Around the Farm

Did you know cucumbers are classified as a fruit? According to the European Food Information Council, any edible that develops from a blossom on a plant and produces at least one seed is considered a fruit. Here are a few more:

• Butternut squash
• Avocado
• Tomato
• Zucchini
• Melons

You get the idea! 

Why is this fruit so important to our wellness?

1. Cucumbers are low in calories but high in water which helps to keep us hydrated on hot summer days. Plus they naturally contain electrolytes like magnesium and potassium. Instead of consuming high sugar sport drinks try cucumber water next time you’re hot and thirsty.
2. Cucumbers are a super-low calorie food and help support weight loss goals. According to Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN via Healthline, 1 cup of raw cucumber is only about 24 calories.
3. Early studies have shown that cucumbers consumed as part of a healthy diet can aid in reducing blood sugar levels for diabetics.
4. The skin of cucumbers is rich in beta-carotene which our body uses to manufacture Vitamin A, an important vitamin for optimum vision and healthy skin.
5. Drinking cucumber water can boost your body’s potassium and ultimately help maintain a normal blood pressure, kidney function and support a healthy immune system.

How to get more cucumbers in your diet?

Grow your own or purchase organic cucumbers at the local farmers market.

Once you get them home wash and store them in the crisper of your refrigerator to maintain their freshness. 

A few ways I like to eat them are sliced in water and raw with tzatziki dip. Keep reading for my easy recipes!

Infused Cucumber De-Tox Water

Slice 1-2 cucumbers ¼” thick

1-2 drops Lemon essential oil (approved by the FDA for internal consumption)

2 slices of fresh lemon

Stir in glass pitcher

Tzatziki Recipe

1 cup of plain low-fat Greek yogurt

2 cloves of garlic, peeled & minced

2-3 drops Lemon essential oil (approved by the FDA for internal consumption)

1 cup of peeled and shredded cucumber

1/2 tbsp of chopped fresh dill (not dried!)

¼ tsp Kosher salt

¼ tsp of fresh ground black pepper

Limonene and Beta-Pinene constituents in high quality citrus essential oils have antioxidant properties that act like a rocket booster to the health benefits of eating raw cucumber alone.

Never use essential oils internally unless they are labeled approved for internal use. 

The French aromatherapy school and academia related to the study of essential oils has been using oils internally for hundreds of years. They are safe and a natural way to support our bodies ability to maintain its own wellness when extracted and bottled correctly.

High quality essential oils are extremely concentrated and volatile, meaning they are potent and will evaporate quickly when exposed to air.

I am not a physician and no product I mention is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This information is intended for educational purposes only. You are encouraged to do your own research and make the best decisions for your wellness.

Sources:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-of-cucumber#TOC_TITLE_HDR_7

www.eufic.org/en/healthy-living/article/is-a-cucumber-a-fruit-or-a-vegetable-and-why#:~:text=The%20botanical%20classification%3A%20Cucumbers%20are%20fruit.,-A%20botanist%20would&text=A%20botanical%20fruit%20would%20have,the%20 flower%20of%20the%20plant.&text=With%20this%20definition%20in%20mind,flower%20of%20the%20 cucumber%20plant.