Cucumber: Health Benefits, Nutrients & Uses

Medically Reviewed by Checkmark Medically Reviewed By: Sheela Krishnaswamy
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Last Updated on May 5, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Sometimes it is good to have food that has almost no calories. When people search for foods, they pay too much attention to calories. However, if you are looking for something virtually calorie-free, then it is cucumber. A hundred grams of cucumber has merely 15 calories. It means that even a bucket full of cucumbers will not make you obese if you can eat so much.

Cucumber is different from other foods. It is loved and recommended as it is almost free from calories. It has very low amounts of carbs and almost no fats and proteins. However, this raises one crucial question; why eat something with practically no calories and a low quantity of macronutrients?

Imagine a person who is obese or living with diabetes, and has frequent hunger pangs. In such cases, dietitians say that a person can have snacks with a glycemic index below 55 and with very low carbs. Cucumber may make a perfect snack with a glycemic index of just 1, which is the lowest possible. So, it won’t matter how much you eat cucumber, it is not going to make you fat or raise blood glucose. 

But that is not all. Lack of calories does not mean that a food item has no dietary value. In fact, cucumbers have a lot of benefits. They have an excellent macronutrient to micronutrients ratio. It means that with relatively negligible calories, cucumbers have vitamins (like K, B6, folate) and some amounts of minerals.

Additionally, it is still food and can influence satiety. It means that after eating a few cucumbers, a person would still feel full for some time and still not get any calories. 

Finally, remember that it contains phytocompounds that are not essential for health, but they may help fight diseases. The function of many phytocompounds and antioxidants is known to science, but there are other phytocompounds in cucumbers that are poorly known to science. 

Perfect for obese and those living with diabetes

If you are looking to reduce body weight and struggling to reduce food intake, frequently eating cucumbers may help. You will still get water, vitamins, minerals, and almost no calories. It will not make you feel full for longer. Nonetheless, it helps with hunger pangs.

Moreover, it is worth understanding that many obese individuals are food addicts. They simply need to eat something most of the time. They start feeling distressed if they do not eat anything for a few hours. However, cucumber salad is one thing that they can eat to their heart and still be sure that it would not cause any harm. 

Additionally, as already mentioned, those living with diabetes can eat cucumbers to their heart. It cannot increase blood glucose levels by any means. Cucumbers are among the safest foods for those living with diabetes. They contain vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytocompounds, and yet almost no calories and carbs.

Good source of antioxidants

Cucumber is refreshing and is packed with antioxidants. It contains flavonoids, tannins, and other antioxidants. Studies suggest that cucumber is especially good for older adults. In addition, its regular consumption may considerably increase the body’s antioxidant stores and thus exert an antiaging effect. Cucumbers may also help prevent chronic disorders and other health issues.

Cucumber is generally known to promote immunity. Therefore, it is quite likely that many of its immune-boosting effects may be due to its content of antioxidants. However, it is pretty likely that it may have some other immune-boosting properties still waiting to be discovered. 

Good to stay hydrated

Drinking an ample amount of water is good for staying hydrated. However, water alone is not enough to maintain the fluid and electrolyte balance. Cucumber is 95% water, but that is not all. It contains small amounts of minerals, making it an ideal treatment for dehydration.

Minerals or electrolytes in cucumber ensure that water can enter readily into the cells and stay in intracellular space. Additionally, the electrolytes in cucumber may help boost intracellular communication and much more.

Good for gut health

These days, many people live with irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and different functional gastrointestinal disorders. It means continuous issues of constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloating. 

Eating cucumber can help in a range of gastric issues due to its high water content and dietary fiber. In addition, it may have additional benefits due to its content of antioxidants and micronutrients.

Cucumber is an especially good source of pectin. Studies show that pectin can regularize bowel movement and help reduce inflammation. It appears that pectin has some direct impact on intestinal muscles. Additionally, pectin is good for gut microflora, which may explain many of its health benefits for digestive health.

Relatively easy to include in a diet

One of the issues with many foods is that they are difficult to cook or add to the diet. In addition, some may have a very specific taste or aroma. However, cucumber is good to eat without cooking. Nonetheless, it is also good for pickling, cooking, and adding to salads, various foods, and sandwiches. 

Since it does not have any pungent smell or aroma, most people enjoy eating cucumber. Moreover, it is good to eat even in large amounts. There are no known harms of consuming cucumber in large amounts.

Final thoughts

Just half a century back, malnutrition was widespread in India, and thus any food item high in calories was regarded as good. However, now things have changed considerably. The more significant health problem is obesity and dietary imbalances. It means that adding cucumber to a regular diet may help many health issues caused by the modern lifestyle. Cucumber is perfect for preventing and even managing metabolic disorders.

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

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Last Updated on May 5, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

Last Updated on May 5, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

Last Updated on May 5, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

Last Updated on May 5, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

Last Updated on May 5, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

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Last Updated on May 5, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

Last Updated on May 5, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

Last Updated on May 5, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

Last Updated on May 5, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

Last Updated on May 5, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

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Garima Dev Verman
Garima Dev Verman
The author is a qualified nutritionist and diabetes educator. She fact checks and analyses diet and nutrition-based content on THIP
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