New Delhi: Cucumber is a popular snack, salad and sandwich staple and is often looked up to for potential health benefits for weight management. However, according to some nutritionists regularly eating cucumbers may not be as healthy as one may presume. Although this vegetable is 96% water and the rest is fibre, experts say it is predominantly relied upon to boost hydration. However, that might be the limit of its health benefits. On the nutrition front, cucumbers do boast copper, B vitamins, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium and vitamins C and K, but in very small portions.
Are cucumbers as nutritious as other vegetables?
Cucumbers do contain antioxidants like flavonoids; however, in comparison to other vegetables like leafy greens, it is not even close to healthy. For instance, many fall back on this vegetable to get fibre but remove the skin before eating it. However, this is a mistake as most of the fibre in this hydration salad staple is in the skin. Also, to make matters worse, it is the skin where pesticides accumulate and are not removed easily either.
The best way to eat cucumbers
Cucumbers, according to many, should be eaten raw to gain maximum health benefits from it. The green vegetable goes well with salads and sandwiches and as is too, it makes for a brilliant snack. And just like cucumbers, iceberg lettuce, too, is weaker in terms of nutrition but it works well for hydration purposes. In terms of nutrition, lettuce has vitamins K, A and C, but in terms of antioxidants, it is weaker than its dark-coloured counterparts.
Talk of the best green vegetables for health and wellbeing, many experts recommend including vegetables like kale, spinach and broccoli in the diet. These foods are nutritional powerhouses and full of phytonutrients, minerals, vitamins and antioxidants. Kale being the superfood in this category, owes a lot to high concentration of nutrients like vitamins K, A and C, fibre, iron and calcium as well. Kale is also loaded with antioxidants which makes it good for vision. Broccoli, too, is good for digestion, but the catch is to only eat these vegetables when cooked.
Cucumbers do contain antioxidants like flavonoids; however, in comparison to other vegetables like leafy greens, it is not even close to healthy. For instance, many fall back on this vegetable to get fibre but remove the skin before eating it. However, this is a mistake as most of the fibre in this hydration salad staple is in the skin. Health News Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
