Water is essential for life: right behind your need for a constant supply of fresh air, clean water is your most important basic need.
You know that without water you cannot survive. You’ve probably also heard it before that you should drink 8 – 10 glasses of water a day to avoid dehydration and to ensure overall health.
According to new research you may need more, up to 11 – 15 8 oz glasses a day. Yet you may be one of those people who have a difficult time achieving this task. Water can be boring, yet sugary juices, synthetic vitamin water, and sodas are unhealthy, and may even be dehydrating.
If you find water boring and need something extra, I have good news for you. You can make your own vitamin water.
Cucumber water hydrates your body and helps your overall health. It is so easy to make, that next time when you are thirsty, consider cucumber water.
Here are the 8 reasons you should drink cucumber water every day:
1. Cucumber Water Hydrates You
Proper hydration is essential to maintain cellular homeostasis in your body.
Dehydration can lead to all sorts of problems, including dry mouth, tiredness, thirst, decreased urine output, headaches, constipation, dry skin, and dizziness in mild cases, and rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing, sunken eyes, extreme thirst, and delirium in extreme cases.
No wonder that hydrating properly is incredibly important for your health to maintain your ideal body temperature, to assist the removal of toxins, to maintain your weight and to support a healthy cardiovascular system.
When you are well hydrated you will feel more energetic and your organs will function better. Through its great flavor, cucumber water provides some excitement to regular old water helping you drink more regularly, and to keep your body hydrated.
2. Cucumber Water Provides Extra Vitamins and Minerals
There is no doubt that water is vital to your health, but plain water is not a great source of essential vitamins you need.
By complimenting your water with cucumbers, you are adding in necessary vitamins and minerals. Cucumbers are a great source of vitamin K and molybdenum, and also possess pantothenic acid, potassium, phosphorus, vitamin C, copper, manganese, vitamin B1, biotin, and magnesium.
Most cucumber water recipes also include a variety of fruits providing, even more, antioxidants and vitamins.
These vitamins and minerals all come from real food sources, like fruits and vegetables, therefore, your body will have a much easier time to absorb and utilize them properly than drinking synthetic vitamin waters or taking synthetic supplements.
3. Cucumber Water Helps to Curb Your Appetite
Eating when you are not hungry can easily cause unwanted weight gain, tiredness, and irregular eating patterns. Yet, you may find yourself eating when you are not hungry, but bored, frustrated, sad, or simply just thirsty.
When you are feeling hungry before meal time, drink a glass of cucumber water. Hunger and thirst have similar signs, it is easily possible that you are just simply thirsty. A glass of cucumber water can help to make it to the next meal when you feel hungry close to but not quite at mealtime.
Not eating when your body is not hungry, and hydrating when your body is thirsty can help you to maintain your weight and to keep your energy up.
Find out how cucumber water benefits stack up against the benefits of lemon water.
4. Cucumber Water Soothes Your Skin
Women have been using cucumber topically one their skin and their eyes as a toner or a mask for a long time, however, eating cucumbers and drinking cucumber water is just as beneficial keeping your skin young, smooth, and glowing.
Cucumbers keep your radiant from the inside out. Besides its 95 % water content for proper hydration, cucumbers contain silica providing extra benefits for your skin helping calm irritation from acne, blemishes, and recover dry skin.
Researchers have found that cucumber accumulates moderate amounts of silica as it grows. The importance of silica for maintaining healthy skin has also been shown in several studies, including one study which showed that women taking silica supplements (as opposed to women taking a placebo) ended up with smoother skin with higher moisture contents. You can increase your silica intake by eating more cucumber or drinking cucumber water.
5. Cucumber Water May Bring Down Your Blood Pressure
A healthy blood pressure is crucial to keep away strokes, heart attacks, kidney disease, or vision loss.
Because of its potassium content drinking cucumber water will help you to maintain your blood pressure. If high blood pressure is a concern for you, keeping your sodium intake low is recommended, and cucumber water can help you with this goal as it is practically free of sodium, yet it is still flavorful.
Cucumber water may also help you with weight management and exercise, both of which are essential keeping your blood pressure in the healthy range.
6. Cucumber Water Helps Your Muscles
You don’t have to be a bodybuilder or professional athlete to build muscle strength.
Keeping your muscles strong is necessary for your posture, joint health, metabolism, weight, sleep, and mental health. It becomes increasingly important as you age making it necessary to upkeep an exercise routine, including muscle building activities, such as body weight exercises, weight lifting, TRX, HIIT, or CrossFit. The silica in cucumber is not only good for your skin but also aids the health of your muscle tissues.
Drinking cucumber water every day aids your muscle recovery, hydration after exercise, and overall physical health.
7. Cucumber Water is Full of Antioxidant and Detoxifying Properties
Cucumber water is an excellent source of antioxidants that help your body fight free radicals. It also aids your body getting rid of unwanted toxin build-up.
Despite common misconception, detoxing is not a one-time event simply done by a quick cleanse once a year, but it is on-going every day of your life. It is necessary to pay attention what you bring into your body every day keeping it clean, avoiding toxic, processed foods, reducing the exposure to environmental toxins as much as possible, and allowing your body to slowly removed toxins already existing in your body with cucumber water.
A regular and gentle detoxifying practice is the key to long-term health and vibrancy, and cucumber water can help you with this a great deal.
8. Cucumber Water May Have Anti-Cancer Benefits
Maintaining a healthy, balanced, whole foods diet full of nutrients is essential to reduce your cancer risk, or to help you heal from cancer.
Cucumber water is full of antioxidants, such as vitamin C and beta-carotene, as well as antioxidant flavonoids, including quercetin, luteolin, and kaempferol that among other benefits, helps your body to fight cancer.
Though cucumbers simply alone are not enough to cure or protect you from cancer, but due to their high antioxidant, mineral, vitamin, and water content they are an essential part of a healthy diet and lifestyle to keep you healthy and cancer-free.
Adding cucumber water into your daily diet can help your body to prevent cancer and other diseases.
Now that you know all about why you should drink cucumber water, you’re probably wondering how you can make it. The good news is that it’s a very simple process you can add into your daily routine. It only takes a few minutes to prepare. The basic idea is that you slice cucumber and a few other ingredients that you choose and add them to a pitcher of water. You’ll need to keep the water in the refrigerator for a few hours to overnight so that the flavor and goodness gets absorbed by the water. Then, it’s ready!
Cucumber water can be so much more than cucumbers in a glass of water. With other additions to the water, you’ll go from a simple, but healthy and refreshing drink to a flavor packed, super-healthy concoction you’ll really love.
Here are are just 5 recipe ideas to keep your cucumber water interesting:
5 Cucumber Water Recipes
1. Lemon Cucumber Water
Lemons and lemon water are great for your health as they are. They are a natural immune booster, full of antioxidants, aid detoxification, help digestion, and make your skin vibrant. Their vitamin C content helps iron absorption preventing anemia and creating energy. Cucumbers and lemons go well together in water creating a refreshing and cooling effect. The mint gives extra flavor, chlorophyll, and fiber. Mint is also a well known digestive aid, famous for its calming effects.
How to make it?
Just add 1 lemon sliced, 1 cucumber sliced, 1 handful of fresh mint, 8 cups of water, and some ice into a pitcher. Chill it for a minimum of 2 hours.
2. Cucumber Herb-Infused Water
Herbs are wonderful sources of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Rosemary, for example, is full of iron, calcium, and potassion, while thyme is one of the best sources of vitamin C out there. The mint adds extra flavor to your cucumber water, whereas the lemons provide vitamin C and immune-boosting benefits. Adding herbs to your cucumber water not only provides extra nutritional benefits but also creates an exciting flavor.
How to make it?
Slice 1 lemon and 1/2 a cucumber. Add it to a pitcher of water with 1 handful of mint, 1 handful of thyme, and 2 sprigs of rosemary. Refrigerate it for at least an hour.
3. Springtime Strawberry-Cucumber Water
Cucumber water with strawberries may sound a bit unusual together, but trust me, with the addition of lemon this natural vitamin water is so delicious that it quickly becomes addicting (in a good way). Strawberries provide are high in vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, folate, and other nutrients. They do wonders for your immune system, brain health, heart health, and joints, and are powerful cancer-fighters. For extra flavor, you may add your favorite herb, mint or basil are great choices.
How to make it?
Add 1 large lemon sliced, 1 small, sliced cucumber, 5 medium strawberries sliced, and 3 small sprigs of fresh herbs of your choice to a pitcher of water. Keep it in the fridge for 6 – 8 hours before drinking it.
4. Cucumber Basil Water
This is another wonderful herb water. Basil is abundant in antioxidants, and one of the best sources of vitamin A, which turns into beta-carotene to fight free radicals keeping your body healthy. As a result, basil is an immune system booster and a great anti-cancer agent. The lemon and lime add extra flavor and vitamin C for immune-boosting benefits.
How to make it?
Slice 1 medium cucumber, 1 lemon, and 1 medium lime. Add it to a 32 oz jar or pitcher along with 1/2 cup of fresh basil. Keep it refrigerated overnight.
5. Refreshing Fruit Water
If you are looking for a sweet, yet light refreshment, this is for you. Berries, like strawberries and blueberries, provide extra antioxidants in addition to the high mineral content of the cucumbers.
What’s more is that berries are known for their many health benefits. Some studies have even shown that eating more berries can help reduce mental decline in memory as we age. Eating berries has also been linked to a lower chance of developing Parkinson’s disease. There are a host of other benefits claimed by berries including weight-loss or maintenance, lower blood pressure, management of diabetes, heart health and more (1).
All berries are loaded with vitamins and antioxidants, though the exact health benefits can vary depending on the type. For example:
- Strawberries are loaded with vitamin C, fiber, and polyphenols, antioxidants that can protect against cancer and lower blood pressure. They’re also a great source of potassium and manganese.
- Blueberries contain anthocyanin, a flavonoid with anti-cancer and heart health properties. They’re also a source of iron, calcium, zinc, and vitamin K, all of which you need for healthy, strong bones.
- Blackberries are especially high in fiber, which can help to control blood sugar. They’re also a source of anthocyanins, as well as immune-boosting vitamins like vitamin K, vitamin A, and vitamin C.
- Raspberries contain omega-3 fatty acids that reduce risk of heart attacks and stroke. Their antioxidants and fiber are also great for controlling blood sugar, lowering cholesterol, and helping you lose weight.
How to make it?
Slice 1-2 handfuls of the berries of your choice, 1 lime, and 1 cucumber. Add them to a pitcher of water, add a few mint leaves, and keep it in the fridge for 2 – 3 hours minimum. Serve it with ice.
The Final Word
Cucumber water mixes just sound incredibly delicious, refreshing, and creative. Don’t you agree?! They are so easy to make too.
There’s really no excuse! With minimal effort, you can enhance your health by replacing plain water with tasty cucumber water mixes. Chomp down the cucumbers and fruit added to the water to take in the extra fiber, vitamins and minerals these healthy foods offer.
The best part is you’ll never get bored because you can continue to invent new recipes based on your favorite fruits, veggies and herbs. Experiment with new fruits, a teaspoon of honey or herbs you grow in your garden. The possibilities are endless.
We suggest that you make a new batch every evening to enjoy the water all throughout the next day. This way, you’ll make a habit out of it and get the most health benefits out of this unique drink. Have it throughout the day, with meals and during your workout.
Do you work outside your own? Pour some of the water into a large water bottle with a few ice cubes and make a goal of finishing it during the day. You can even take two smaller bottles and try to finish one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The refreshing flavor and replenishment cucumber water offers can’t be matched.
Have you ever tried cucumber water before? If not, I bet you will now. Do you have any favorite cucumber water recipes or ideas? Please, share them in the comments below. We always love hearing from you.
Cheers to good health and cucumber water!
Article Sources
- Migala, Jessica. 9 Amazing Health Benefits of Berries. Everyday Health, 4 December 2020.
- Popkin, Barry M., Kristen E D’Anci, and Irwin H Rosenberg. Water, hydration, and health. Nutrition Reviews, 1 August 2010.
- Ware, Megan RDN/LD. Health benefits of cucumber. Medical News Today, 3 December 2019.
- Currie, Heather A. and Carole C. Perry. Silica in Plants: Biological, Biochemical and Chemical Studies. Annals of Botany, December 2007.
- A Barel, M Calomme, and A Timchenko et. al. Effect of oral intake of choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid on skin, nails and hair in women with photodamaged skin. National Library of Medicine, October 2005.
- Kopustinskiene, Dalia M. et. al. Flavonoids as Anticancer Agents. Nutrients, 12 February 2020.
Totally agree! This was the number one thing that helped me quit the soda drinking habit, amazing how water can transform how you feel. The recipe to mix cucumber and basil is already a favourite for my water bottle, or with a bit of lemon to help with digestion.
When I did an aerobics class in high school, I used to wonder why I felt so dizzy and my skin would be red and blotchy for a long time after I worked out. Eventually I realized that I was dehydrated. I was not too keen on drinking plain water, and it actually made me feel a little ill if I drank very much before these morning classes. It casually came up in conversation with my aerobics teacher, and she suggested I add cucumber to my water to give it a little more flavor and nutrients. Adding cucumber, sometimes with a little lemon, lime, or fresh herbs, was so helpful in motivating me to drink my water in the mornings. It curbed any nausea, and I looked and felt more energetic and refreshed.
I like this article because it makes sense to me. Drinking 11 glasses of water is quite difficult because water is a little dull sometimes. I like cucumber, so cucumber water sounds refreshing and healthy and it obviously doesn’t cost much. I also didn’t know about cucumbers helping with muscular recovery so I learnt something new. The recipes sound tasty as well. I especially like the sound of strawberry and cucumber water. Thank you.
I love my cucumber water herbs infused. Seriously, drinking just water is boring and so I always try to add some herbs to it. I always go with mint and rosemary though I could add a little change once in a while.
Yum. Mint and rosemary are nice!
Please dear god, do not force yourself to drink 11-15 cups of water a day. Drink water when you are thirsty, educate yourself.
Cucumber is loaded with vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber.
Is there any advantage to eat the cucumbers after it has been in the water long time? Is it necessary to refrigerate?