10 Surprising Benefits of Cucumbers You Need to Know

Wellness Coach Tammy Parkinson

For The Love Of Cucumbers 


I have a love of cucumbers. I like to munch on them while I’m cooking dinner. They are refreshing and light.  In a random search of the benefits of cucumbers, I came across this data and learned a few things about their nutritional value…as well as homeopathic and household values: 
 
1.  Cucumbers are a good source of B vitamins, and B vitamins help as a catalyst for other carbohydrates, which means they provide assisted energy
 
2. Cucumbers are 95 percent water and very nutrient rich.  Cucumbers have most of the vitamins the body needs in a single day. Don’t forget to leave the skin on because the skin contains a good amount of vitamin C, about 10 percent of the daily-recommended allowance.
 
3. Healthy for skin and hair. The skin of cucumbers can help for human skin irritations and sunburns just as aloe would be used. Place a slice over puffy eyes and its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce puffiness. The silicon and sulfur in cucumbers help to stimulate hair growth.
 
4. Fight cancers – Cucumber are known to contain lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol. These three lignans have a strong history of research in connection with reduced risk of several cancer types, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and prostate cancer.
 
5. Home care – Eliminates a foggy mirror. Before taking a shower, rub a cucumber slice along a mirror and it will eliminate the mirror fogging up. Instead of WD40, take a cucumber slice and rub it along a squeaky hinge and your door will stop squeaking.
 
6. Relieves bad breath – Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.
 
7. Hangover cure – To avoid a morning hangover or headache; eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish many essential nutrients, reducing the intensity of both hangover and headache.
 
8. Aids in weight loss and digestion – Due to its low calorie and high water content, cucumber is an ideal diet for people who are looking for weight loss. The high water content and dietary fiber in cucumbers are very effective in ridding the body of toxins from the digestive system, aiding digestion. Daily consumption of cucumbers can be regarded as a remedy for chronic constipation.
 
9. Cures diabetes, reduces cholesterol and controls blood pressure – Cucumber juice contains a hormone which is needed by the cells of the pancreas for producing insulin which has been found to be beneficial to diabetic patients. Researchers found that a compound called sterols in cucumbers may help reduce cholesterol levels. Cucumbers contain a lot of potassium, magnesium and fiber. These work effectively for regulating blood pressure. This makes cucumbers good for treating both low blood pressure and high blood pressure.
 
10. Promotes joint health, relieves gout and arthritis pain -Cucumber is an excellent source of silica, which is known to help promotes joint health by strengthening the connective tissues. They are also rich in vitamin A, B1, B6, C & D, Folate, Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium. When mixed with carrot juice, they can relieve gout and arthritis pain by lowering the uric acid levels

About the author: Tammy Parkinson
For most of my life I struggled with my weight and nutrition. Through years of constant battling with my weight, I turned a corner when I finally understood what it takes to drop body fat and stay on a healthy nutritional track for life…without compromising my lifestyle. I gave up a career in the corporate field and dedicated my life to helping others turn their corner. From starting Body Firm over 19 years ago, I have grown, sold Body Firm to a wonderful colleague and dedicated my life to Lifestyle and Nutritional coaching solely… one client at a time.  The individuals I’ve been blessed to guide had a ripple effect and are inspiring others towards their goals too.

Learn more about Tammy on her website: https://www.mybodyfirm.com
 
Sources:
 
https://www.gardeningchannel.com
 
https://www.healthonlinezine.inf
 
https://www.eatingwell.com
 
https://www.naturalnews.com
 
https://truthwiki.org/Cucumbers

 

Cover Photo by Jonathan Pielmayer on Unsplash

Best Cereal of 2019

Cereal is one of the most popular breakfast items, however many people end up eating them for other meals or as snacks between meals as well. The problem that arises is that cereal can be full of sugars and low of necessary components such as protein and fibers. We’ve made a roundup of the healthiest cereals for you to easily come back and find what to try next. Now you will cure your cereal craving while not indulging in all the unhealthy components of traditional cereals.

The Sweet Tooth

Those who have a sweet tooth but are still trying to make a healthier choice will love Barbara’s Cinnamon Puffins. This cereal has 6 grams of sugar and fiber, 1 gram more than the Original Puffins, with 2 grams of protein. It has only 90 calories per 2/3 cup and therefore will you keep full while satisfying that morning sweetness you woke up with.

Low Sugar

If you are worried about the amount of sugar you are consuming, Bob’s Red Mill Quick Cooking Steel Cut Oats is for you. These oats are made with 100% whole grain and are ready for you to consume in 7 minutes. With just ¼ cup dry serving, you will have the energy to power through your morning. With 0 sugars, 3 grams of fiber, and 140 calories, this is a great cereal in the morning. Feel free to eat make this in the morning or use this in an overnight oat recipe.

High Protein

Finding a cereal with a high protein count isn’t always easy, but we’ve found a delicious cereal for you. The Kashi GOLEAN Original Cereal has a high protein count of 12 grams per 1 ¼ cup of cereal with 8 grams of sugar and 180 calories. This is the perfect cereal to keep your body working hard and not feeling hungry soon after consumption.

Gluten Free

A great gluten free cereal is hard to find nowadays. Many of them have hidden ingredients or are loaded in sugar to cover up other ingredients in the mix. The Vans Sensation is delicious and doesn’t taste like you’re eating the traditional bland gluten-free cereal. The serving size is a ¾ cup for 110 calories, 4 grams of fiber, 2 grams of protein, and 9 grams of sugar. This is a great cereal that also cures the chocolate lover’s needs.

All-Around Winner

Health Bear’s Pure Porridge are all delicious and great for anyone. With a large variety of flavors suitable for anyone, we are positive you will find one you love. Our favorites include the Chocolate Cherry Almond and Coconut Cardamom Golden Raisin. Their starter line of porridge is low in calories each, high in fiber, and low in sugar (all of which are from natural ingredients). These will surely keep you full while ensuring all ingredients are natural, organic, and nutritious.

No matter your concern is for your food intake, we are sure you’re going to find your new favorite cereal somewhere in this list.

5 Ways for a Better Start in Your Day

Developing a great morning routine can truly make or break the rest of your day. Think of the last time you spent a little extra time on yourself in the morning and it resulted in more positivity and productivity for the rest of the day. Here are 5 ways to improve the start of your day.

Put Down the Phone

Give yourself a bit of time in the morning before picking up your phone. Whether this is a 15-minute stretching time in bed or not picking up the phone until your workout or breakfast is done, this allows you to focus on yourself. By doing this, you will not be stressed in the morning looking at all your notifications and emails. This allows time for you to get your thoughts together and not have work on your mind right away.

Set Goals

A good habit to develop is to create goals for yourself. If you go in the day without any intentions or a clear to-do list, you will easily feel overwhelmed. Ensure to not just list dozens of tasks that you need. Instead, create a list of 4-6 tasks that you will focus on for both yourself and your work. This could include working out, answering emails, finishing the project at work, and reaching out to a family member. Know what your priorities are and get those knocked out of the way. You can then move onto the less important tasks for the day while eliminating tasks that may have been “due” for the next day.

Start Moving

Whenever you start moving in the morning and getting a sweat sesh in, you will feel good for the rest of the day. Not only will you feel more concentrated, but you are also boosting the production of endorphins which results in happiness. A morning workout, or even just a walk outside, keeps you productive from the beginning and makes you feel confident throughout the day.

Find Your Motivation

Everyone is different and will respond to various motivation tactics. Find something that works for you that you can do in the morning that gets you pumped for the day. Some people love blasting music to start their day with a bang. Others prefer to spend time meditating in the morning. Perhaps someone loves to spend extra time on their skin routine, makeup, or planning their outfit. Whatever makes you happy and ready to conquer the day, take note of that and keep doing it every day.

Eat a Healthy Breakfast

A nutritious breakfast is very important in how your day is set up. A healthy breakfast means your energy levels will be high and you will obtain all your necessary nutrients to work hard throughout the day. Try incorporating the necessary components such as healthy grains, plenty of protein, and natural sugars. Pure Porridge contains all of these in a very fast and delicious container. With this, you will receive all the healthy carbs and high proteins to get you through the day feeling awake and energized.

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