Cucumber water is an excellent addition to your health improvement plan because it delivers a number of surprising benefits and is very easy to prepare.
What is Cucumber Water?
Quite simply, cucumber water is water that is infused with cucumber slices. It is made by immersing and soaking cucumber slices in a pitcher or glass of water. While this may sound too simple to be beneficial, many of the active ingredients of cucumber infuse into the water, boosting its overall nutrient content. Moreover, cucumbers are about 95% water. This is one of the reasons why cucumber water is so popular in detox cleanses. [1]
Cucumber water is appealing because it possesses the floral, refreshing flavor of cucumbers, and is good for you in part because it contains B-vitamins such as folate, vitamin C, and essential minerals such as manganese and molybdenum according to the USDA National Nutrient Database. Cucumbers also contain anti-inflammatory beta-carotene, flavonols such as fisetin, and various antioxidants, including cucurbitacins. According to laboratory analysis, cucumber peel contains silicon, which has a number of positive effects in the body. [2] [3]
Most importantly, however, this is a delicious and unique twist on an average glass of water that will keep you coming back for more.
Benefits of Cucumber Water
Popular uses of cucumber water include skin care, weight loss, cardiovascular health, and bone density, among others.
Hydration
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drinking enough fluid each day is very important for many crucial processes in the body. Though plain water usually comes to mind, hydration can be maintained through a variety of beverages and foods according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cucumber water is favored by many for because it not only hydrates your body but may also help prevent constipation and kidney stones – two major reasons people at risk drink lots of water – due to additional benefits of cucumber. [4]
So if you find it difficult to keep drinking water, infusing it with the delicious and nutritious cucumbers can help you increase your nutrient intake while keeping you well hydrated.
Weight Loss
Cucumber water is nearly devoid of calories and is good at filling you up. This can help prevent overeating, which is important for healthy weight loss and management. Its hydrating property is also good for this because thirst can be mistaken for hunger.
Ditch that whiskey, drink cucumber water. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
While water remains the gold standard for regular hydration, mild flavoring without added sugar has been shown to result in more intake than plain. Cucumber, in particular, has been noted to be a particularly refreshing option.
Additionally, water may be supportive of weight loss beyond its influence on satiety. A 12-week research study in middle-aged, overweight and obese men and women (aged 55-75 years, BMI 25-40 m/kg2)showed that those who consumed 500 ml of water prior to three main daily meals as part of a low-calorie diet lost2 kg more than adults who were on a diet alone. Add to this the observed potential of cucumber water to combat metabolic processes in the body associated with overweight, and it’s easy to see why when you make this cucumber water infusion a larger part of your diet, it can help prevent overeating and unnecessary snacking between meals that can derail any diet. [5] [6]
Skin Care
There are a number of antioxidants and other compounds in cucumbers found to support skin health and acne. According to a 2010 study published in the Journal of Young Pharmacists, an aqueous extract of cucumber was found to contain flavonoids and tannins that able to neutralize free radicals. This helps cut down on oxidative stress, the force that can lead to wrinkles, age spots, blemishes, and loose skin as you age. Cucumber water is often turned to as a natural remedy for treating acne breakouts, as well as for its cooling, moisturizing, and elasticity-preserving effects on the skin. [7] [8]
Detoxifying
Drinking cucumber water can increase urination, helping toxins in your body get eliminated faster, reducing the strain on your metabolic system. [9]
Popular uses of cucumber water include skin care, weight loss, cardiovascular health, and bone density, among others.
Muscle Strength
One of the unique components of cucumber water is the mineral silicon. Though it is rarely discussed in relation to human health, silicon is a vital part of connective tissue in the body. Silicon intake may, therefore, help protect muscle integrity, which is key to strength.
Blood Pressure
Cucumber water may have the potential to support healthy blood pressure. Natural cucumber compounds that seep into water have been shown to reduce inflammatory and oxidative stress risk factors associated with hypertension (high blood pressure).
Further, cucumber water is an excellent way to increase your levels of vital electrolytes for overall health. Of these, potassium in particular acts as a vasodilator to reduce blood pressure and lower strain on the cardiovascular system. [10]
Heart and Blood Vessel Health
Findings from a controlled clinical study suggest that cucumber water may have the potential to support healthy blood levels of cholesterol (total, LDL, and HDL) and fats, found to be contributors to atherosclerosis. Further, cucumber water may control inflammation in blood vessels, which is important to the protection of the cardiovascular system in the body.
Bone Density
The minerals in cucumber water include calcium, magnesium, silicon and manganese, all considered to be essential to bone health, including density and integrity. According to research by Dr. Ravin Jugdaosingh at the University Of Cambridge, foods rich in silicon such as cucumber can help to strengthen the bones and lower your risk of osteoporosis as you age. [11]
How to Make Cucumber Water?
It is very easy to make cucumber water, let us take a look at it below.
- Step 1: Clean and slice the cucumber.
- Step 2: Fill a glass or pitcher with cold water, and add the cucumber slices.
- Step 3: Let the cucumber steep in the water for at least a few minutes, ideally for several hours.
- Step 4: Enjoy!
You can also make the water more flavorful by adding ingredients like lemon slices, mint leaves, or fresh berries.
Can You Buy Cucumber Water?
Even though it is very simple to make cucumber water, you can also buy it from supermarkets, drugstores, and online. Just make sure you choose the right product based on your requirements, and that it is free of unnecessary additives such as sugar and artificial chemicals!
- Pure water infused with cucumber
- Natural cucumber water
- Cucumber water face cleanser and cucumber water toner
