Tone Up The Skin

Nourishing the skin, in many instances, has been consigned to use of body cream and massage parlours, but FABIAN ODUM writes that fruits and vegetables, especially cucumber holds a place in the business of making it supple.

SKIN lacking in lustre is a concern and an evidence of improper nourishment, a condition that leaves it prone to infection and disease. But rather than resorting to numerous hydroquinone-laden creams and medicaments that have negative side effects, the all-year-round cucumber provides an answer.

Though many may find cucumber a bit bland in taste, there are nutritionally compelling reasons you need to build it into your menu.

Cucumber will enhance your health in many ways than one – improving the tone of the skin, reducing swellings and irritation of the skin, lowering the blood pressure, and increasing the fibre content to help better movement of the bowel.

The high moisture content leaves a special moist and cooling effect, which marks it out as a thirst quencher.
Skin tonic

Two compounds, vitamin C and caffeic acid have been identified in the juice of cucumber, which help soothe irritation of the skin and reduce swellings. But the pressure of a mineral known as silicon presents another interesting perspective to a healthier skin; it improves the complexion and health of the skin, studies have revealed.

Nutritionists have also found out that silicon is an essential component of healthy connective tissue. This involves areas such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and bones.

Sunburn, swelling under the eyes and other kinds of skin diseases are what cucumber has been known to handle. For instance, vitamin C and caffeic acid in this vegetable have proved to treat some cases of skin disease.
Reducing High Blood Pressure

From medical studies, foods high in potassium, magnesium, and fibre are known to reduce high blood pressure of patients who consume foods rich in them.

Cucumber has proved to assist in bringing down the systolic and diastolic pressure values, the two components that make up the reading for blood pressure measurement. It is necessary as well to add that the studies showing the benefit of cucumber also listed the consumption of other foods such as low fat dairy foods, lean meat and poultry.
Fibre and water

Fibre is known to aid good bowel movement and increasing the softness and volume of stool. This prevents the possibility of colon cancer and related complications. The crunchy skin of cucumber is the source of fibre while the juice assists the proper intake of the vegetable.
Selection and storing

Premium quality cucumber should be firm to touch, rounded at the edge, with colour between bright medium and dark green. Yellow, puffy vegetable with wrinkles at the tips are signs that they should be avoided.

A refrigerator, and not the freezer is the best place to store it, especially the one that has been cut. Cut cucumber should be wrapped or put in plastics and kept in the fridge to avoid drying out.