15 Surpising Uses for Cucumbers
Cucumbers
are a delicious and nutritious addition to any salad or sandwich, and
can even make for a tasty healthy snack on their own. We should all try
and include them in our weekly diet so that we benefit from the wide
range of vitamins and minerals they provide. But the brilliance of
cucumber does not end there, and we bet you didn't realize just how
versatile they could be. This common vegetable really is far more useful
than you could ever imagine, and can be used for a wide range of tasks
to help you maintain body, home, garden, and even clothes. Here's
everything you need to know to employ cucumbers outside of a salad:
1. They Can Give You a No-Caffeine Energy Boost
Many of us drink coffee, soda, or
other caffeine-rich drinks because they provide us with an energy boost
when we are starting to lag. Of course, caffeine is not particularly
healthy for you, but there is an alternative - the cucumber! Because
they are a great source of vitamin B and good carbohydrates, cucumbers
can give you a boost when you feel fatigued.
2. They Can Reduce Cellulite and Wrinkles
If you are feeling self-conscious
about your cellulite, cucumber can be a great help. Take a couple of
thickish slices and rub them along the area you want to treat for a few
minutes. This works because cucumber contains a photochemical that
tightens collagen and firms up the outer layer of your skin which, in
turn, reduces the appearance of visible cellulite. It can also be
effective on wrinkles. So, use them as part of your regular moisturizing
routine.
3. They Can Make Your Stainless Steel Shine Again We all buy artificial cleaners for our metal work, and most of them contain countless numbers of chemicals and other nasties you don't really want to be breathing in. If you are looking for a 'green' way to shine your stainless steel taps and pots, rub a thick slice of cucumber over the area you want to clean. It will remove any signs of tarnish and leave the surface shiny and new. And as an added bonus, it won't harm your hands while you are using it.
3. They Can Make Your Stainless Steel Shine Again We all buy artificial cleaners for our metal work, and most of them contain countless numbers of chemicals and other nasties you don't really want to be breathing in. If you are looking for a 'green' way to shine your stainless steel taps and pots, rub a thick slice of cucumber over the area you want to clean. It will remove any signs of tarnish and leave the surface shiny and new. And as an added bonus, it won't harm your hands while you are using it.
4. They Can Eliminate Bad Breath
If you've just finished a lovely
plate of fish, but don't want to breathe the odor on everyone in your
presence, take a slice of cucumber and use your tongue to pin it against
the roof of your mouth. Hold it there for around a minute and the
photochemicals it contains will attack the bacteria and eliminate your
problem.
5. They Can Rejuvenate and Replenish You If you want a quick and easy facial you can make at home, then slice up a generous amount of cucumber and boil in a pot of water. Remove the pot from the heat when it has boiled, place a towel over your head and lean over it, allowing the steam to hit your face. The natural chemicals inside the cucumber will leave you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, while your skin will look great.
6. They Can Polish Your Shoes We don't tend to carry shoe polish with us everywhere we go, but if you are caught short with scruffy shoes and need to be somewhere important, the last slice of cucumber from your salad can do the trick for you. Rub the slice over the shoes to leave them glistening, and, as an added bonus, the cucumber provides them with water repellent properties as well.
7. They Fight Fog in the Bathroom If you like a nice, steamy bath once in a while but don't have time to de-fog all the windows and mirrors afterwards, rub a cucumber across the affected areas before you start running the taps. It will not only stop them from fogging up, but will release some relaxing aromas to help you relax while you soak.
8. They Fix a Squeaky Hinge If you have a squeaky hinge or stubborn zipper, you probably didn't realize that you can fix it with a couple of slices of cucumber. Rub them on the defective area and you have a cheap, easy stand in for WD-40.
5. They Can Rejuvenate and Replenish You If you want a quick and easy facial you can make at home, then slice up a generous amount of cucumber and boil in a pot of water. Remove the pot from the heat when it has boiled, place a towel over your head and lean over it, allowing the steam to hit your face. The natural chemicals inside the cucumber will leave you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, while your skin will look great.
6. They Can Polish Your Shoes We don't tend to carry shoe polish with us everywhere we go, but if you are caught short with scruffy shoes and need to be somewhere important, the last slice of cucumber from your salad can do the trick for you. Rub the slice over the shoes to leave them glistening, and, as an added bonus, the cucumber provides them with water repellent properties as well.
7. They Fight Fog in the Bathroom If you like a nice, steamy bath once in a while but don't have time to de-fog all the windows and mirrors afterwards, rub a cucumber across the affected areas before you start running the taps. It will not only stop them from fogging up, but will release some relaxing aromas to help you relax while you soak.
8. They Fix a Squeaky Hinge If you have a squeaky hinge or stubborn zipper, you probably didn't realize that you can fix it with a couple of slices of cucumber. Rub them on the defective area and you have a cheap, easy stand in for WD-40.
9. They Fight Headaches
If the rigors of daily life have
left your head pounding, or you drank too much red wine while dining
out, cucumber can rescue you from a nasty headache. Because they are
high in vitamin B, sugar, and electrolytes, cucumbers replenish
nutrients that your body needs to fight off a hangover, or defeat the
headache that has been throbbing all day. All you need to do is eat half
a cucumber before bed, and then go to sleep as normal.
10. They Can Fight Off Urges to Snack If you are in between meals and feeling peckish, it can be tempting to turn to the cookie jar or ice-cream tub to satisfy urges. Most of us feel bad immediately after, and regret spoiling our dinner, so why not learn from our ancestors and use cucumber to fight off compulsions to snack? For centuries, it has been used by trappers, explorers, and traders as a quick fix to fend off hunger, and just a few sticks of cucumber should do the trick.
11. They Can Soothe Sunburn You might see cucumber in some after sun products on the pharmacy shelves, and for good reason. Cucumbers are a great cooling agent and some doctors even use them to treat patients with sore, burned skin. You just need to rub a thick slice over the affected area and you should feel quick relief.
10. They Can Fight Off Urges to Snack If you are in between meals and feeling peckish, it can be tempting to turn to the cookie jar or ice-cream tub to satisfy urges. Most of us feel bad immediately after, and regret spoiling our dinner, so why not learn from our ancestors and use cucumber to fight off compulsions to snack? For centuries, it has been used by trappers, explorers, and traders as a quick fix to fend off hunger, and just a few sticks of cucumber should do the trick.
11. They Can Soothe Sunburn You might see cucumber in some after sun products on the pharmacy shelves, and for good reason. Cucumbers are a great cooling agent and some doctors even use them to treat patients with sore, burned skin. You just need to rub a thick slice over the affected area and you should feel quick relief.
12. They Can Drive Away Garden Pests
Cucumber
can be used in your garden to drive away those pesky critters that
chomp their way through your precious plants and flowers. Simply place a
few slices in an aluminum container (most empty canned products should
be fine to use) and place the containers around your flower beds. The
cucumber and aluminum react together and make a handy repellent.
13. They Can Relieve Constipation
The high fiber and water content in
cucumbers make them useful if you are suffering from constipation. So
next time you are blocked up, try eating half a cucumber and seeing if
it causes anything to move. If you are someone who suffers from ongoing
constipation, try adding more cucumber to your daily diet.
14. They Are Excellent Erasers
If you have pen marks on a surface
or wall, then take an unpeeled chunk of cucumber and rub it across the
affected area. It works well on crayons too, so if your children or
grandchildren have left you with an unwanted piece of artwork on the
wall, the cucumber should successfully remove it.15. They Can Help You Look Great! Ok, so this one is more widely known. People have been putting cucumber over their eyes to reduce puffiness and dark circles for many years. To prepare the cucumber properly for this task, take a cold one fresh from the refrigerator and cut two thick slices. Find a room in your house where you can relax and set the cucumber slices over your closed eyes for around ten to fifteen minutes. You will look and feel great afterwards!