More than just water
It is one of the most popular and most eaten vegetables in the Netherlands: the cucumber. And that’s not surprising, because thanks to its neutral taste you can eat cucumber with everything. Many people think that this elongated vegetable is not really healthy, but that is wrong.
The cucumber belongs to the melon and zucchini family. The fruit vegetable grows on a climbing plant with large leaves; dozens of cucumbers can grow on a stem. They are still dark green when harvested, but the cucumber gradually becomes lighter as it ripens.
Raw and extra
Most people eat the cucumber raw and as extra vegetables: for example as a salad with a hot meal, a few slices on a sandwich or a piece from the hand in between. Did you know that you can also stew, bake or cook cucumber very well? Keep for a maximum of 10 minutes when cooking.
A cucumber does not need to be peeled. Washing is important. Like removing the ends.
Keep cool
When you buy a cucumber, make sure that you choose one that feels firm and has a cool, shiny skin. Store it in a cool place, preferably 12 degrees Celsius, so outside the refrigerator. It will then remain good for at least a week. If the temperature is too low, you will disrupt further ripening. The cucumber also becomes snotty from the cold.
Wrapping the fruit vegetables in foil prevents dehydration. You can freeze cooked cucumber; raw is less suitable for this.
Healthy or not?
100 grams of cucumber contains about 97 grams of water, so you might think that it is not necessarily very healthy. Yet, just like other vegetables, cucumber contains a lot fiber and nutrients and very few kilocalories. For example, cucumber is a good source of B vitamins, but you will also find other vitamins and minerals in it. Also eat the peel.
Thanks to all the moisture, cucumber moisturizes the body. The same moisture can also have a cooling effect, for example with burned skin or swollen eyes.
It is also said that cucumber helps against bad breath if you press a slice against your palate for 30 seconds. There are also indications that certain substances in the cucumber would help against cancer and diabetes, increased cholesterol or blood pressure and digestive complaints. It is also said to promote joint health. However, there is insufficient scientific substantiation for all these effects.
Snack vegetables
One thing is certain: cucumber is the ideal snack vegetable. Not only because it contains few kilocalories, but also because you can vary a lot with it.
Sources):
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