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Tag: cucumber

  • Health benefits of cucumber

    CUCUMBERS are extremely beneficial for overall health, especially during hot weather since they are mostly made of water and important nutrients that are essential for the human body. The flesh of cucumbers is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, and folic acid, while the hard skin is rich in fibre and a range of minerals including magnesium, molybdenum, and potassium.

    Different varieties of cucumber are grown in different regions, and they are usually eaten fresh or pickled.

    They are rich in various nutrients, vitamins, minerals, energy, and water. According to USDA cucumbers are a good source of potassium, phosphorus, vitamin C, niacin, and vitamin K. They also provide iron, sodium, zinc, riboflavin, and vitamin B-6.

    The health benefits of cucumber are not widely known in many cultures. The taste of fresh cucumber is somewhat bland in comparison to other squashes, but the thirst-quenching and the cooling qualities of this squash are truly refreshing.

    The health benefits include: Skin Care: Doctors often recommend cucumber juice because of the silica content for a healthier and brighter skin. It is also well known that moisture is the best friend to healthy skin. The extract of cucumbers is often used topically for treating various types of skin ailments like sunburn and swelling under the eyes. Ascorbic and caffeic acid are the two vital compounds in cucumbers that prevent water loss from the body. The squash also promotes healthy hair growth and can treat skin ailments like psoriasis, eczema, and acne.

    Control Blood Pressure: Cucumber, therefore, regulates blood pressure and contributes to the proper structure of connective tissues in our body, including those in the muscles, bones, ligaments, cartilage, and tendons.

    Manage Diabetes: The presence of carbohydrates and their result on the body is measured by the quantity of glycemic index (GI). Every food item contains essential nutrients in different percentages. The carbohydrates contribute to raising the glucose level, however, the ones present in the cucumber can be easily digested by diabetic patients. Thus, consumption of this cool fruit keeps the glucose level in check. Nowadays, most commercial stores have cucumber supplements as spiny sea cucumber extract powder, which is very effective in combating the effects of diabetes.

    Read Also: Fan Milk launches ‘one planet one health’

    Maintain Overall Health: Cucumbers have excellent cleaning properties, and they actively remove accumulated waste and toxins from your body. These fruits are very good for optimising urinary bladder, kidney, liver, and pancreatic functions. Cucumber juice along with carrot juice is extremely effective for rheumatic conditions caused by excessive uric acid in the body. Drinking cucumber juice on a regular basis also helps cure gout and eczema. If you are having lung or stomach problems, be sure to add it to your diet. It also promotes muscle flexibility, while the magnesium content of cucumbers ensures proper blood circulation and relaxed nerves.

    When buying cucumbers it is important to look for firm ones and check if the colour is bright medium green to dark green. Avoid the yellow, puffy cucumbers that have water-soaked areas or wrinkled tips. You will find fewer seeds in the thinner cucumbers.

  • Caring for the face

    Have you ever slept with a slice of cucumber over each eye or rubbed toothpaste on pimples on your face or covered your face with a mask of herbal paste overnight? For the face, we do wonders.

    If you search the Internet you will see numerous tips on how to make your face fresh and healthy looking.  There are many solutions to choose from.  They may not all work well for everyone.

    If you want to improve your facial look, you first of all need to study what type of skin you have. Then you can choose well from amongst the plethora of remedies being provided for facial skin care according to your skin type: dry skin or oily skin.

    Dry skin types may appear rough or peeling and may be improved with moisturizers.  Oily skin types appear oily and shiny and may be improved with astringents which tighten the pores that release oil.

    Skin care of the face works toward regulating routine events on the skin of the face which are: accumulation of natural oil released from facial pores, accumulation of atmospheric dirt on the face which fixes into the oily layer on the face, exfoliation of dead skin of the face.

    We should note that the oil produced by oil glands within the skin spreads over the surface of the skin to protect it and over-cleansing the skin or too frequent removal of the oily layer may jeopardize the skins health.  Therefore, if we need to remove oil from skins that produce excessive oil, frequent wiping may be preferred to frequent washing with soap.  Some of the tips we gather are here discussed.

    Cleanse your face routinely.  Most people shower or bath every morning, therefore most of our faces are washed at least once a day.  How often in a day one needs a face wash depends on one’s type of skin and one’s life style. Germs can be transferred unto the face from the hands, from cell phones, from kisses, etc., and these may be welcomed as part of life.  If you go shopping in an open market in Lagos on a hot dusty day, perhaps the first thing you want to do when you get home is to wash your hands and wash your face. Routine cleansing prevents dirt including bacteria, fungi, and viruses from dwelling too long on the face.  Microorganisms colonizing the face may stimulate changes in skin cells and contribute to roughening of the face and eliminating the fresh look. At the end of each day before going to sleep, the face deserves a wash to cleanse it of the day’s microbial visitors and to remove make-up. Make up removal should be done with cotton wool and petroleum jelly (Vaseline®) before washing the face.

    Exfoliate the facial skin every few days.  This removes the recently formed layer of dead skin and gives a fresh look.

    Keep your body metabolism in good working order by eating a good diet including fresh fruit or vegetable daily, exercising enough, and sleeping well.  This will reflect on your face.

    Don’t consume toxins.  Watch your social habits. Amongst other functions, the skin is an excretory organ, though not for all drugs.  Any toxin that is passed out through the skin, even though in minute amounts may affect the skin’s radiance.

    Keep the face moisturized. We should drink enough water routinely to keep the whole body well moisturized, including the skin of the face which faces the weather, perhaps more than the skin on other parts of the body. Moisturizers, sun block or sun screen creams, and toners are commonly available products that some people may find helpful. The use of a humidifier may be helpful for special treatment of damaged dry skin. The lips need their own attention and lip moisturizes give them a glow and an appealing texture.

    Facial hair, wanted or unwanted, needs our regular attention for shaving or trimming.

    Take care of pimples. I must confess that when I was a teenager, I picked my pimples.  Some pimples are irresistible. To avoid gaining black spots and scars, one must restrain from picking pimples.  Pimples treatment products and kits are available in pharmacies. Benzoyl peroxide is a common ingredient in such products.  Low economy anecdotal solutions include spotting toothpaste on the pimples.  Perhaps the soda, peroxide, and alcohol components in toothpastes really work to dry up pimples.

    Most women of substance have a plethora of products in their bedroom for that glowing look and these include: cleanser, face oil, moisturizer, eye cream, sun screen, exfoliator, toner, face mask, hydrating mist, skin serum, and make up remover.

    Some people use natural products and may go to sleep with something spread on the face such as: coco nut oil, green tea, honey, potato juice, milk, aloe vera, rose water, oat meal, black soap, Vaseline.  What do all these substances do? OGK (only God knows).

    The art and science of facecare is an interesting and worthwhile hobby for one’s own good.

    Dr. Theresa Adebola John is a lecturer at Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) and an affiliated researcher at the College of Medicine, University of Tennessee, Memphis.  For any comments or questions on this column, please email bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 08160944635

     

  • Health benefits of cucumber

    CUCUMBERS are extremely beneficial for overall health, especially during hot weather since they are mostly made of water and important nutrients that are essential for the human body. The flesh of cucumbers is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, and folic acid, while the hard skin is rich in fibre and a range of minerals including magnesium, molybdenum, and potassium.

    Different varieties of cucumber are grown in different regions, and they are usually eaten fresh or pickled.

    They are rich in various nutrients, vitamins, minerals, energy, and water. According to USDA cucumbers are a good source of potassium, phosphorus, vitamin C, niacin, and vitamin K. They also provide iron, sodium, zinc, riboflavin, and vitamin B-6.

    The health benefits of cucumber are not widely known in many cultures. The taste of fresh cucumber is somewhat bland in comparison to other squashes, but the thirst-quenching and the cooling qualities of this squash are truly refreshing.

    The health benefits include: Skin Care: Doctors often recommend cucumber juice because of the silica content for a healthier and brighter skin. It is also well known that moisture is the best friend to healthy skin. The extract of cucumbers is often used topically for treating various types of skin ailments like sunburn and swelling under the eyes. Ascorbic and caffeic acid are the two vital compounds in cucumbers that prevent water loss from the body. The squash also promotes healthy hair growth and can treat skin ailments like psoriasis, eczema, and acne.

    Control Blood Pressure: Cucumber, therefore, regulates blood pressure and contributes to the proper structure of connective tissues in our body, including those in the muscles, bones, ligaments, cartilage, and tendons.

    Manage Diabetes: The presence of carbohydrates and their result on the body is measured by the quantity of glycemic index (GI). Every food item contains essential nutrients in different percentages. The carbohydrates contribute to raising the glucose level, however, the ones present in the cucumber can be easily digested by diabetic patients. Thus, consumption of this cool fruit keeps the glucose level in check. Nowadays, most commercial stores have cucumber supplements as spiny sea cucumber extract powder, which is very effective in combating the effects of diabetes.

    Maintain Overall Health: Cucumbers have excellent cleaning properties, and they actively remove accumulated waste and toxins from your body. These fruits are very good for optimising urinary bladder, kidney, liver, and pancreatic functions. Cucumber juice along with carrot juice is extremely effective for rheumatic conditions caused by excessive uric acid in the body. Drinking cucumber juice on a regular basis also helps cure gout and eczema. If you are having lung or stomach problems, be sure to add it to your diet. It also promotes muscle flexibility, while the magnesium content of cucumbers ensures proper blood circulation and relaxed nerves.

    When buying cucumbers it is important to look for firm ones and check if the colour is bright medium green to dark green. Avoid the yellow, puffy cucumbers that have water-soaked areas or wrinkled tips. You will find fewer seeds in the thinner cucumbers.

  • Health benefits, nutritional facts of cucumber

    Health benefits, nutritional facts of cucumber

    Few foods are as cool as a cucumber. These low-calorie veggies contain many nutritional benefits, including hydrating properties and valuable nutrients.

    There are hundreds of varieties of cucumber, and they come in dozens of colors, but the edible types are classified as being for either slicing or pickling, according to Cornell University’s Growing Guide. Slicing cucumbers are cultivated to be eaten fresh, while pickling cucumbers are intended for the brine jar. Slicing cucumbers are usually larger and thicker-skinned than pickling ones.

    In the United States, commonly planted varieties of slicing cucumber include Dasher, Conquistador, Slicemaster, Victory, Comet, Burpee Hybrid and Sprint, according to the World’s Healthiest Foods website. Commonly planted varieties of pickling cucumber include Royal, Calypso, Pioneer, Bounty, Regal, Duke and Blitz.

    While most people think of cucumbers as vegetables, they are actually a fruit. They contain seeds and grow from the ovaries of flowering plants. Cucumbers are members of the plant family Cucurbitaceae, which also includes squashes and melons. The most common type of slicing cucumber found in a grocery store is the garden cucumber, Cucumis sativus, according to World’s Healthiest Foods.

    Nutritional profile

    Cucumbers are good sources of phytonutrients (plant chemicals that have protective or disease preventive properties) such flavonoids, lignans and triterpenes, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer benefits, according to World’s Healthiest Foods.

    “We should definitely seek out foods that are nutrient-rich, using the positive approach of what to put on your plate vs. what to keep off,” said Angela Lemond, a Plano, Texas-based registered dietitian nutritionist and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The peel and seeds are the most nutrient-dense parts of the cucumber. They contain fiber and beta-carotene. “Beta carotene is an antioxidant that helps with immunity, skin, eye and the prevention of cancer,” said Lemond. A study published in the Pakistan Journal of Nutrition found that cucumber seeds were a good source of minerals, and contained calcium.

    “Cucumbers are naturally low in calories, carbohydrates, sodium, fat and cholesterol,” said Megan Ware, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Orlando, Florida. There are just 16 calories in a cup of cucumber with its peel (15 without). You will get about four percent of your daily potassium, three percent of your daily fiber and 4 percent of your daily vitamin C. They also “provide small amounts of vitamin K, vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, manganese and vitamin A,” Ware said.

     

    • Source: www.livescience.com
  • Ishaku: Why I am called Baba Cucumber

    Ishaku: Why I am called Baba Cucumber

    Taraba State Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, is happy to be mockingly referred to as the “cucumber governor, or Baba Cucumber.”

    He said he earned the name “Baba Cucumber” as a result of his huge developmental efforts in the agricultural sector, through the Green House project which was commissioned alongside other projects by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on August 24.

    The governor spoke on Channels television in a programme called Hard Copy, anchored by Maupe Ogun at the weekend.

    Ishaku said, in his efforts to develop the agricultural sector in Taraba State, his administration established the Green House, the first ever in Nigeria’s north-eastern region worth over N2 billion.

    The Green House, according to the governor, produces high quality vegetables such as tomato, lettuce, pepper, cabbage and cucumber that have met the international standard.

    Narrating why his administration ventured into the project, he said: “Prior to the establishment of the Green House, vegetables, with low quality, were imported into the country from South Africa. As a result of this development, the idea of the Green House was actualised.”

    On whether the Green House is worth the colossal amount and whether it has direct impact on the people, Ishaku said the project has been a huge success in Taraba State, because, apart from offering an all-year round high quality vegetables in commercial quantity, it has employed 500 persons and improved the Internal Revenue Generation (IRG) of the State.

    He explained further that the previous regime shared about N2 billion to farmers as agric loan, but the beneficiaries refused to redeem their pledge, which is why instead of sharing money in the form of loan to farmers and making the same mistake, he used the money to establish the Green House.

    “I met a very bad example. The past regime took almost N2billion and shared to farmers as agricultural loan. Now, not up to one-quarter redeemed the pledge. They saw the money as a free gift from the government.

    “Even from the one-quarter we recovered, I had to set up a committee to go after them. And now, with that experience, if you receive another N2 billion, will you repeat the same mistake that was done by the past government? No.

    “I decided that simple vegetables like tomato, pepper and cucumber among others, which were hitherto imported, be produced here. I decided to venture into the Green House project, and it has been a huge success.

    “Most of our Green House produce have found their ways into various markets and I have earned the name Baba Cucumber.”

    He added that, besides the Green House, his administration is aiding farmers through the provision of fertilizer, agricultural inputs and in terms of guarding them.

    “14,700 farmers were aided to venture into dry season rice cultivation and they harvested very good yields; they are now happy and they want to do it this year again,” said the governor.

  • Benefits of cucumber

    Cucumbers are the fourth most cultivated vegetable in the world and known to be one of the best foods for your body’s overall health, often referred to as a superfood. Cucumbers are often sprayed with pesticides so it is important to buy organic or even better, grow them yourself.

    Here are some benefits of cucumbers:

    •Cucumbers are a good source of B vitamins.

    •Rehydrates body and replenishes daily vitamins – Cucumbers are 95 percent water, keeping the body hydrated while helping the body eliminate toxins. Cucumbers have most of the vitamins the body needs in a single day.

    •Fight cancers – Cucumber are known to contain lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol. These three lignans have a strong history of research in connection with reduced risk of several cancer types, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and prostate cancer.

    •Relieves bad breath – Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

    •To avoid a morning hangover or headache; eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish many essential nutrients, reducing the intensity of both hangover and headache.

    •Aids in weight loss and digestion – Due to its low calorie and high water content, cucumber is an ideal diet for people who are looking for weight loss. The high water content and dietary fiber in cucumbers are very effective in ridding the body of toxins from the digestive system, aiding digestion.

    •Daily consumption of cucumbers can be regarded as a remedy for chronic constipation.

    •Cures diabetes, reduces cholesterol and controls blood pressure – Cucumber juice contains a hormone which is needed by the cells of the pancreas for producing insulin which has been found to be beneficial to diabetic patients. Cucumbers contain a lot of potassium, magnesium and fiber. These work effectively for regulating blood pressure. Cucumber is good for treating both low blood pressure and high blood pressure.

    •Promotes joint health, relieves gout and arthritis pain -Cucumber is an excellent source of silica, which is known to help promotes joint health by strengthening the connective tissues. They are also rich in vitamin A, B1, B6, C & D, Folate, Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium. When mixed with carrot juice, they can relieve gout and arthritis pain by lowering the uric acid levels.

    • Slices of cucumber placed on the closed eyes reduce swelling and soothe the eyes.

    Daily consumption of cucumbers can be regarded as a remedy for chronic constipation.

    Sources: www.healthonlinezine.info