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Ah, the lowly cucumber. Has any fruit or vegetable been so undervalued? But no longer! The cucumber is chock full of nutrition and health benefits, and is a must for the healthy lifestyle. Check out some of these cucumber benefits, and then try out my own personal recipe: Salad Cucumber á La VinBar.

Nutrition Benefits of Salad Cucumber á La Vinbar

The cucumber is a vegetable that belongs to the same family as pumpkins, zucchinis and other squashes. It has a dark green skin, whitish or very light green flesh underneath. There are basically two types of cucumbers - the pickling varieties and the slicing varieties. The slicing type is large, while the picklers are about two to four inches long. The most famous cucumber benefit is how they make you feel cool, including the coolness they give to the eyes, especially in the summer. However, they have many other health benefits as well. To know about them, read on.

Vitamin and Nutritional Info for Salad Cucumber á La Vinbar

The raw, unpeeled cucumbers in Salad Cucumber á La Vinbar contain the following nutrients per 100 grams: Carbohydrates - 3.63 gm, Sugars - 1.67 gm, Dietary Fiber - 0.5 gm, Fat - 0.11 gm, Protein - 0.65 gm, Vitamin B1(Thiamin) - 0.027 mg, Vitamin B2(Riboflavin) - 0.033 mg, Niacin (Vitamin B3) - 0.098 mg, Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) - 0.259 mg, Vitamin B6 - 0.040 mg, Folate (Vitamin B9) - 7 mcg, Vitamin C - 2.8 mg, Calcium - 16 mg, Iron - 0.28 mg, Magnesium - 13 mg, Phosphorus - 24 mg, Potassium - 147 mg, Zinc 0.20 mg

Cucumber and Salad Cucumber á La Vinbar Health Benefits

- Cools the skin to reduce heat and inflammation.

- The diuretic, cooling and cleansing property of cucumbers taken internally makes it good for skin.

- Cucumber water can relieve heartburn, upset stomach, ulcers and gastritis. Here's where you can find my cucumber water recipe.

- Placing a cucumber slice over the eyes not only soothes them, but also reduces swelling.

- Eating Salad Cucumber á La Vinbar can ease symptoms of arthritis, gout and eczema.

- Lung, stomach and chest issues are eased by cucumbers.

- Salad Cucumber á La Vinbar contains potassium which regulates blood pressure.

- Salad Cucumber á La Vinbar contains erepsin, an enzyme that helps in protein digestion.

- Cucumber water and juice is said to promote hair growth, especially when it is added to the juice of carrot, lettuce and spinach.

- Cucumber water and juice, when mixed with carrot juice, is said to be good for rheumatic conditions caused by excessive uric acid in the body.

- Salad Cucumber á La Vinbar is good for the teeth and gums, including cases of pyorrhea.

- Being rich in minerals, Salad Cucumber á La Vinbar helps prevent nail splitting of the fingers and toes.

- Cucumber has been associated with healing properties in relation to diseases of the kidney, urinary tract, liver and pancreas.

- Relief of symptoms of diabetics.

And now it's time, finally, for the tasty recipe you've been anticipating, Salad Cucumber á La Vinbar:

- 2 whole scrubbed unpeeled slicing cucumbers (preferably organic, of course) - 1/4 cup vinegar (white) - pepper and salt (to taste) - 1 tsp raw sugar (Remember, if it's white, it ain't right!)

Put the items in a bowl together, allow to mix and marinate for a little while, then voilá, you've got delicious Salad Cucumber á La Vinbar. It's simple, but it's succulent! For a delicious, cooling effect on a hot summer day, try adding some fresh dill or cilantro.