Are you cool as a cucumber? Not only is the cucumber known for it’s ability to cool-down the body, it has additionally been known to help with jaundice, diarrhea, epilepsy, sore throat, conjunctivitis (redness of the eye) and swelling of extremities.
Often you should attempt to deseed the cucumber as the body can have trouble digesting the seeds. It is possible to deseed them yourself easily by cutting them in half and utilizing a spoon to eliminate the seeds or if you wish to eliminate this step it is possible to buy cucumbers that are already seeded.
Fresh cucumbers are easy to add to salads and for an easy salad just toss diced cucumbers with sliced red onions, red tomatoes and your favorite all-natural, low-fat balsamic vinaigrette. This can be a fast way to make a refreshing salad that reaps the benefits of cucumber.
Anti-diabetic Advantages of Cucumber:
Beta cells present in the pancreas produce the hormone insulin. Cucumber is found to possess a hormone needed by the beta cells in the insulin production. Moreover, the Glycemic Index of cucumbers is found to be zero.
Why Cucumbers have not a glycemic index listed? Does this signify they do not raise blood sugar?
Not at all. It only denotes that under the "rules" for the meaning of the glycemic index, it is too hard to get an accurate number. This is because you'll need to eat a very big amount of the food to get 50 grams of carbohydrate at once to be tested. In general, the lower the quantity of carbohydrate in a vegetable and the more fiber it has, the less the increase in blood sugar will be.
The carbohydrates are primarily responsible of the raise of the glucose level. But the carbohydrates present in the cucumber are easily digestible in a diabetes patient’s stomach.
Tips for Preparing Cucumbers:
Unwaxed cucumbers don't need to be peeled but need to be washed before cutting. Cucumbers can be sliced, diced or cut into sticks.
A couple of Quick Serving Ideas:
- Use half-inch thick cucumber slices as petite serving "dishes" for chopped vegetable salads.
- Mix diced cucumbers with sugar snap peas and mint leaves and toss with rice wine vinaigrette.
- For refreshing cold gazpacho soup that takes five minutes or less to make, simply purée cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers and onions, then add salt and pepper to taste.
- Add diced cucumber to tuna fish or chicken salad recipes.
Cool Cucumber Salad Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 3 medium cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/4-inch slices
- 1 carrot, peeled and shredded
- 1/2 red onion, sliced paper-thin
- 1/3 cup minced cilantro
Dressing:
- 1/2 cup rice vinegar
- 2 tsp. honey
- 2 tsp. Reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 1 1/2 tsp. toasted sesame oil
- Pinch dried red pepper flakes
Preparation per 8 servings:
Preparation time: 25 minutes
Marinating time: 1 hour
1. Combine the cucumbers, carrots, red onion, and cilantro in a large bowl.
2. Combine the dressing ingredients. Pour dressing over cucumbers, cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour. Salad might be eaten with a fork.
Nutritional Values per Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 25
- Calories From Fat: 10
- Total Fat: 1 gram
- Saturated fats: .1 grams
- Cholesterol: milligrams
- Sodium: 50 milligrams (without added salt)
- Total Carbohydrate: 5 grams
- Soluble fiber: 1 gram
- Sugars: 3 grams
- Protein: 1 grams
Suzanne Ault writes for the Diabetes Diet Recipe blog, her personal hobby website dedicated to cooking guidelines to stop diabetes.
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