Amazing Uses of Cucumbers
Cucumbers are a delicious and nutritious addition to any salad or sandwich, and can even make for a tasty snack on their own.
We should all try and include them in our weekly diet, so we benefit from the wide range of vitamins and minerals they provide.
But the brilliance of cucumber doesn’t end there, and we bet you didn’t realize just how versatile they could be- until now.
This common vegetable really is far more useful than you can imagine, and can be used for a wide range of tasks to help you maintain your body, home, garden and even clothes !
Here’s everything you need to know about using cucumbers outside of a salad-
1) They can reduce cellulite and wrinkles- If you’re feeling self-conscious about your cellulite, then cucumber can be a great help. Take a couple of thick slices and rub them along the area you want to treat for a few minutes.
This works because cucumber contains a phytochemical which 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.
2) They can make 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’re 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’re using it.
3) They can polish your shoes- we don’t tend to carry shoe polish with is 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 provide them with water-repelling properties as well.
4) They fight condensation in the bathroom- If you like a nice, steamy bath once in a while, but don’t have time to get rid of all the condensation on bathroom fixtures and mirrors afterwards, try rubbing a cucumber across the areas that’ll be affected once 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.
5) They can help fight headache. 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’re high in vitamin B, sugar, electrolytes, they 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.
6) They can fight off urges to snack- If you’re in between meals and feeling puckish, it is oh-so easy 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 stave off hunger, and just a few sticks of cucumber should do the trick.
7) They can drive away the 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.