Do you have a crazy busy schedule but still want to take care of yourself? The good news is that, even on hectic days, there are some quick and simple ways to stay healthy. One of them is drinking cucumber water — read on to find out about all the things this amazing drink can do for your body.
1. Cucumber Water Lowers Risk of Heart Disease
Cardiac disease is the number one killer in America, according to the American Heart Association. However, the good news is that you can reduce your chances of developing this disease through good lifestyle choices such as a healthy diet, regular exercise and including cucumber water in your diet. It has been shown to help reduce high blood pressure — a major risk factor for heart disease — by helping the kidneys to get rid of extra sodium in the body.
2. Cucumber Water Prevents Weak Bones
Osteoporosis is a serious, chronic condition which puts you at a much higher risk for broken bones — and which is particularly a problem for women once they hit menopause. When most people think about bone health, calcium, vitamin D and magnesium come to mind — but vitamin K is incredibly important, too. And luckily, cucumbers are incredibly rich in vitamin K, which helps to form the bones matrix and keeps the bone dense and strong.
3. Cucumber Water Prevents Dehydration
Dehydration can happen for a variety of reasons — a warm day, a strenuous work-out, or just not taking the time to drink enough water. Dehydration can cause digestive problems, make circulation more sluggish and even promote weight gain, since many people eat when they actually are thirsty. The National Institute of Health, however, recommends between 6 and 8 glasses a day for best health: cucumber water, being delicious, makes getting enough water in your system a lot easier to do.
4. Cucumber Water May Reduce Cancer Risk
While cucumber water alone cannot lower your cancer risk, it can be used as a part of an overall healthy lifestyle and can provide your body with the vitamins, mineral and fiber it needs to stay healthy. However, this beverage is rich in antioxidants and compounds such as cucurbitacins and lignans which have been shown in clinical studies to help the body fend off cancer development. This is another great reason to indulge in cucumber water.
5. Cucumber Water Lowers Chances of Chronic Diseases
Cancer and osteoporosis are not the only chronic diseases you have to worry about as you get older — diseases of the eyes, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease (which causes progressive memory loss) are difficult and common conditions, too. However, the rich array of antioxidants in cucumbers can help reduce stress on the cells, slow the aging process, and prevent many of these age-related conditions.
6. Cucumber Water Helps Avoid Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies
Let’s face it: most of us still get too much processed food in our diets — and processed food is just not a good source of the vitamins and minerals we need to stay healthy. So mineral and vitamin deficiencies are more common than many people realize and can lead to problems like fatigue, muscle or bone weakness or a depressed immune system, just to name a few. Cucumbers, however, are a rich source nutrients like vitamins A and C and manganese to make up for deficiencies in our diet.
7. Cucumber Water Removes Toxic Build-Up
Between the chemicals in food and drinking water, air pollution and even household chemicals and cleaners, our bodies are exposed to a lot of toxins on a daily basis. These toxins can build up in the system and cause fatigue and other problems. Cucumber water, however, can help detoxify our bodies due to its high water and high fiber content, which make it easier for the body to eliminate harmful chemicals every time we go to the bathroom.
8. Cucumber Water Helps You Shed Extra Weight
According to the Center for Disease Control, two-thirds of Americans are considered to be overweight or obese — and anyone who has been on a diet knows just how hard it is to shed those excess pounds. Cucumber water can help: drinking it can help to curb your appetite and make it easier to cut down on calories without suffering from hunger pains. It also helps you to reduce overall calories if you use it as a replacement for sodas, juice or other sugary drinks.
9. Cucumber Water Prevents Dry Skin
Sun exposure, cold or hot weather and air pollution can all take its toll on your skin, leaving it dry, red and itchy. However, cucumber water can help. When you drink it, you help to not only hydrate your skin from within, you also provide silicon and vitamin B-5, two nutrients your skin needs to stay healthy. When you use it as a toner, you can help reduce inflammation and irritation and keep your skin smooth and clear.
10. Cucumber Water Prevents Muscle Weakness
Lack of exercise and of certain nutrients in the diet makes it easy for muscles to get flabby and weak — and this can make it harder to lose weight, exercise regularly and get into shape. Cucumber water, however, can nourish the muscles with important nutrients like silicon. If you are on a program to help build up your muscles through weight-lifting or weight-bearing exercises, cucumber water is a great way to make that program more effective.
Try these Five Delicious Recipes for Cucumber Water at Home!
Watermelon-Cucumber-Mint Infused Water
Strawberry-Cucumber-Basil Water
So if you are interested in a quick and easy way to help improve your health, consider trying one of these healthful variations on the classic cucumber water and bring the spa home to you!
Featured photo credit: dashkin14 via shutterstock.com
