Benefits Of Cucumber Water – The World’s Simplest Detox Drink

Water is the medium through which all the biochemical reactions in your body run. Drinking ample amount of water can keep many of the dreadful disorders at bay. But will water alone suffice always? No. There are times when you want to go the extra mile. And you can do that by drinking Cucumber Water.

Cucumber water is a one-stop solution for diarrhea, diabetes, acne, weak joints, and stressful bosses! Wondering what is so special about it? You don’t have a choice but to scroll down and read the entire article! Get.. set.. go!

What Is Cucumber Water?

Cucumber + water = Cucumber water!!

It is as simple as it can get. Cucumber water is an age-old detox drink. Probably discovered even before the word ‘detox’ was born!

Adding cucumber slices to water is almost like giving it a facelift. The slices of cucumber release several water-soluble vitamins, minerals, and phytoconstituents into the water – making it an elixir.

No exaggeration.

Drinking cucumber-infused water not only gives you flawless skin but also helps you build strong bones and fight cancer.

Too good to be true?

Well, move on to the section, and you will know what I am saying.

4 Basic Benefits Of Cucumber Water

1. Skin Cleanser and Toner

Cucumber has high water content. Hence, it has a hydrating effect on your skin. It also cleanses your skin by removing accumulated pockets of old waste materials and chemical toxins.

Fresh juice or cucumber water can be used for deeply moisturizing your skin and its internal layers. Since it has abundant antioxidants, cucumber water treats the angry rashes, skin irritation, and even reduces swelling. It also soothes sunburns and painful blisters, thanks to its refrigerant properties (1).

The silica in cucumber is an essential component of healthy connective tissue, which includes muscles (facial ones too), tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and bone (2). Therefore, cucumber water is a single formula that works as a natural skin toner, moisturizer, and cleanser.

2. For Weight Loss And Detox

Cucumber is full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering phytoconstituents. Drinking water with cucumber and lemon can stop fat accumulation and lipid peroxidation in the adipose tissues (1), (3).

There is not enough scientific literature demonstrating the lipid-lowering and anti-obesity properties of this water. However, giving it a try does no harm.

Cucumber fruit is also known to reduce bloating and improve your digestion. It can flush out toxic intermediates and harmful free radicals from your body, thanks to its diuretic properties.

All in all, cucumber water can be a simple and effective detox drink that might trigger weight loss

You still need to exercise and eat right to lose that flab, though!

3. Diabetes Manager

Again, it’s the antioxidants that help here. Cucumber has a variety of glycosides, sterols, flavonoids, carbohydrates, terpenoids, and tannins. These molecules trap the reactive oxygen species (ROS, a.k.a free radicals), whose overproduction is the primary cause of diabetes (4).

These ROS target your liver, kidneys, and other vital organs. They induce cell death and worsen diabetes. Phenolic acids like p-coumaric and syringic acids in cucumber help scavenge the ROS (5).

Proving this right, cucumber extracts reduced blood glucose levels by 67% after a single intraperitoneal injection in a rat study. This fruit also reduced the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels by 13% and total cholesterol levels by 29%. Hence, cucumber water can have a potent anti-diabetic, anti-hyperglycemic, and cytoprotective effect in diabetic individuals (3).

4. Anti-Inflammatory And Anticancer Agent

Due to the presence of anti-inflammatory sterols, flavonoids, lignans, and tannins, aqueous extracts (like cucumber water) can heal wounds, reduce pain, and reduce the internal body temperature (4).

Coupled with its antioxidant effect, drinking cucumber water and eating cucumbers can prevent cell death and cytotoxicity from various foreign intermediates, like in the case of cancers.

Three lignans, lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol, have been particularly noted for their cancer-fighting properties. Studies claim these phytochemicals can reduce the risk of developing several cancers, including that of the breast, ovaries, uterus, and the prostate (6).

There is a lot of ongoing research about cucumber water. Soon, we would see a longer list of benefits of this magic drink.

Meanwhile, you can use this water for flawless skin, stronger joints, and a detoxed body. But, where can you get the water?

Right from your kitchen!

Yes! You can make various versions of cucumber water all by yourself. It’s that simple.

And how do you make it? Keep scrolling down!

How To Make Cucumber Water At Home

As I said, you can add a variety of fruits and veggies to the basic version of cucumber water. Let’s start with one of the classic and much-loved variants.

Lemon-Mint-Cucumber Water

The picture says it all!

What You Need

• Lemon or lime: ½, thinly sliced
• Cucumber: ¼, thinly sliced
  (Save 2 slices to place on your eyes)
• Mint leaves: ½ cup
• Water: 2-3 quarts or to fill the container
• A pitcher or regular water bottle
• Ice (optional)

Let’s Make It!

1. Pour water into a pitcher or your water bottle.
2. Add the lemon slices, mint leaves, and cucumber slices to the water and stir.
3. Refrigerate this water mixture, stirring 1 time per day, until the flavors have infused (which might take 2 to 3 days). Or you can also leave the bottle or pitcher in the fridge overnight and start using the next day.
4. You can refill the bottle or pitcher and use the mix till the flavor dies out. (Note: You could preferably change the mix after every 24 hours.)
5. Be it a hangover, a fat turkey, or the annual bout of diarrhea, you can bet all your money on this classic detox drink!

For those of you that love some fruity pop and bright colors in your drink, you can add a few slices of

• cleanly washed strawberries
• freshly cut watermelon
• ginger (for bravehearts, like me (wink!))
• cleanly washed and thinly cut apple

The number of combinations is endless!

You can keep making your detox drinks more exciting and healthy with these add-ons. You may try adding spices and condiments like cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, black salt, green chilies, honey, ginseng, and tulsi leaves.

But don’t forget to discard (or eat) the soaked cucumber slices after 24 hours. They tend to become soggy and introduce bitterness into the water. Ideally, if you have the cucumber-infused water left, refrigerate it separately in a bottle.

Make a fresh cucumber mix every day to avoid undesirable and unknown side effects.

So, what are you waiting for?

Quickly assemble your favorite ingredients along with cucumbers and make a pitcher of this refreshing drink. Tell us how you liked your first batch of cucumber water. Share your comments, queries, and feedback in the box below.

Until next, stay fit and fresh with cucumber water!

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Reviewer Author

Alexandra DusenberryMS, RDN

   

Alexandra Dusenberry is a registered dietitian nutritionist and a certified personal trainer based in San Diego, California. She has 6 years of experience and works with clients around the world to help them reach their health and fitness goals.

Read full bio of Alexandra Dusenberry

Swathi HandooHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Swathi holds a master’s degree in biotechnology from Osmania University and has worked in places where actual science and research happen. She has four years of experience and a Professional Certificate in Food, Nutrition & Research from Wageningen University.

Read full bio of Swathi Handoo