Cucumber Season: Restoring the Cucumber's Honor

One of the most common vegetables in the Israeli kitchen is the cucumber. A basic Israeli salad will almost always include it. What makes the cucumber so prevalent and fundamental in daily nutrition? First, the cucumber is tasty, juicy, and has an excellent flavor. Its appearance is particularly appealing and, combined with its taste, it evokes a sense of freshness in us. Interestingly, cucumbers are reputed to be a neutral vegetable with no value. Is this true? Well, the truth is different, which is why I found it interesting to start the 'cucumber season' by discussing it.

Let's start with the fact that cucumbers have significant nutritional value. They contain various minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc. The most notable is silica, which I will discuss in a separate article. 

Cucumbers contain substances known as lignans. These substances help reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and various types of cancer, such as uterine, ovarian, and prostate cancer.

They also contain various elements that neutralize the development of toxins in the body (antioxidants) and block the progression of inflammatory processes. In addition, cucumbers have been found to contain compounds that inhibit the growth and survival of cancerous cells.

Cucumbers contain most types of B vitamins, which are important for the health and nourishment of the nervous system and proper brain function. As such, they greatly assist in improving and balancing mood, such as in situations of irritability or depression. They help improve the body's energy levels and can strengthen the body in cases of fatigue. Additionally, cucumbers are rich in vitamin C and beta-carotene, which are essential for the health of the immune system. Sometimes, when I ask a patient what medications they take, they tell me they are on 'Coumadin' and immediately add that they are forbidden to eat green leaves and cucumber, which is true. Cucumbers, like other greens, contain vitamin K, required for proper blood clotting processes in the body. This contradicts the purpose of Coumadin, which is to thin the blood and reduce clotting processes.

Cucumbers are very tasty to eat. They have a gentle sweetness and are very refreshing. They certainly can also serve as a snack, and together with other vegetables, they can be beautifully and colorfully presented on a table. I have observed that guests enjoy and happily eat a beautifully arranged vegetable platter. Some even express gratitude for not having to eat salty, spicy snacks, and the like. The recommended and tastiest cucumber, in my opinion, is the slender and brightly green one.

Eliyahu Shechter is an iridologist and natural healer