Cucumbers are very easy to grow and make for a delicious treat, but they can also be used to prevent hangovers, or clean the kitchen sink among others.
Cucumber Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits
Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day. Just one cucumber contains vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc.
Cucumbers for Energy
If you feel often tired, Put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B vitamins and carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours, not to mention the extra water – this works for people who do not drink enough.
Un-Fog Mirrors With Cucumber for a Spa-like Fragrance
Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.
Rub the sliced inside of the cucumber on the mirror. If you are careful about how you clean your mirror in general, feel free to eat the cucumber after.
Get Rid of Grubs With an Aluminum Pie Tin
Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? All you need to do is place a few slices of cucumber in a small pie tin, and your garden will be free of grubs and some other pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.
Cucumbers to Curb Hunger
Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking crave? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by mostly traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.
This article explains how cucumbers work to take the edge off your appetite, without adding pounds to your “bottom line.”
The Secret Super Cleaning Powers of the Mighty Cucumber
Looking for a ‘green’ way to clean your faucets, sinks, or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean; not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but it won’t leave streaks, and won’t harm your fingers or fingernails while you clean. You’ll just have to rinse away the seeds.
Hangover Cure
Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache-free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins, and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache. On top of that, they’re 90% water, something your body will need after a little too much celebrating.
Freshen Your Breath—When there is no mint in sight
When you realize you don’t have gum or mints to get ride of a bad breath, take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath.
Emergency Shoe Polish
If you have an important meeting and you realize that you don’t have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.
This obviously works better on high-gloss shoes while more porous surface shoes won’t shine and you’ll need to be sure to wipe away the seeds.
Squeaky Hinge
If you want to fix a squeaky hinge, take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone at least long enough for you to get your hands on a more enduring lubricant.
Steam Away Stress
Stressed out and don’t have time for massage, facial, or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water; the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber will react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown to reduce stress in new mothers and students during final exams.
Magic Eraser
Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing. The outside of the cucumber also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls and when you’re done, you can peel and eat the cucumber for a healthy snack.