We breakdown the top 5 health benefits of drinking cucumber water along with a delicious diy cucumber water recipe you can make at home.
Overview of Cucumber Water
Water is an essential part of our diet, and cucumber water is a great way to add some nutrients to your daily routine. Cucumbers are high in antioxidants, which can help improve your overall health. They are also a good source of vitamins A, C, and K. Additionally, cucumber water can help detoxify your body and reduce inflammation.
What is Cucumber Water?
Cucumber water is water that has been steeped or infused with fresh cucumber. The fresh cucumber imparts its flavour into the water and exhibits a light, crisp flavoured water. The longer the cucumber infuses in the water, the better the flavour.
What’s the Difference Between Cucumber Water & Cucumber Juice?
Cucumber juice is made from juicing fresh cucumber with an electric juicer and essentially includes the actual juice from the entire cucumber. Cucumber water is plain or filtered water that has fresh cucumber added to it.
Cucumber water is not only refreshing, but it also comes with a host of health benefits. Read on to learn more about the top five reasons why you should start drinking cucumber water today.
1. Complete Hydration
Cucumbers are approximately 95% water, making them an excellent way to get more H2O into your body. Not only that, they are rich in electrolytes including potassium, which helps regulate the movement of water into and out of our bodies cells. Staying hydrated is key to improving digestion, enhancing brain function and elevating your energy levels.
2. Boosts Antioxidant Levels
Cucumbers are full of antioxidants, including Vitamin C, beta carotene, manganese and molybdenum. Antioxidants are known for their protection against inflammation and oxidative stress. Increased oxidative stress and inflammation contribute to higher levels of free radicals, which have been linked to numerous diseases including, heart disease, cancer, arthritis and many other conditions. Antioxidants act by neutralising free radicals in our bodies, and this can help boost overall health.
3. Rich in Electrolytes
Cucumber water naturally contains electrolytes, sodium and potassium, which play a key role in helping your body recover after exercising. Depending on the length and intensity of exercise, sodium is lost through sweat, resulting in reduced levels of sodium and can contribute to muscle cramping. This can be a sign of imbalanced electrolytes, so try drinking cucumber water to replenish electrolyte levels after a workout.
4. Glowing Skin
We now know cucumber water can keep us hydrated and protect our body against inflammation, so this protection on the inside will definitely show on the outside through our skin! The skin is the largest organ of the body and so keeping it hydrated is a must if you want glowing skin. Plus, cucumber water is rich in Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), which helps retain moisture and naturally facilitates our skin’s repairing process.
5. Supports Digestion
Cucumber water is a natural diuretic which means it makes the body produce more urine and this can help eliminate excessive toxins and waste from our digestive tract. Vitamin K is also found in cucumber water and this powerhouse vitamin helps promote the growth of healthy bacteria in our gut. And we all know, a happy gut means a happy body!
DIY Cucumber Water Recipe
This cucumber water recipe is perfect on a Summer’s day (or pretty much any day) and best of all you can customise it to your heart’s content.
Ingredients:
- One large cucumber, skin on, washed
- One litre of water
- One medium-sized lemon, washed
How to make it:
- Slice both the cucumber and lemon into about half centimetre round slices and place into your serving jug.
- Add 1L of water into the jug and gently stir.
- Leave to infuse for at least an hour before drinking.
How to Make Cucumber Water Taste Even Better!
- Add a handful of frozen fruits, like raspberries and blueberries
- Add a bunch of fresh herbs, like mint just before serving
- Add other citrus fruits, like orange or grapefruit slices
Ready to Start Adding Cucumber Water into Your Daily Routine?
Cucumber water is a refreshing and hydrating beverage that can be enjoyed any time of day. Not only does it taste great, but it also offers numerous health benefits. If you’re looking for a way to improve your overall health, add cucumber water to your daily routine!
Let’s recap on the health benefits of cucumber water:
- Cucumbers are 96% water, making them an excellent source of hydration;
- Cucumbers are rich in antioxidants, which help protect your cells from damage;
- Cucumber water is a great way to replenish electrolytes after a workout;
- The antioxidants and vitamins in cucumber water can help give your skin a healthy glow and;
- Cucumbers contain fibre and other nutrients that support digestive health.
So what are you waiting for? Start sipping on cucumber water today! Your body will thank you for it. PLUS it’s just so damn delicious!
Sources
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5075620/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22150427/
- https://www.jarlife.net/3050-evaluating-the-potential-benefits-of-cucumbers-for-improved-health-and-skin-care.html
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7928036/#:~:text=Vitamin%20K%20may%20be%20an,produced%20by%20the%20gut%20microbiota.
- Image: https://www.acouplecooks.com/cucumber-herb-infused-water/
