Does Size Matter?

….when it comes to cucumbers??

Well I guess it depends what you’re wanting out of it…the bigger the cucumber the more water it has..so if you’re eating it for hydration then YES! If you’re eating for nutrition then NO but make sure you eat the peel!!! The peel doesn’t have all the nutrients but it has the most.

I also think it’s important to BUY ORGANIC CUCUMBERS..they are a part of the “dirty dozen” which basically means that non organic cucumbers have a high chance of having a lot of pesticides which are harmful to your health.

More info on what other fruits/vegetables you should buy organic. 

Personally I’ve loved cucumbers for many years…I’m usually made fun of in social situations because I just eat a cucumber like it’s an apple..wash it off and bite! So refreshing! So good! If you don’t like cucumbers it’s one of those foods that are worth ‘learning” to like! If at first you don’t love cucumber…try it again, and again, and again…eventually you’ll love them! 🙂 I pretty much do that with all foods that have amazing health benefits. You all learned to like alcohol that way right? I mean who naturally loves alcohol??? YUCK! Obviously cucumbers are WAY better for you!

Here are some of the proven benefits of cucumbers:

Helps digestion. Cucumbers actually have fiber which is great for digestion.

Contains a compound called sterols that help reduce bad cholesterol.

Flushes out toxins. All that water in cucumber acts as a virtual broom, sweeping waste products out of your system. With regular use, cucumber is known to dissolve kidney stones.

Keeps you hydrated. Cucumbers are 96% water!

Reduces your risk of several cancers. Several studies have shown that cucumbers have cancer-fighting properties.

Stabilizes blood pressure. Whether yours is too high or too low.

Cucumber juice helps to heal diseased gums…or just keeps them healthy, refreshed, even smelling good!

Fights heat, both inside and out. Eat cucumber, and your body gets relief from heartburn. Apply cucumber on your skin, and you get relief from sunburn.

Soothes muscle and joint pain. All those vitamins and minerals in cucumber make it a powerful enemy of muscle and joint pain.

Keeps kidneys in shape. Cucumber lowers uric acid levels in your system, keeping the kidneys happy.

Good for diabetics. Patients of diabetes can enjoy cucumber while also reaping its health benefits: cucumber contains a hormone needed by the cells of the pancreas for producing insulin.

Beauty Benefits:

Contains Silica, which is the wonder mineral in cucumber that makes your hair and nails stronger and shinier. YES!

Enriches you with vitamins. A, B, and C, which boost immunity, give you energy, and keeps you radiant.

Supplies skin-friendly minerals: magnesium, potassium, silicon.

Revives the eyes. Placing chilled slices of cucumber on the eyes is a clichéd beauty visual, but it really helps reduce under-eye bags and puffiness.

How I eat my cucumbers:

Like I said up top..raw..just wash and bite! But if that’s not what your into(yet) they are great sliced with greek dill dip(recipe coming soon.)

-in morning smoothie ( I ususally put half a cucumber)

-cut up and added to salads

-cucumber salad (sliced cucumber with squeeze of lemon or apple cider vinager

 

Jenius SUPER Green Smoothie

(1 serving)
 greensmoothie
Organic Cucumber (half) great for the skin! Hydrates & moderate sources of vitamin A, iron, and potassium. Cucumbers also contain sterols, which reduce cholesterol.
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Organic Banana (half to whole) good source of potassium and vitamin B6 and helps to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular problems.
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Organic Turmeric (knuckle) “the worlds healthiest food” high in manganese, iron, vitamin B6, fiber. Is best for anti-inflammation, preventing cancers, improved liver function, pain, much more.
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Organic Ginger (knuckle) good for SOOO many things you can fill books with all of the things it helps with.
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Organic Parsley (10+sprigs) rich with chlorophyll, vitamin A, B, C, and K, folate and SO much more!
 parsley
(THIS much)
sometimes
Organic Mint (5-10 leaves)  adds sweet flavor as well as a decongestant  can help relieve indigestion, IBS, and seasonal allergies.
sometimes
Cayenne Pepper (pinch or how much spicy you can handle ::I don’t tolerate spicy well::) helps stimulate blood circulation, purifies the blood, promotes fluid elimination & sweating AKA gets your metabolism rev’d up..helps to eliminate last night’s ‘mistakes.’ *Don’t use if you have irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease or are pregnant as it can be irritate your insides.
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Chia Seeds (1 tbsp) source of calcium, iron, omega-3s good for your brain. They are also a good source of fiber, protein, and antioxidants.
sometimes
Flax Seed Oil (1 tbsp) best vegetable source of essential omega-3 fatty acids, which help lubricate the joints and prevent absorption of toxins by stimulating digestion. *Don’t add if you have acne prone skin*
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Organic Suja Cucumber Chill or other similar liquid (1/2 to 1 cup) helps to make smoothie more liquid. Be sure not to use a juice with high sugar content.
Organic Good Belly Tropical Green juice (1/2 cup) great added probiotic and adds great flavor.
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Organic Leafy Greens (2 handfuls) good source of vitamin A & C, chlorophyll and also contain iron, folic acid, calcium, and potassium. Leafy Greens are a known antioxidant and anticancer as well. I buy this 1.5 pound bag of Earthbound Farm Organic Power greens from Costco for $5.00.
earthbound farms organic power greens
I put all of the ingredients in my Vitamix blender with the leafy greens last(on top) so the chia seeds can gel in the liquid.
TIP: Put in all the ingredients and leave in blender for 15 min so the chia seeds can gel and become easier to digest.
ALSO: If you’d like your smoothie colder add 4 or so pieces of ice after you have mixed, then blend until ice is blended.
vitamix
To add additional vitamin C and for those who need a little more sweetness squeeze a quarter of an Organic Lemon in the bottom of your glass and then pour smoothie in.
I love that everyday that I make this smoothie I’ve already eaten equivalent of an entire salad worth of veggies. It really starts me on the right path for my day.
 SO my JENIUS TIP: Personally I make 3-4 smoothies per day by tripling up on most of this… only 2 bananas though..I then bottle them and put them in the fridge for the future day(s.) Saves a lot of time and makes me feel more efficient! ON TOP OF THAT I cut up, prepare additional veggie/herb ingredients in a large baggie so that I can just dump that all in the blender and add the liquid the next time I make. SO basically I only have to get out, wash, cut up, prepare all of this once a week…VERY EFFICIENT! 🙂
Big idea:
One drink a day has incredible transformative power
Incredible new possibilities open up when you get healthy