Cucumbers -15 Surpising Uses
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.
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.
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 aftersun 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!