Cucumber is a hydrating, cooling vegetable that’s significantly helpful throughout the summer season months. A latest social media reel means that it must 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 essential to separate cultural practices from evidence-based vitamin.
In keeping with Deepalakshmi, a registered dietitian at The Cleft & Craniofacial Centre, Sree Balaji Medical Faculty & Hospital, Chennai, consuming cucumber within the morning or mid-morning is certainly helpful, 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 support these liable to bloating and improve style, however moderation is essential—extra salt, even rock salt, can contribute to elevated sodium consumption,” she mentioned.
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When is the proper time to eat cucumbers?
Nonetheless, she talked about that there’s no scientific motive 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 nicely, it may be safely included in night meals,” mentioned 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 is just not solely secure but additionally supportive of digestion.
Have cucumbers as part of your salads (Supply: Freepik)
To get essentially the most out of this vegetable, it’s greatest to clean it totally, trim each ends, and peel it if it’s not natural to cut back potential pesticide publicity. These with digestive sensitivity can also profit from eradicating the seeds.
Well being advantages of cucumber
“Cucumbers are extremely versatile and might 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 advised 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 plan can promote common bowel actions and assist stop 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 essential for safeguarding cells from injury and lowering the danger of power illnesses.
Calling it a “treasure field of vitamins, phytonutrients and antioxidants,” which render it all of the well being advantages it gives, Garima Goyal, a registered dietitian, mentioned that the vegetable is a superb snacking choice 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 principally water, it is extremely low in energy however provides 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 advised indianexpress.com.
“Although extra human analysis is required, animal trials and take a look at tube research have proven that diabetics can profit from cucumber by decreasing the blood sugar ranges and stopping diabetes problems,” mentioned Goyal.
