The Cucumber Benefits For Weight Loss That Will Surprise You
There are many ways to lose weight, but in regard to the foods that help to lose weight, we recognize that cucumber is one of the slimming vegetables. So cucumber is not just a tasty snack, it is in fact a good food for weight loss, who knew? Did you know cucumber is 95% water? This means it can help with belly fat loss and the fibre content means it flushes out toxins. Its flavonoids can even slash bad cholesterol. So here are the cucumber benefits for weight loss that will surprise you.
Detoxes And Reduces Bloating
To ease the bloated look around your tummy and help with weight loss, cucumber seeds act as a diuretic, helping pass urine and flushing out excess water and toxins. This can help reduce bloating and tighten your stomach muscles.
Eases Constipation
Any indigestion or constipation can also add to that pesky bloating that makes you look chubbier than you are. Fortunately, cucumbers can help remedy this, thanks to their high water and fibre content. A diet rich in raw cucumber can also keep the gut clean and free from constipation. It even helps promote the breakdown in the intestinal tract due to its high content of cellulose
Soothes Stomach Irritation
Gastric ulcers are nasty and can cause unpleasant bloating in the stomach area. Cucumber, however, is a demulcent. This means it can soothe inflammation and can ease stomach lining irritations. Which is why Unani medicine, a form of alternative medicine, uses cucumbers to help ease and treat gastric ulcers. Best that surprised you didn’t it?
Offers A Fat-Free Source Of Energy
Studies show that successful fat and weight loss depends on fat intake and not necessarily overall calories. Cucumber happens to have zero fat and low calories so it is the perfect snack if you are looking to lose a few extra pounds. So, even if you’ve already eaten and are still craving a snack, cucumber is an excellent choice no matter the time of the day. Just don’t add humus or a dip!
Lowers LDL Cholesterol And Blood Glucose
Cucumbers might even improve cholesterol levels by lowering total cholesterol and decreasing triglycerides. This doesn’t really aid weight loss but it does mean it makes your healthier.
Speeds up metabolism
Eating cucumber speeds up your metabolism because it takes a lot of energy to burn it once you’ve eaten it, due to the high fibre content. This means that it burns fats more effectively and more quickly.
Reduces fat intake
Cucumber has tartaric acid, an organic compound that causes inhibition of the conversion of carbohydrates into fat, so even if you have had a carb day cucumber will help reduce the amount of fat your body absorbs.
Full of vitamin C
Cucumber is full of vitamin C, which will aid your weight loss journey by making it easier to cut your fat mass. This means you will burn fat quicker.
How to incorporate cucumber into your diet?
Try cucumber out as either a raw snack or with lemon juice and ginger in water for a tasty drink. You can even chop it up and mix it into a salad as a side or a main meal. The uses are endless. If your goal is to lose weight, keep in mind that in addition to eating cucumbers, you must follow a routine of exercises and a balanced diet in carbohydrates. Cucumber has zero fat and will still fill you up so get down to the supermarket. Were you surprised by the cucumber benefits for weight loss?
Which of these tips on cucumber benefits for weight loss are you going to use? Let us know in the comments.
Featured Image Source: weheartit.com
Current University Graduate, Hampshire UK