Table of contents:
- Cucumber skin benefits
- 1. Rich in fiber
- 2. The content of vitamin K
- 3. High beta carotene
- 4. Low in calories
- Tips for choosing fresh cucumbers
When you prepare cucumber for consumption, what do you usually do? Peel the skin or leave it alone? Everyone does have their own preferences. Usually a cucumber that is not peeled will be crispy and a little bitter. While the peeled cucumber feels soft. However, is there the best way to eat cucumber? With or without the skin? To find out the answer, consider the following information about cucumber skin.
Cucumber skin benefits
Cucumber is rich in various nutrients needed by the body. Especially if you eat it together with the skin. Yes, cucumber skin should be left alone, not peeled off. If you peel the cucumber skin, you will lose a variety of important nutrients that are not to be missed. So, the next time you eat cucumber, don't peel the skin.
1. Rich in fiber
Cucumber skin is rich in insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber is a type of dietary fiber that doesn't dissolve in water, which means it will pass through your digestive tract intact. Because it is not broken down immediately, insoluble fiber is effective in helping your intestines and digestive tract smooth by pushing food scraps and processed substances out of the body. So, you can easily defecate. Insoluble fiber is also good for relieving constipation.
Meanwhile, cucumber meat contains lots of soluble fiber. Soluble fiber is needed by the body to bind fluids to become thicker in your digestive system. You also become full longer because the stomach is not left empty. So, this combination of soluble and insoluble fiber is best for you and your family.
ALSO READ: 7 Reasons Why You Should Routinely Drink Cucumber Water
2. The content of vitamin K
Don't peel the cucumber skin if you don't want to miss the benefits of vitamin K. This vitamin can trigger the production of certain proteins that your bones need to stay strong and solid. Besides being good for bones, vitamin K can also repair and trigger the production of new cells in the body. Your blood also needs vitamin K to make it less runny and to prevent bleeding. You can find this vitamin at most in cucumber skin.
3. High beta carotene
In cucumber skin, there is a high beta carotene content. Beta carotene, which is a type of vitamin A, can be found in fruits or vegetables that are thick and bright. So, compared to cucumber meat which is pale in color, cucumber skin is the biggest source of beta carotene. This substance is good for maintaining the health of your eyes and sense of sight. In addition, beta carotene is also needed by the immune system to fight viruses, bacteria, and germs that cause disease.
4. Low in calories
You don't need to feel guilty if you eat a lot of cucumber, for example in a salad, hodgepodge, pickles, or fresh vegetables. The reason is, even though it has a myriad of nutrients, cucumber skin and meat only offer a small calorie content, which is 1-2 calories for each cucumber slice. Because cucumbers also contain lots of water, eating cucumbers can make you fuller but not have many calories.
ALSO READ: How To Calculate How Many Calories You Need Per Day
Tips for choosing fresh cucumbers
Be careful when you choose cucumbers at the market, grocery store, or supermarket. If you want to enjoy the skin too, you should pay close attention to its physical shape. You don't want to buy a cucumber that is bitter or has been contaminated with chemicals from pesticides or food wax.
ALSO READ: What You Need To Know About Genetically Engineered Food
Healthy cucumber skin tones range from grass green to dark green. Do not choose too yellow or too bright in color. Also pay attention if the skin of the cucumber looks shiny. It is likely that the cucumber has been coated with food wax to make it appear brighter. So, look for cucumbers that look naturally fresh. To avoid the risk of dangerous pesticides, you can also choose organic cucumbers.
Also pay attention to the shape and density of the cucumber. Avoid cucumbers that are already mushy when pressed. You can also see if the cucumber is shaped proportionally from top to bottom. This can be a reference for determining whether your cucumber tastes sweet enough. However, as clean and as good as any cucumber you buy, make sure to wash the cucumber thoroughly with boiled water before consuming it.
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