to the touch. Avoid those that are yellowish or are wrinkled at either ends. Thinner cucumbers have fewer seeds than those that are thicker.
Store cucumbers in the fridge to retain its freshness. Cut cucumbers should be kept wrapped up or in an air-tight container and kept in the fridge. Consume within a day or two.
CAUTION
Where possible, buy organic as cucumbers may be waxed or have pesticides.
How Rose Water Can Help Treat Acne
How Rose Water Can Help Treat Acne
Rose water has been used since ages to subdue acne eruption and heal the acne wounds. Acne can erupt due to many reasons but one of the main reasons is when the sebaceous glands of the skin produce more than necessary sebum. The excess sebum that is produced gets trapped in the skin ultimately leading to acne eruption. Rose water can be highly beneficial under such acne causing scenarios. Not only does rose water helps in the clearing of acne, it also helps in the fading of acne scars that have been left behind after acne bursts. Rose water is one of the most gentle remedies for acne cure while still being very effective.
Benefits of Rose water:
- Rose water is antiseptic and has antimicrobial properties. It helps in the treatment of acne and in addition to that rose water also helps in the fading of acne scars.
- Since rose water is one of the gentle treatments for acne all sorts of skin types including the sensitive one’s can use rose water for acne treatment with ease. It does not causes reddening or burning of the skin like some chemical agents do.
- In addition to acne cure, rose water has many other skin benefits. Rose water in creams helps to maintain the optimum pH balance of the skin, rose water as a toner tightens the pores and helps reduces fine lines and wrinkles.
Home-made recipes for rosewater face pack:
There are many ways to employ rose water for the treatment of acne and some of these include using rose water as face packs and face washes or simply as a facial spray. Some of the options for rose water face pack are listed below:
Rose water and Sandalwood Paste
This combination helps in both subduing acne eruption and the fading of acne scars. To make this face pack, take sandalwood powder and rose water in a 2:1 proportion. In a bowl take 2 tbsp of sandalwood powder and mix with 1 tbsp of rose water. Make a thick paste with the two and apply on the face until it dries and then wash off.
Rose water and Lemon juice
The combination of Rose water and Lemon Juice is also an excellent remedy to cure acne. Lemon juice is already an established remedy when it comes to acne cure. Combine equal parts of rose water and lemon juice i.e.1 tbsp of rose water with 1 tbsp of lemon juice. Mix the two ingredients well. Washing the face with this mixture helps in the opening of pores and then apply the same in the affected areas and leave for 10 minutes. This process helps in the drying of acne and the lemon juice also helps in the lightening of the acne scars. Before using this pack, test it on the elbow or the neck to be sure that you are allergic or sensitive to lemon juice.
Rose water, Cucumber and honey face pack
If you are allergic to citric acid or have a sensitive skin, you could also use this face pack which is a combination of cucumber paste with honey and rose water. To make this face pack, take 2 inches of fresh cucumber and crush it with 2 tbsp honey in a blender. Make a smooth paste out of these two. Now to this paste add Rose water and mix all the three ingredients well. The face pack is now ready to apply on the face. Both Honey and rose water in this face pack have anti-bacterial properties and the cucumber in the face pack provide a cool soothing feeling for the skin.
Rose water availability:
Rose water is widely available in many general and convenience stores. There are many commercial options for rose water like Dabur gulabari rose water, FabIndia rose water etc. You could also make rose water by adding few drops of essential rose oil in water.
If you have been suffering from a lot of skin problems and acne issues, do not stress over it. Try incorporating rose water into your daily routine like using rose water based creams and face washes, rose water toner, rose water cleansers, the above mentioned rose water face packs to cure acne and fade those acne scars.
