Cucumber is a hydrating, cooling vegetable that’s significantly useful through the summer season months. A current social media reel means that it needs to be eaten solely within the morning, paired with rock salt, and prevented at night time or when mixed with curd. Whereas such suggestions are rooted in conventional beliefs, it’s vital to separate cultural practices from evidence-based diet.
In response to Deepalakshmi, a registered dietitian at The Cleft & Craniofacial Centre, Sree Balaji Medical School & Hospital, Chennai, consuming cucumber within the morning or mid-morning is certainly useful, particularly in scorching climates.
“Its excessive water content material helps replenish fluids, and its delicate fiber helps digestion. Pairing it with a pinch of rock salt could assist these vulnerable to bloating and improve style, however moderation is essential—extra salt, even rock salt, can contribute to elevated sodium consumption,” she stated.
When is the fitting time to eat cucumbers?
Nonetheless, she talked about that there’s no scientific cause to utterly keep away from cucumber at dinner. “Whereas some individuals with delicate digestion could expertise bloating when consuming uncooked greens at night time, this isn’t true for everybody. If tolerated properly, it may be safely included in night meals,” stated Deepalakshmi.
Equally, she believes the concept cucumber shouldn’t be mixed with curd lacks proof. In truth, cucumber raita is a standard and nutritious preparation—providing hydration, fiber, and gut-friendly probiotics. For most individuals, this mix isn’t solely secure but additionally supportive of digestion.
Have cucumbers as part of your salads (Supply: Freepik)
To get probably the most out of this vegetable, it’s finest to clean it totally, trim each ends, and peel it if it’s not natural to scale back potential pesticide publicity. These with digestive sensitivity may additionally profit from eradicating the seeds.
Well being advantages of cucumber
“Cucumbers are extremely versatile and may be integrated into a variety of dishes. “Whether or not sliced in salads, blended into smoothies, or used as a crunchy topping for sandwiches, cucumbers add texture, flavour, and dietary worth to meals,” Dr Archana Batra, a dietician, and an authorized diabetes educator instructed indianexpress.com.
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Cucumbers are wealthy in fibre, which is important for digestive well being. Together with cucumbers in your weight loss program can promote common bowel actions and assist forestall constipation. In truth, they include antioxidants reminiscent of beta-carotene and flavonoids, which assist neutralise dangerous free radicals within the physique. Consuming meals wealthy in antioxidants is vital for shielding cells from injury and decreasing the chance of persistent ailments.
Calling it a “treasure field of vitamins, phytonutrients and antioxidants,” which render it all of the well being advantages it affords, Garima Goyal, a registered dietitian, stated that the vegetable is a superb snacking possibility for these aiming for weight reduction.
“This is because of two options. This vegetable is greater than 90 per cent water and could be very hydrating. Because it’s largely water, it is extremely low in energy however offers satiety and also you don’t get starvation pangs. Secondly, it has a excessive quantity of soluble fibre content material which supplies quantity to your stool and eases bowel actions, enabling toxin clearance from the physique and detoxifying it,” she instructed indianexpress.com.
“Although extra human analysis is required, animal trials and check tube research have proven that diabetics can profit from cucumber by reducing the blood sugar ranges and stopping diabetes problems,” stated Goyal.