Cucumbers, those crisp ubiquitous green vegetables, are the featured ingredient in every summer salad, but they are much more than that. The botanical name of a cucumber is Cucumis sativus. Cucumis is a large genus of gourds including those for human use such as: cucumbers, other cucurbits (pumpkin, melon, squash) all belong to Cucurbitaceae family. Their biotic and abiotic importance and diversity make them a wonderful topic to write about.
A Brief History of Cucumbers
Image courtesy the authorCucumbers have approximately a 3,000-year history. Native to South Asia, they were cultivated in ancient India, spreading from there to Greece, Rome and eventually Egypt. The Romans used cucumbers in hothouses for eating and medicinal purposes. The vegetable crossed the Atlantic with European colonists in the 16th century and spread to the Americas.
Types of Cucumbers
Cucumbers can be short and squat or long and thin; light green or dark green or lightly variegated light green and dark green; and can have thick or thin peels. The two main types of cucumbers are slicing cucumbers, which are usually eaten fresh, and pickling cucumbers, which are smaller and used for fermented pickles. There is a bounty of these varieties:
English Cucumbers: Large, long, thin-skinned and kinda mild, they’re usually wrapped in plastic so they don’t lose moisture.
Persian Cucumbers: Smaller and sweeter, Persian cucumbers are perfect for snacking and salads.
Kirby Cucumbers: Touted for their ability to be pickled easily, these striped, short cucumbers have a bumpy skin and are crunchy.
Lemon Cucumbers — these are smaller than most cucumbers, round and yellow — hence the name Lemon Cucumbers — have a bit of an acid taste.
Nutritional Benefits
cucumbers are low in calories but high in vitamins, making them a healthy way to eat. They are 95 percent water so it makes cucumbers a great hydrating food Here is some nutritional facts:
Vitamins and Minerals: Cucumbers are a rich source of vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium and magnesium, all of which contribute to bone health, immune function and proper electrolyte balance.
Antioxidants: packed with antioxidants such as beta-carotene and flavonoids, cucumbers help blunt the effects of oxidative stress and inflammation.
Fibre: The peel is a big source of dietary fibre which is beneficial for digestive system functioning.
Health Benefits
All this is made possible by the fact that cucumbers contain high water volume and low calories, leading to several health benefits.
Hydration: You’ve probably heard the common misconception that we get Marcos (from the Oompa-Loompa’s place) to eat plenty of cucumbers to maintain our hydration. This is not strictly true, but the notion that cucumbers help maintain hydration is. Hydration is essential to all sorts of basic body functions, including maintaining a constant temperature and transfer of nutrients throughout your body.
Weight Loss: Their low calorie, high water content makes cucumbers an excellent filling snack that can help with weight loss and weight management.
Skin Care: Cucumbers are cool and soothing to the skin and are anti-inflammatory and also contain silica which helps keep skin glowing and healthy.
Detoxifying: cucumbers have high water and fibre content that helps flush out toxins from the body.
Culinary Uses
Outside of the kitchen, the cucumber is a versatile gadget. Here are five favourite uses:
Salad ideas: Cucumbers provide the perfect crunchy texture to a salad. They go with a whole variety of salads, especially with tomatoes, onions and virtually any dressing.
Pickles: Pickling cucumbers in vinegar and spices results in salty, tangy, flavoured pickles, served as bar snacks or condiments with meals.
Smoothies: Adding cucumbers to smoothies can enhance hydration and add a mild, refreshing taste.
Sushi: Cucumber — A super-hydrating vegetable that brightens a salad while adding crunchy texture. Cucumbers are a common addition to supermarket sushi rolls.
Sandwiches: Sliced cucumbers add a fresh, crunchy element to sandwiches and wraps.
Growing Cucumbers
Cucumbers are fairly easy to grow and