benefits of cucumber water benefits of cucumber water

10 Amazing Benefits of Cucumber Water

Have people been suggesting you start drinking cucumber water? Well, they might be right! Keep reading to find out the many benefits of cucumber water!

Cucumber is a staple at health spas, given the numerous health benefits of the vegetable. However, cucumber-infused water can be equally beneficial to your health, if not more.

In fact, you will often find Healthline media websites, or at times, even wellness professionals, recommending you to try adding cucumber water to your diet due to the various health benefits of cucumber water.

These benefits include helping you stay hydrated, have healthy bones, improve skin health, and even lose weight!

Cucumber water is a fast, easy, and tasty method to consume water. Antioxidants 1and other minerals found in cucumbers may effectively deter a number of diseases, such as cancer and diabetes.

We shall delve deeper into the benefits of cucumber water and many more in this article.

1. 10 Health Benefits of Drinking Cucumber Water

1.1. It Helps You Stay Hydrated

One of the most important benefits of cucumber water is that it ensures proper hydration.

The survival of your body is reliant on water. Water is required for the efficient functioning of every cell and organ of your body. In fact, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians, individuals should consume six to eight glasses of water daily.

However, we understand that slurping plain water all day can become tedious and might get dull after a while.

On the other hand, adding cucumber to water pleases your taste buds, encouraging you to drink more, and making it easier to drink water to keep you energized throughout the day! Additionally, cucumbers also have a high-water component of roughly 95%, which adds to the benefit!

1.2. It is High in Antioxidants

Another one of the many benefits of cucumber water is that it is high in antioxidants.

Antioxidants are potent nutrients that can help to avoid or even repair cell damage caused by free radical oxidative stress, which can result in chronic diseases. Chronic oxidative stress2 can result in health conditions such as cancer, diabetes, coronary artery diseases, and Alzheimer’s.

Hence, you should eat antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables.

Cucumbers are an example of this as they are abundant in antioxidants such as vitamin C, manganese, beta carotene, molybdenum, and many flavonoid antioxidants3.

Therefore, cucumber water makes for a great detox drink, and drinking cucumber water is going to help delay cell damage and boost your immune system.

1.3. It Helps Regulate Blood Pressure

Cucumber water has numerous health benefits, one of which is regulating blood pressure.

High blood pressure is a serious condition, and if it persists for an extended period of time, it might lead to stroke or death. Excess sodium and not enough potassium in your diet are two factors that contribute to high blood pressure.

High sodium causes constrict blood flow by blocking your vessels and your body from retaining fluid. Potassium, on the other hand, is an electrolyte that aids the kidneys in balancing the amount of salt they retain. So, by combatting the effects of sodium, potassium reduces blood pressure.

Potassium is abundant in cucumbers. Hence, drinking cucumber-infused water increases potassium levels in the body, which may assist in lowering blood pressure.

Cucumber water is also a diuretic, which means that it encourages the generation of more urine. Diuretics aid in the reduction of sodium and the maintenance of fluid balance in the body, both of which are necessary for maintaining stable blood pressure levels.

1.4. It May Help Avoid Cancer and Kidney Stones

Cucumbers have also been shown in studies to help prevent some malignancies. Cucumbers include antioxidants, beneficial compounds called cucurbitacins4, and a collection of minerals known as lignans, which are essential for cancer prevention.

Fisetin, a dietary flavonoid found in cucumbers, was found to help inhibit the development of prostate cancer in one research published in the Journal of Cancer Research.

Cucumber water can also help you avoid kidney stones if you drink it on a regular basis. Because of the high water content, it aids in detoxification and the removal of toxins from the body, hence avoiding and eliminating kidney stones.

Furthermore, taking cucumber water health spas on a regular basis lowers your risk of acquiring colon cancer.

1.5. Cucumber Water Promotes Healthy Skin

Cucumber water can keep your skin healthy on the surface and from within.

Everyone is aware of what harm dehydration does to your skin health. Your skin starts to seem spotty, dry, and rough. Cucumber has the ability to moisturize your skin due to their high water content. It can also help your body to remove toxins.

Cucumber water can also help you have a clear complexion as your skin’s oil equilibrium can be preserved by using cucumber. It works as an astringent to constrict the pores on your skin and lessen sebum oil production. As a result, your skin produces appropriate amounts of oil, and acne is kept in check.

Vitamin B-5, known as pantothenic acid, is also abundant in cucumbers and often used to treat acne. About 5% of the daily requirement for vitamin B-5 is present in one cup of sliced cucumbers.

Additionally, dangerously unstable molecules called free radicals are produced by environmental factors, including UV radiation and intense pollution. Your skin cells may be harmed, and your DNA 5may be impacted. Additionally, skin cancer may result from this condition. Antioxidants are the most well-known substance to combat free radicals, and cucumber is an antioxidant powerhouse.

1.6. It has Anti Inflammatory Properties

Cucumber is known to have anti-inflammatory properties, which means that they can organically treat itchy and inflamed skin. It can also be used to heal wounds and cuts and common puffiness. Your skin’s inflammation will gradually subside while receiving immediate calming relief.

It can also relieve skin burns brought on by excessive sun exposure. It can lessen your skin’s redness due to such properties.

1.7. It Improves Bone Health

Cucumbers are rich in vitamin C, essential for producing collagen, which is necessary for forming the bone matrix.

Your body also requires vitamin K to help generate the proteins needed to create strong bones and connective tissues as well as to aid in appropriate blood clotting. Numerous studies have also connected low K levels to osteoporosis and an increased risk of fractures because this nutrient is necessary for the development of bones.

But good for you, a single cup of cucumber slices contains around 19% of your ideal daily intake, making improved bone health, a major one of the health benefits of cucumber water!

1.8. Cucumber Water Benefits Your Muscles

Not just bones, but cucumber water also benefits your muscles!

This is because silica, a trace mineral required to maintain the health of connective tissue, is found in cucumbers.

You can receive a small dose of silica and enjoy a refreshing drink by replacing your sports drinks with cucumber water!

1.9. It Aids in Weight Loss

Did you know that drinking cucumber water can help you lose weight?

Swapping your sugary drinks with a healthy drink such as cucumber water is an efficient and easy way to reduce your caloric intake! Cucumber water contains nearly no calories. So, it enables one to partake in flavorful beverages without consuming extra calories!

Cucumber water also reduces your appetite. A fiber-rich vegetable like cucumber can help you stay satisfied for longer and stave off unexpected cravings and unnecessary snacking. You can also reduce your belly fat thanks to this benefit! So, in short, you can feel fuller just by drinking water!

Cucumber-infused water boosts your metabolism, which aids with weight loss.

1.10. Makes for a Great Detox Drink

As mentioned above, cucumber water is rich in antioxidants, making it an excellent detox drink and would improve your overall health!

It assists the body in eliminating toxins through urine since they are a natural diuretic and cleanses water. Additionally, the fiber in this superfood veggie will remove toxins from your digestive system if you munch on a bit of cucumber while you drink.

Finally, cucumber water is also generally inexpensive and can be easily included in your diet, even special ones like keto or gluten-free diets6. It also makes for a great drink to offer your guests instead of plain filtered water, as infused waters not only taste better but also provide a more luxurious vibe.

2. How to Make Cucumber Water?

Now that we have discussed the benefits of cucumber water, you might want to figure out how actually to prepare cucumber water. Well, do not worry, as since you can create it to taste, a recipe is not necessary.

However, we have just the right cucumber water recipe for you to make things easier! Here it is!

2.1. Recipe of Cucumber Water

Ingredients-

  • 8 cups of water
  • Half a teaspoon of sea salt
  • 2 thinly sliced cucumbers

Yes, that is it! You just need 3 ingredients to prepare cucumber water!

Directions-

As for the directions, they are simple too!

  1. Slice the cucumber into thin pieces after washing it.
  2. Put as many cucumber slices as you’d like in a container.
  3. For garnish, save a few extra slices of cucumber.
  4. Add water to the pitcher.
  5. Let the flavor permeate into the water by refrigerating it for 4-5 hours. If you want it at room temperature, letting it sit for 1-2 hours should be sufficient.
  6. You can then remove the cucumber slices from the water if you wish to.
  7. Slices of cucumber can also be floated in the water or used as a garnish in the glass.
  8. You can also add ice cubes and some lemon to cucumber water while consuming or serving to add more taste and make it even more refreshing!

2.2. Things to Remember

Cucumbers are likely to soften if they are submerged in water for longer than 12 hours, so for good quality cucumber water, it would be best to take cucumber slices from it after 12 hours.

It would be ideal for removing any fruits or herbs you might have added to the cucumber water after a day.

Lastly, remember to consume it within 3 days, or it goes bad.

2.3. Selecting the Perfect Cucumber

Well, you can make cucumber water with pretty much any kind of cucumber. But if you are looking for the perfect one, medium to dark green in color, firm, and wrinkle-free cucumbers are ideal.

Also, since cucumber peels have many health benefits, we do not recommend peeling them. But since grocery stores usually wax their skin, wash your cucumbers with a specialized fruit and vegetable wash or choose organic, non-waxed cucumbers.

And even if it is not for the wax, purchasing organic cucumbers would always be a good idea!

2.4. Some More Drink Recipes

To add some extra flavor and make it even tastier while maintaining the health benefits of cucumber water, consider adding any of the following ingredients:

  • Lemon slices
  • Lemon juice
  • Fresh mint
  • Ginger
  • Orange slices
  • Berries

Well, that was all! Now, it is safe to say that it is true that refreshing cucumber water can do wonders for the human body and help you live a healthy lifestyle!

Also, the benefits of cucumber water are far too useful to be doubted! What other consumable product could actually help you prevent cancer, lose weight, and have healthy bones and skin, all at the same time?

So if you still haven’t started drinking cucumber water, start now to enjoy the numerous benefits of cucumber water and take your first step towards healthy living!

3. Frequently Asked Questions

3.1. How long can we keep cucumbers in water?

Cucumbers can be kept overnight (up to 7-12 hours) in water so that water can get the essence of the cucumber.

3.2. For how long can we keep cucumber water?

You can keep and use the cucumber water best before 3 days, stored in a refrigerator.

3.3. How much cucumber water can I drink daily?

Consume cucumber water as you consume water every day, in general. you can drink approximately 4-5 cups daily.

3.4. How much cucumber can I put in 1 liter of water?

You can put around 25 slices of a medium-thick cucumber in a liter of water to infuse it in.

3.5. What are the side effects of cucumber water?

As cucumber water is liquid, drinking it in excess amounts may lead to an increase in urination and can cause bloating because of water weight.

Read more on Cucumber!

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  1. Gulcin, İlhami. “Antioxidants and antioxidant methods: An updated overview.” Archives of toxicology 94.3 (2020): 651-715. ↩︎
  2. Sharifi-Rad, Mehdi, et al. “Lifestyle, oxidative stress, and antioxidants: Back and forth in the pathophysiology of chronic diseases.” Frontiers in physiology 11 (2020): 694. ↩︎
  3. flavonoid antioxidants ↩︎
  4. Dai, Shu, et al. “Cucurbitacin B: A review of its pharmacology, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics.” Pharmacological research 187 (2023): 106587. ↩︎
  5. Huang, Ruixue, and Ping-Kun Zhou. “DNA damage repair: Historical perspectives, mechanistic pathways and clinical translation for targeted cancer therapy.” Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy 6.1 (2021): 254. ↩︎
  6. Aljada, Bara, Ahmed Zohni, and Wael El-Matary. “The gluten-free diet for celiac disease and beyond.” Nutrients 13.11 (2021): 3993. ↩︎

Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology

Author

Ananya Sreen

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