cucumber

Cucumber (scientific name: Cucumis sativus L.) is an annual vine or climbing herb of the Cucurbitaceae family. It is also called cucumber or green melon. The stem and branches are elongated, with ridges and grooves, and covered with white rough hairs. The tendrils are thin. The petiole is slightly rough and has rough hairs; the leaves are broadly ovate-cordate, membranous, and the lobes are triangular and serrated. It is monoecious. Male flowers: constant number of flowers clustered in the axils of leaves; the pedicels are slender and slightly pubescent; the corolla is yellow-white, and the lobes of the corolla are oblong-lanceolate. Female flowers: solitary or sparsely clustered; the pedicels are thick and pubescent; the ovary is rough. The fruit is oblong or cylindrical, yellow-green when ripe, and the surface is rough. The seeds are small, narrowly ovate, white, without edges, and nearly acute at both ends. Flowering and fruiting period is summer.

It is widely cultivated in various parts of China, and many areas have greenhouses or plastic greenhouses for cultivation; it is now widely planted in temperate and tropical regions. Cucumber is one of the main vegetables in summer in various parts of China. The stems and vines are used as medicine, which can reduce inflammation, eliminate phlegm, and relieve spasms.

Nutritional value of cucumber

1. Anti-tumor: Cucurbitacin C contained in cucumber can improve the immune function of human body and achieve the purpose of anti-tumor. In addition, this substance can also treat chronic hepatitis;

2. Anti-aging: Old cucumbers are rich in vitamin E, which can prolong life and resist aging; cucumber enzymes in cucumbers have strong biological activity and can effectively promote the body's metabolism. Applying cucumber juice to the skin can moisturize the skin and smooth wrinkles;

3. Prevent alcohol poisoning: Alanine, arginine and glutamine contained in cucumbers have a certain auxiliary therapeutic effect on liver patients, especially those with alcoholic cirrhosis, and can prevent alcohol poisoning;

4. Lowering blood sugar: The glucosides and fructose contained in cucumbers do not participate in the normal sugar metabolism. Therefore, when diabetics eat cucumbers instead of starchy foods to satisfy their hunger, their blood sugar will not increase, but may even decrease.

5. Lose weight and strengthen the body: The succinic acid contained in cucumbers can inhibit the conversion of sugars into fat. In addition, the cellulose in cucumbers has a certain effect on promoting the elimination of corrupt substances in the human intestine and lowering cholesterol, which can strengthen the body.

The efficacy and function of cucumber

1. To treat fever dysentery in children: eat more than ten young cucumbers with honey (from "Famous Prescriptions on the Sea").

2. To treat water-induced abdominal distension and swelling of the limbs: Break a cucumber into two pieces without removing the seeds, boil half of it in vinegar and the other half in water until both are mushy, and take it on an empty stomach and drink it immediately after. (Qianjin Sui Fang)

3. Treat sore throat: Take an old cucumber, remove the seeds, fill it with saltpeter, and dry it in the shade. Blow a little each time. (Yi Lin Ji Yao)

4. Treat bruises and sores: In June, take cucumbers and put them in a porcelain bottle, soak them in water, and then use the water to sweep the sores. (Medical Collection)

5. Treat red and painful eyes caused by fire: Take an old cucumber in May, make a small hole on it, remove the pulp, add Glauber's salt until it is full, hang it in a cool place, wait for the salt to seep out, then scrape it off and leave it on the eyes. (Shou Yu Shen Fang)

6. To treat burns caused by hot water or fire: In May, pick cucumbers and put them into a bottle, seal it, hang it under the eaves, and brush it with water. It is good. ("Summary of Medical Prescriptions")

Medicinal value of cucumber

Nature and flavor: sweet, cold, non-toxic.

Ingredients: Pentosan, vitamin B1, B2, niacin, protein, sugar.

Pharmacology: Cucumbers contain a considerable amount of potassium salt, which can accelerate metabolism and excrete excess salt from the body. Regular consumption of cucumbers can promote the growth and development of muscle tissue in young children, and regular consumption of cucumbers can help maintain muscle elasticity and prevent vascular sclerosis. The fine cellulose in cucumbers can also promote gastrointestinal motility, accelerate the excretion of corrupt toxins in the body, and lower blood cholesterol. Cucumbers also contain a substance called succinic acid, which can inhibit the conversion of sugar substances in the body into fat, so regular consumption of cucumbers has the effect of losing weight and keeping fit.

Function: It has the functions of clearing away heat and promoting diuresis, detoxifying and anti-inflammatory, relieving pain, and lubricating the intestines. It is suitable for symptoms such as red eyes, jaundice, sore throat, thirst due to fever, vomiting and diarrhea due to heat dysentery, difficulty urinating, edema caused by nephritis, obesity, and food accumulation in children.

Note: Cucumbers cannot be eaten with hawthorns to avoid the decomposition and destruction of vitamins. Cucumbers are cold in nature, so those who suffer from chronic diarrhea and physical weakness should not eat them.

Side effects and contraindications of cucumber

1. Cucumbers should not be eaten raw as fruits, but should not be eaten too much.

2. Cucumbers contain fewer vitamins, so when you eat cucumbers often, you should eat other fruits and vegetables at the same time.

3. The tail of the cucumber contains more bitter substances, which have anti-cancer effects, so don’t throw away all the tails of the cucumber.

4. People with liver disease, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disease and high blood pressure should not eat pickled cucumbers.

How to make delicious cucumber

Sweet and Sour Cucumber Slices

500g cucumber, appropriate amount of refined salt, sugar and white vinegar. First, remove the seeds from the cucumber, wash it, cut it into thin slices, and marinate it with refined salt for 30 minutes; wash it with cold boiled water to remove the saltiness of the cucumber, drain the water, add refined salt, sugar and vinegar and marinate it for 1 hour. This dish is sweet and sour, has the effect of clearing heat and appetizing, promoting body fluid and quenching thirst, and is suitable for symptoms such as thirst, greasy mouth, and abdominal distension, and is especially good in summer.

Seaweed Cucumber Soup

150g cucumber, 15g seaweed, and appropriate amount of dried shrimp. Wash the cucumber and cut it into diamond-shaped slices. Wash the seaweed and dried shrimp. Add clear soup to the pot, bring to a boil, add cucumber, dried shrimp, refined salt, and soy sauce, skim the foam after boiling, add seaweed, drizzle with sesame oil, sprinkle with MSG, and mix well. This soup has the function of clearing heat and benefiting the kidneys, and is suitable for women with kidney deficiency and fever during menopause.

Hawthorn juice with cucumber

5 tender cucumbers, 30g hawthorn, 50g sugar. First, peel the cucumber, core and both ends, wash and cut into strips; wash hawthorn, add 200ml water to the pot, cook for about 15 minutes, take 100ml juice; add water to the cucumber strips and cook until done, then remove; add sugar to the hawthorn juice, simmer over low heat, wait for the sugar to melt, add the drained cucumber strips and mix well. This dish has the effects of clearing heat, reducing fat, losing weight and eliminating stagnation, and is effective for people with obesity, high blood pressure and sore throat.

Cucumber and Dandelion Porridge

50g cucumber, 50g rice, 30g fresh dandelion. Wash and slice the cucumber, wash and chop the dandelion; wash the rice and put it into the pot, add 1000ml of water, cook porridge as usual, when the porridge is cooked, add cucumber and dandelion, cook for a while, and then you can eat it. This porridge has the effect of clearing away heat and relieving summer heat, diuresis and swelling. It is suitable for symptoms such as intense heat and toxicity, sore throat, wind-heat eye disease, short and red urine, etc.