When you think of cucumbers, the first thing that comes to mind is Mia Thermopolis getting the royal treatment in that classic scene from the movie. princess diaries (Or is it just me?). While you might normally associate this unripe fruit with what seems like an old wives’ tale for unrivaled levels of complete, total spa-focused relaxation, there might actually be some truth to all of this.
It turns out that cucumbers are packed with tons of vitamins and minerals that fight inflammation and reduce vascular congestion for help deflate the skin. So… we know that cucumber is great for plumping up our eyelids, but what can it do for us on the inside? To find out more, we talked to Kara Lydon, RD, LDN, RYT, registered dietitian and owner of Kara Lydon Nutrition to discover the benefits of cucumber water and see if this easy drink is the hydration queen we’ve been overlooking all along. Spoiler alert: the findings were surprising in the best possible way. In fact, when it comes to health benefits and refreshing taste, cucumber water might actually beat lemon water (I said what I said).
Health benefits of cucumber water
1. It’s packed with tons of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory vitamins and minerals.
“Cucumbers contain vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, vitamin K, B vitamins, manganese, and copper,” says Lydon. numerous positive effects.” Lydon shares that cucumber’s vitamin C capacity in particular is significant, as this powerful antioxidant can help fight oxidative stress and inflammation associated with certain chronic diseases.
2. Cucumbers May Help Regulate Fluid Balance and Support Bone Health
Apart from The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of cucumbersThey’re also packed with potassium, which plays a role in fluid balance and lowering blood pressure. Plus, cukes contain vitamin K, which helps maintain bone health, says Lydon. They are basically the gift that keeps on giving.
3. Cucumber water can help you stay hydrated
Although she notes that not much research has been done on the specific consumption of infused waters (as opposed to whole foods), drinking cucumber water could be a great way to boost your hydration, especially if you’re not particularly interested in drinking plain water. . H2O. “If you’re struggling to drink enough water, adding cucumber can be an easy way to boost flavor to help keep you hydrated, especially when the weather turns warmer,” says Lydon.
4. Cucumbers are also the most water-rich food of all
“Adults should drink around nine to thirteen glasses of water per day according to the Institute of Medicine”, says Lidon. If you have difficulty meeting your daily fluid intake with just water, adding flavor enhancers like cucumber or other fruits and vegetables can encourage you to drink more, increasing overall hydration (as mentioned above). Plus, it definitely helps that cucumbers are super hydrating on their own: They’re made up of 96 percent water, which Lydon says is the highest of any food. This makes them a great way to increase your water intake, whether you eat or drink them.
5. You Can Add Electrolytes to Help Maintain Sodium Levels While You Exercise
“Adding electrolytes like salt can be helpful if you’re doing long, intense workouts, especially if it’s a hot day. It really depends on the intensity and duration of your exercise, how much sodium you release when you sweat, and whether you have enough sodium in your diet,” says Lydon. She adds that if you experience muscle cramps after a workout, that may be a sign of electrolyte imbalance and a good reason to try adding salt to your cucumber water.
How to make cucumber water
The beauty of cucumber water is that it is beyond easy to make and completely customizable. To infuse water with this hydrating, mineral-rich food, you’ll want to thinly slice a clean cucumber and soak it in eight cups of cold, filtered water in the refrigerator for at least an hour and up to three days.
To keep things simple, you can end the day with just a mixture of water and cucumbers; however, if you feel like jazzing things up, you can add flavor-enhancing ingredients like mint, ginger, and lemon for even more benefits and delights. Plus, as Lydon pointed out, a few pinches of salt can help add electrolytes to replenish sodium and hydration after you exercise.
So does this mean that it’s okay to drink pickle juice too?
Of course, we had to find out if this meant that pickle juice also made the cut for good-for-you hydration drink. According to Lydon, pickle juice may actually have several potential health benefits in addition to tasting so oddly delicious. “There are some studies that highlight the ability of pickle juice to relieve muscle cramps. The mechanism is not entirely clear, but it is thought to involve vinegar’s role in electrolyte balance and nerve signaling,” Lydon notes. “There are a few other studied benefits of vinegar, which is used to ferment pickles and is found in pickle juice. It’s associated with better blood sugar regulation, and because vinegar is a fermented food, some research points to benefits for the digestive system.”
Lydon also points out that in addition to the vinegar, pickle juice contains a fair amount of sodium which May helps your body recover after a hard sweat session. “If you are an athlete or tend to sweat a lot on hot, humid days, a little the extra sodium can help your electrolyte levels recover more quicklyLydon says. But because it’s high in sodium, be sure to check with a health care provider before drinking pure pickle juice—consuming significant amounts of sodium isn’t ideal for many people, especially those concerned about their blood pressure and/or cardiovascular health.
Check out this dietitian guide to the *most* hydrating foods:
