Leah Androski
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Cucumbers contain many different healthy benefits and offer many different helpful hacks.
Cucumbers contain vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Potassium, and Zinc. Trying to stay awake in the afternoon? Instead of grabbing a caffeinated drink, grab a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B vitamins and carbohydrates that provides a pick-me-up that lasts for hours. Trying to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up headache-free. Cucumbers contain sugar, B vitamins, and electrolytes to restore needed nutrients lost by the body, keeping everything in check, while avoiding a hangover and headache. Want to fight off the afternoon or evening munchies? Cucumbers have been used for centuries by European trappers, traders, and explorers for quick meals to prevent starvation.
Are you tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after you shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice on the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provides a soothing and spa-like fragrance. Stressing out and do not have time for a facial, massage, or visit to the spa? Cut up the entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water. The chemicals and nutrients react with the boiling water and are released into the steam, which creates a soothing and relaxing aroma. This aroma has been shown to reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams. Looking for an easy way to remove cellulite before going out or going to the pool? Try rubbing a slice of cucumbers along the problem area for a few minutes. The phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, which firms up the outer layer and reduces the visibility of cellulite. This also works on wrinkles!
Are slugs and grubs messing with your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum and give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy, which makes them flee the area. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the squeaky area and the squeak will be gone! Looking for a 'green' way to clean your taps, sinks, or stainless steel? Take a slice of a cucumber and rub it on the surface, it will remove years of tarnish and brings back the shine, without leaving streaks or harming your fingers or fingernails.
Have an important meeting or job interview and realize that you do not have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that looks great and repels water. Just finished a business lunch and realize you forgot your gum and mints? Take a slice of a cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for thirty seconds to eliminate bad breath. The phytochemicals will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen. This also works on crayons and marker messes!