If you’re getting ready to plan your garden for the year, you might want to include cucumbers.
This wonder-vegetable is much more than just water in cucumber skin.
In fact, there are many benefits of cucumbers. They can promote heart health, reduce plaque formation, relieve bloating, and help fight and reduce the risk of cancer.
Here are 5 Proven Benefits of Cucumbers and a Keto Zone Cucumber Salad for Spring and Summer.
Keto Zone Cool Cucumber Salad
Ingredients:
- 2 medium cucumbers, thinly sliced (unpeeled)
- 1/3 cup raw apple cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup water
- 3 tablespoons Erythritol or other Keto sweetener, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- Chopped fresh dill weed or parsley, if desired
Instructions:
Place cucumbers in small glass or plastic bowl. Place remaining ingredients (except dill/parsley) in a tightly covered container. Shake well until erythritol is dissolved.
Pour liquid over cucumbers. Cover and refrigerate 3 or more hours. Serves 4.
Nutrition Info: 23 calories, 4 gm net carbs (5 gm carbs, 2 gm fiber), 0 gm fat, 1 gm protein
What’s in a Cucumber?
Have you always thought of cucumbers as little more than roughage and water? It’s no wonder, an entire cucumber boosts only 45 calories (1). However, there’s more to a cucumber.
In fact, you may be surprised to learn that cucumbers offer a lot of health benefits. Here are 5 Proven Benefits of Cucumbers.
5 Proven Benefits of Cucumbers
1.Polyphenols and Reduced Cancer Risk
Cucumbers have unique polyphenols called lignans. Lignans are health-benefiting fibers that have been linked to reduced risk of cardiovascular disease as well as several cancer types, including breast, uterine, ovarian, and prostate cancers in research again and again (2).
2. Antioxidants for Healthy Arteries
Cucumbers contain extracts with powerful antioxidant effects. The antioxidants in fresh cucumber extracts help scavenge free radicals, help reduce oxidative stress, and reduce the formation of plaques in artery walls. Some of its powerful antioxidant include vitamin C, beta-carotene, and manganese.
3. Anti-inflammatory Compounds for Better Heart Health
In lab studies, cucumber extract have shown promise in reducing endothelial inflammation. Endothelial cells are located in the walls of blood vessels. These anti-inflammatories may also inhibit the activity of pro-inflammatory enzymes. Reducing any endothelial inflammation is important to heart health and anti-cancer efforts (3).
4. Curcurbitacins and More Cancer Fighting Compounds
What are curcurbitacins? The compounds are triterpene phytonutrients that have been sown to inhibit anti-cancer properties. In addition to the anti-cancer lignans, curcurbitacins my disrupt cancer cell signaling pathways (4).
5. Anti-Bloat Diurectics
Fresh cucumber has gentle diuretic effects, which help reduce bloating and fullness that can occur during hot summer months, or after eating high sodium foods. Since cucumbers have a high water content, they encourage the body to produce more urine to remove extra toxins.
Bonus Cucumber Options:
- Fresh Keto Zone “Chips:” If you’re looking for a snack with a tasty crunch, try using salted cucumber slices in place of chips with salsa. Now obviously, this isn’t an exact substitute for chips and salsa, nor will it taste like it. But, it’s a different snack, and one that lets you enjoy fresh salsa or other dips while staying in the Keto Zone.
- Anti-Bloat Smoothie: Since cucumbers are great as a gentle diuretic to get off extra bloat from too much sodium, sugar, or hot temperatures, you can use them in this Keto Zone Celery Cucumber Smoothie.
More Benefits from Keto Zone Cucumber Salad
In addition to the nutrition-punch from cucumbers, you’ll also get a healthy dose of raw apple cider vinegar in our Keto Zone Cucumber Salad.
Raw Apple Cider Vinegar offers:
- Improved Blood Sugars: Apple Cider Vinegar has been shown to reduce high blood sugars and promote balance.
- Better Blood Pressure: Studies have shown improvements in blood pressure and blood cholesterol.
- Digestive Health: Apple Cider Vinegar actually soothes digestive cells and reduces digestive ailments.
- Congestion and Sinus Pressure Relief: Apple Cider Vinegar can cause sinuses to drain. It is also anti-bacteria and anti-viral.
- Beauty, Cleaning, Household Uses, and Much More!
Read more about Apple Cider Vinegar here.
Bottom Line:
Cucumbers are a fresh, cool, and healthy vegetable that’s perfect for Keto Zone eating. As spring and summer roll around, you’ll want to make this delicious cucumber salad. Not only does it taste great, but it offers tons of health-promoting nutrients.
