It’s no secret that cucumbers are one of the healthiest veggies out there, and they can help you lose weight too! Cucumbers are 95% water, so they make great additions to your salads and other raw dishes. Plus, they’re extremely low in calories (1 cup of sliced cucumbers contains only 16 calories), which makes it easy to add them to your diet without worrying about taking in too many extra calories. Here are the top 10 ways cucumbers can help you lose weight safely!
1) Enhance Digestion
Cucumbers are a natural diuretic, which helps your body get rid of excess water weight. Add cucumbers to your diet by eating them in salads and sandwiches or by drinking cucumber water. A great way to use cucumbers is as part of an appetizer platter with feta cheese, olives and pepperoncini peppers for a salty-sweet snack that is both filling and low-calorie. Eat these three ingredients together for an energizing start to your day!
2) Exfoliate Your Skin
Cucumber slices are a great way to exfoliate your skin, and they’re gentle enough for even sensitive skin. Slice a cucumber in thin rounds and rub the pieces on your face, neck, back of hands, or any other areas where you have rough patches of dry skin. Leave the cucumbers on for about 15 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. This will help slough off dead skin cells and leave your skin feeling refreshed.
3) Detoxify Your Body
Detoxifying your body is one of the best ways to lose weight. The cucumber has a high water content and is a natural diuretic, so drinking cucumber water will help flush out toxins in your system. It also has an alkaline pH which will help balance the body’s metabolism and reduce inflammation.
4) Promote Fat Loss
Cucumbers are low in calories, high in water and a good source of vitamins A, B1 and B2. They also contain insoluble fiber which helps you to feel fuller for longer. Add them to your salad or sandwich wraps for a healthy lunch alternative.
5) Improve Energy Levels
If you’re looking for a way to increase your energy levels, try eating cucumbers. Not only are they high in water, which helps keep you feeling full and energized, but they also help to flush out toxins from the body.
6) Improve Mood
A recent study found that eating cucumbers may help you feel happier and less stressed. They’re also one of the best sources of vitamin K, which is essential for bone health and helps reduce inflammation. The cool part about this is that when your body senses an increased amount of Vitamin K, it tells your brain to release serotonin. The high level of serotonin makes you feel relaxed and happy! So eat some cucumbers next time you need a mood boost!
7) Control Hunger
Cucumbers are low in calories and high in water, making them a low-calorie food that fills you up. They also have a high fiber content that can help control hunger. The cucumber’s natural water content makes it an excellent choice for people who struggle with overeating due to dry mouth or those who need to lose weight.
8) Fight Inflammation
Cucumbers are a vegetable that have many health benefits, one of which is their ability to fight inflammation. Inflammation can lead to all sorts of health problems, including high cholesterol and diabetes. The cucumber’s high water content helps flush toxins from the body, reducing the risk for inflammation-related illnesses.
9) Reduce Water Retention
Cucumbers are a natural diuretic, which means they flush out excess water and toxins from your body. One cucumber contains up to four percent of the daily recommended intake of magnesium and potassium, essential minerals for maintaining fluid levels in the body. To get the most benefits from cucumbers, eat them raw or cut into slices and add them to salads or sandwich wraps.
10) Prevent Skin Conditions (acne, eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis)
Eating cucumbers is a great way to prevent skin conditions like acne, eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis. To do this, eat at least one cucumber every day! Be sure to peel the skin off first because it can irritate sensitive skin.