THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF CUCUMBER, LEMON, MINT AND HONEY

When  shopping  groceries in traditional market or supermarket, I prefer to buy fresh fruits and vegetables than red meat. Cucumber, lemon, carrots etc they are just a view of my must buy list.

I am not yet a vegan but I eat less less meat for my health. I think the fact that my dad died to lung cancer and my mom died to diabetes have made me much aware of my health than I used too. I care what I eat and I like browsing health articles as many as I can to make myself well informed and I like herbal remedies not only because Indonesia-where I live, is so rich with herbs, spices and fruits etc that can be used as medicine but also I can make the herbal remedies myself at home and the price is inexpensive.

I am not a doctor or a physician so the information in this article should not be considered medical advice and what I share here is mostly a resume from many health articles I read and personal experience.

Anyway, below is the cucumber I bought this morning, I tried to make them look pretty for the photo shoot hahah but mind the look because oh its so amazing what cucumber can do for your health!

This crunchy vegetables can be cleaned and eaten raw and you know what, that is actually how Sundanese likes to eat it-Raw cucumber is a part of Lalapan. Lalapan is the standard accompaniment to fried and grilled dishes in Java, always served at Sundanese restaurants and mostly serve for free! but that's not really the reason why Sundanese from generation to generation eat raw cucumber. Based on what I read on many health articles, all cooking methods reduce nutrient levels in vegetables to some degree. Many vitamins are sensitive to heat exposure and to get the full health benefits of cucumbers, you should use all parts (skin and flesh) and the best nutrients of cucumber are found in its skin.

Before I make my mouth watering imagining Sundanese dishes with its lalapan, here's health and nutritional benefits of cucumber!

Came from the same family as pumpkin, zucchini and other squashes, cucumber has many health advantages and is therefore often used in different herbal products.

This low-calorie food is more than a crunchy vegetable. Composed of mostly water, about 96 percent and packed with nutrients.Its high water content helps keep the body hydrated, helps regulate body temperature, rids the body of excess fluids. Cucumber also has cleaning properties that removes accumulated waste and toxins from our body. Cucumber, radish and bitter gourd are beneficial in diabetes.

The cucumber contains alkaline-forming minerals and is an excellent source of vitamin C and A (anti-oxidants), folate, manganese, molybdenum, potassium, silica, sulfur and lesser amounts of vitamin B complex, sodium, calcium, phosphorus and chlorine.

Silica is important for healthy connective tissue, ligaments, cartilage, muscles, tendons, and bone and very good for the skin, it improves the health of the skin and makes it naturally hydrating also helps to get a good complexion and a glowing skin and can promote to hair growth.
The potassium in cucumber makes it useful for the problem of high and low blood  pressure.
According to the American Cancer Society ,states that molybdenum has been found to be an anti-oxidant that can help prevent cancer.

Is that good! and they are just some of many  health and nutritional benefits of cucumber. 

Now, what about Lemon?

Lemon is one of my fav fruits. I like to mix them into drinks to make a little zing! Oh l even love its pretty sun shine color.

The citrus fruits have more benefits than others. Lemon is considered to be one of the most alkalizing foods.

Lemon has one of the most important antioxidants in nature, vitamin C.
Lemons and lemon juice can protect your body against germs and bacteria. If you want to boost your immune system, the lime juice is very effective. Not only that, a glass of lime juice that is taken on an empty stomach in the morning has natural properties that can contribute to weight reduction. Lemon water is also good to control high blood pressure, cure and throat infection.

Lemon also contains important nutrients like potassium and  unique flavonoid compounds that have antioxidant and anti-cancer properties which is another good news for me!

Mint turns.


I use this Mint pic from Wikipedia since Mint I bought isn't look lovely in the pic due to too long photo shoot:P.

Anyway, I like adding fresh Mint leaves for garnish , what about you? I think Mint as garnish makes the food or drink much attractive with its fresh green color!

I know Mint can be use as mouth and breathe freshener but after I read in many health articles, mint actually has more to offer than that. Its strong and refreshing aroma is an excellent and quick remedy for nausea besides a good appetizer and promote digestion.

The typical aroma can cools and soothes throats, nose and other respiratory channels, its gives in cough and it is a good relaxant and gives relief in congestion skin care and good pimples etc.

Besides the cooling and soothing effect, certain enzymes present in Mint may help cure cancer. How about that!  that!

Again I use the honey  pic from Wikipedia, as mine is in the in the dark brown bottle and I already use half of it, not sufficient to make a lovely image.

Yea I can finish a bottle of honey all by myself if  I want too. I kinda have sweet tooth but since I know I have diabetes gen runs in my family and honey is three times as sweet as sugar so I should be careful and consume it in moderation instead and unlike sugar, honey is nutritious plus I use honey mostly for skin care , plus I am not a diabetic and Insya allah never will be and the last but not the least plus is.. you're not diabetic, aren't you? I surely hope you not! so enough with the chit chat, lets straight to the health benefits of honey, shall we?

Honey-as you probably know, has numerous healths benefits.
It is so popular coz everyone can eat it as jam, mix it with juice etc or with herbs for medicine. Its natural sweetener because of the glucose and fructose contents.

You can use honey as a source of energy as in a tablespoon of honey contains 64 calories, sugar only 15 calories even so, honey helps in reducing weight when you consume it with warm water or lemon juice or cinnamon for same result.
Honey also makes your body easily  maintaining blood sugar levels, muscle recuperation and glycogen restoration after a workout and unlike sugar honey contain vitamin and mineral such Vitamin C, Potassium, Calcium and Iron.

Honey can also used as antiseptic since honey has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.
Nutraceuticals content makes honey able to effectively remove free radicals from our body so this made honey antioxidants too.

Honey have wonderful beauty aids that nourish the skin like as it rich with vitamins, minerals and amino acids.

Here's some tips:

*Natural Whitening.
A face mask of egg white and honey gently removes the tan from your face.

*Firming mask
Whisk a tablespoon of honey together with an egg white, 1 teaspoon of glycerin and about 1/4 cup of flour. Smooth on the face, leave on 15 minutes, and rinse off with warm water. You will be pleased with the results.

* Hair fall
Apply honey on your hair , rubbed in  and leave it on for an hour and then wash it off.

*Fair skinTry this natural bleach. Mix orange peels (sun dried and powdered) with milk.Apply this paste for 25 minutesand wash off.

*Acne
3 Tbsp honey and 1 tsp cinnamon as a paste , apply it on your face my face,  leave it approx 20 min and wash it with warm water

*Fabulous pink lips
Apply some honey on your lips at night before you sleep

OR you can also make Fresh healthy drink. 
How to make Healthy drink from Lemon, Cucumber and Honey a la Dita?

I shared the recipe HERE . Its perfect healthy drink for a hot day dint forget to adding Mint leave for the garnish! :)


Source
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucumber
http://www.whfoods.comhttp://foodforbreastcancer.com
http://www.livestrong.com
http://organichealthadviser.com
http://www.ezsoftech.com/medical/medical.benefits.of.cucumber.asp
http://www.ehow.com
http://www.herbs2000.com
http://www.organicfacts.net
http://www.diabitieslife.com
http://www.mayoclinic.com
http://www.bees-and-beekeeping.com