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The Biggest Benefit of Cucumber Water

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If you’re looking for a fun, easy way to drink more water, cucumber might be just the solution you’re seeking. Tasty, refreshing and full of health benefits, the humble cucumber can be used as more than just a garnish on your glass. It’s also a great way to add a twist of flavor to plain water.

Cucumber water doesn’t just add a dose of flavor. It may also help:

  • Build healthier skin
  • Support weight loss
  • Add vitamins to your diet
  • Keep you hydrated

Below, we’ll explore more about the biggest benefit of cucumber water, plus a few more reasons to drink up — and three recipes to get you started, too.

The Secret Benefit of Cucumber Water

Here’s the truth about cucumber water: It’s a fun way to get a little pickier about your hydration.

It all comes down to taste. When you’re sipping plain water, you might settle for a less-than-ideal flavor; after all, you know you need to drink the right amount of water every day, even if it doesn’t taste the best. However, when you spend time choosing the perfect ingredients and trying out a fun new recipe, you’ll want the results to be just right. 

Unfortunately, your home’s water might be working against you.

That’s because water is rarely pure, even in nature. By the time it gets to your tap, it’s gone through all kinds of things — like traveling through your pipes or from your private well — that may impact its quality. While not all of these events are bad news, they can lead to changes that could negatively impact your drinking experience.

Not all of these issues may pose a health risk – some are more aesthetic, like a bad taste or odor – they sure can ruin your infused water recipe. After all, you probably wouldn’t want to sip on cucumber water with a hint of chlorine flavor.

For many people, the answer is to start with a home water test and consultation. You’ll learn what’s in your tap water, what might be causing aesthetic problems and how serious these issues can be. For example, while the most obvious result of iron contamination is an unpleasant taste, your home’s plumbing system might end up clogged or your laundry could get rust-like stains.

Of course, the results of your water test don’t just point out an issue and leave you scratching your head. They also help you determine which water quality solution is best for you. A large array of drinking water problems can be addressed with a reverse osmosis filtration system. These systems are often installed under your sink, where they help filter contaminants from the water you drink, clean and cook with.* 

A water filtration solution can make a significant difference in your home’s water quality — and it could all start with the desire for better-tasting H2O. That’s the power of cucumber water.

Your Guide to the Cucumber

There’s more to cucumber than a fun encouragement to learn more about your water quality. Let’s take a look at this refreshing snack.

First things first: What is a cucumber? Technically, it’s a gourd plant — but a quick internet search will tell you that the rest is arguable. People consider the cucumber both a fruit and vegetable, perhaps depending on how they use it. For example, cucumber in your salad probably feels like a vegetable, but drinking cucumber water might convince you that you’re enjoying a fruit. 

Cucumbers can be grown in a variety of climates and environments, including a backyard garden. However, if you don’t have much of a green thumb, don’t worry — you can buy them at most grocery stores.

When choosing your cucumber, you’ll have two basic varieties to choose from: slicing vs. pickling. For infused water and other recipes, you’ll probably want the slicing variety. Make sure you find a cucumber that feels firm without soft spots or yellow discoloration, as that can indicate overripeness or rot. Wrinkles should also be avoided, because that means the cucumber may have lost its moisture due to improper storage techniques.

Once you get your cucumber home, make sure to wash it thoroughly before slicing or juicing. That’s because cucumbers — like many other types of produce, including strawberries, spinach and tomatoes — have previously been identified as one of the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen.” This is a list of crops that may have more contaminants, like pesticides. Of course, that depends on where and how your cucumber was grown. So while washing is always a safe bet, you don’t necessarily need to worry about health risks when consuming this snack.

6 More Cucumber Benefits

While you can add sliced cucumber to a salad or pop it into a smoothie, cucumber-infused water is one of the best ways to enjoy this healthy snack. Here are a few big benefits of enjoying cucumber in any form:

  1. It May Help Build Healthy Skin

Infusing your water with cucumbers may have great health benefits for your skin. They are high in pantothenic acid, also known as vitamin B5,  which helps to treat acne. Cucumber water also contains silica, a mineral that helps to promote skin elasticity. Plus, when you drink more water overall, you’re flushing out harmful toxins that can affect your skin health.

  1. It May Support Weight Loss

Drinking cucumber water may help with weight loss due to multiple factors. First off, the added flavor can indirectly encourage you to drink more water in general — an essential practice when trying to lose weight. It also acts as a healthier alternative to sugary beverages that might pack on the pounds. Additionally, there are mild diuretic properties in cucumbers that may help you eliminate water retention and bloating, which facilitates better digestion.

  1. It’s a Good Source of Vitamins

Cucumber is a good source of vitamin C and vitamin K. Vitamin C offers extremely versatile benefits. It can boost your immune system, protect against various diseases and prevent skin aging. One cup of sliced cucumber also contains about 22% of the recommended daily value of vitamin K, which helps you form healthy bones, tissues and hormones.

  1. It Makes Hydration Easier

Cucumber is made up of mostly water, making it even easier to keep hydrated when you’re drinking cucumber-infused water. Its refreshing taste often gets you to go back for another glass — and as a direct result, you’re drinking more water. That’s great news, because maintaining proper hydration is crucial to facilitating regulatory functions throughout your body.

  1. It’s Packed With Antioxidants

Cucumber is a major source of antioxidants. Antioxidants help to reduce and prevent cell damage caused by oxidative stress from free radicals. They work to fight cancer, diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer’s, among other health issues. As you enjoy your cucumber water, know that you’re taking an active step toward positive health and well-being.

  1. It’s Versatile

If you’re looking for a healthy snack that can be enjoyed in tons of different ways, cucumber is a great choice. It’s not just a good fit for your infused water; it can also be juiced, added to smoothies, diced into salsa and even turned into a serving vehicle for hummus or another side. That means you can buy cucumber with confidence, knowing you’ll likely find a great way to use it before it goes bad.

Cucumber Water Recipes to Keep You Hydrated

Ready to put all those health benefits to the test? Here are a few fun recipes that go beyond just cucumbers, water and ice:

Sparkling Cucumber Water

If you want to add a little sparkle to your drink, use seltzer instead of plain water. Add one whole cucumber, thinly sliced, to a pitcher of seltzer and refrigerate for up to four hours. Strain the cucumber and half-fill your glass from the pitcher. For the other half, add fresh seltzer, ice and a cucumber slice or two to garnish.

Sweet Cucumber Water

Looking for something sweet? While cucumber doesn’t have the same candy-like flavor as its cousins in the fruit family, it pairs well with treats such as:

  • Strawberries
  • Blueberries
  • Raspberries
  • Blackberries
  • Cantaloupe
  • Kiwi

Just add one thinly sliced cucumber to your pitcher, then include sweet fruits or melons to your preference. Refrigerate for up to four hours. Remember to strain your infused water before drinking.

Lemon Cucumber Water

There are plenty of benefits associated with drinking lemon water, but not everyone likes that tart taste. If you want your vitamin C with a milder flavor, try mixing your favorite citrus fruit with cucumber for a delicious drink.

Start by slicing your cucumber and putting it in a pitcherful of water. Next, choose citrus fruits you have on hand. If you have a fresh lemon, slice it up and toss it in; if not, lemon juice will do. You can try oranges and limes, too. Mix and match these flavors for something brand new — and remember that other tastes can help disguise lemon if you’re a fan of the health benefits but not the sourness.

Enjoy Better Water for All Your Recipes

Whether you’re whipping up a batch of your favorite cucumber-infused water recipe, making dinner for friends or just filling up the dog’s bowl, good water is always the most important ingredient. If unpleasant aesthetic issues or contaminant concerns are throwing off your enjoyment of your water, it’s time to take action.

Schedule your free water test and consultation today to learn more about your water quality and how a water filtration system could help.

*Contaminants may not be present in your water.

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