The plain jane cucumber. The cucumber is perhaps the most underestimated vegetable. Well, after you read this article I'm sure your ideas about the cucumber will change. The cucumber is chock full of nutrition and health benefits, and is a must for the healthy lifestyle. See the myriad cucumber benefits below, and then try out my own personal recipe: Salad Cucumber á La VinBar.

Health Benefits Of Salad Cucumber á La Vinbar

Cucumbers belong to the squash family. Other squashes include zucchine, yellow squash and pumpkin. It has a dark green skin, whitish or very light green flesh underneath. Pickles come in two main varieties: pickling and slicing. Of these, the pickling variety is relatively small, around 2 - 4 inches long. Most of us know some of the cucumber benefits, such as their cooling properties and that cucumbers are extremely good at relieving the eyes in the hot summer. However, they are associated with a number of other health and nutrition benefits too. To know about them, read on.

Vitamin and Mineral Content in Salad Cucumber á La Vinbar

Below are the amounts of nutrients in 100 gm (a little more than 3 ounces) of the raw, unpeeled cucumber in Salad Cucumber á La Vinbar: Carbs - 3.63 gm, Sugars - 1.67 gm, Dietary Fiber - 0.5 gm, Fat - 0.11 gm, Protein - 0.65 gm, Thiamin (Vitamin B1) - 0.027 mg, Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) - 0.033 mg, Niacin (Vitamin B3) - 0.098 mg, Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) - 0.259 mg, Vitamin B6 - 0.040 mg, Vitamin B9(Folate) - 7 mcg, Vitamin C - 2.8 mg, Calcium - 16 mg, Iron - 0.28 mg, Magnesium - 13 mg, Phosphorus - 24 mg, Potassium - 147 mg, Zinc 0.20 mg

Salad Cucumber á La Vinbar: the Healthy 'Side Effects'

- Raw cucumber cools the skin and reduces inflammation as well.

- As a diuretic, the cucumber, when eaten, cools and cleanses, and is therefore beneficial to the skin.

- Cucumber water is great for heartburn, sour stomach and can even ease ulcer pain. Here's where you can find my cucumber water recipe.

- Put a slice of cucumber under your eyes to reduce that ugly puffiness.

- Salad Cucumber á La Vinbar fights eczeman, gout and arthritis, as it has anti-inflammatory properties.

- Lung, stomach and chest issues are eased by cucumbers.

- Salad Cucumber á La Vinbar moderates the blood pressure because of its potassium content.

- Salad Cucumber á La Vinbar contains erepsin, an enzyme that helps in protein digestion.

- Cucumber water and juice is said to promote hair growth, especially when it is added to the juice of carrot, lettuce and spinach.

- Cucumber water and juice can help ease rheumatism by cutting down excessive uric acid in the body, especially when taken with carrot juice.

- Salad Cucumber á La Vinbar can prove to be beneficial for those suffering from diseases of the teeth and gums, especially in cases of pyorrhea.

- Being rich in minerals, Salad Cucumber á La Vinbar helps prevent nail splitting of the fingers and toes.

- Cucumber is a restorative to the kidney, liver, pancreas and urinary tract.

- Diabetics have been found to benefit from eating cucumbers.

And now, the recipe you've been waiting for, Salad Cucumber á La Vinbar:

- 2 whole scrubbed unpeeled slicing cucumbers (preferably organic, of course) - 1/4 cup vinegar (white) - salt and pepper to taste - 1 tsp raw sugar (Remember, if it's white, it ain't right!)

Put the items in a bowl together, let them marinate for a little while, then voilá, you've got delicious Salad Cucumber á La Vinbar. It's simple, but it's succulent! For a delicious, cooling effect on a hot summer day, try adding some fresh dill or cilantro.