Cucumber Water is a Natural Diuretic
Fluid retention seems to be the order of the day so it’s always a good idea to include a natural diuretic in your lifestyle. This inflammatory disorder takes place when the body doesn’t properly eliminate fluids. Thus, they accumulate in the tissues and produce swelling.
The most common swelling caused by fluid retention happens in the feet and legs but can also occur in other parts of the body. It can temporarily add several pounds to your body.
The good news is that cucumbers can significantly contribute to the relief of this problem. They’re not enough to completely relieve fluid retention though. This is why you must make diet and lifestyle adjustments to achieve long-term effects. Whatever the case, it’s always a good idea to consult your doctor.
Fluid retention and diuretics
The body of an adult contains about 50 to 60% of fluid distributed inside and outside the cells. The body has several mechanisms to regulate this amount.
This is why there’s an abnormal accumulation of liquids in the tissues when these mechanisms fail. It can either affect a specific area or the entire body, but mostly the legs and ankles swell. There may also be an increase in the abdominal contour and a decrease in urination.
Fluid retention can be pathological or non-pathological.
- The first one can be due to circulatory problems, renal and hepatic diseases, or heart failure
- The second one is due to vein dilation, a consequence of environmental heat
You may be interested in Five Signs of Fluid Retention
Properties of cucumber water
Cucumber is a natural diuretic and a high source of water and potassium. It’s also a laxative with depurating properties. This is precisely why it helps decrease the swelling caused by fluid retention.
This wonderful vegetable is also rich in mineral salts. It contains iron, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, in addition to its high concentration of potassium. Also, it has significant amounts of vitamin C, the same that strengthens the immune system, helps get rid of free radicals, and prevents aging.
As if this wasn’t enough, cucumber also contains an Erepsin, an enzyme that maximizes the effect of proteins. Besides, it’s low-calorie and thus appropriate for any diet.
Cucumber water is a wonderful natural diuretic and particularly good for those who don’t like mineral water, all thanks to its mild taste and minerals. In fact, this drink is a perfect replacement for commercial drinks as they have zero nutritional value.
Read also Six Great Tips to Avoid Fluid Retention and Improve Your Circulation
Instructions:
- Simply slice two medium-sized cucumbers, peel and all
- Place them in a jar with a quart of water
- Let it steep for about three hours and then drink it whenever you’re thirsty. Drink about two quarts a day to relieve fluid retention, ideally.
- Add the juice of a medium-sized lemon and a spoonful of grated ginger for flavor and to enhance its properties
- Let it all steep for three hours in the fridge, and then strain it and drink it throughout the day
Other interesting information about a natural diuretic
The cucumber is a natural diuretic on its own although drinking this beverage is one of the most pleasant and easy ways to ingest it. You can also benefit from all of its properties by adding it to your salads; in fact, dressing them with yogurt and garlic will enhance its antioxidant action.
Furthermore, consider it as a snack if you’re the kind of person who snacks all day long. Mix it with tomato and grated cheese and bake it for a minute and you’ll end up with a rather tasty snack. Of course, you can always just eat the slices raw.
In any case, the best way to deal with fluid retention is to make major changes in your diet and lifestyle. Consult your doctor if the problem isn’t due to hot weather as it could be a symptom of a more serious condition.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Moon JR, Tobkin SE, Roberts MD, et al. Total body water estimations in healthy men and women using bioimpedance spectroscopy: a deuterium oxide comparison. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2008;5:7. Published 2008 Mar 19. doi:10.1186/1743-7075-5-7
- Vallo, S., & Bartsch, G. (2014). Edema. In Urology at a Glance (pp. 31–33). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-54859-8_7
- Babajide, J. M., Olaluwoye, A. A., Taofik Shittu, T. A., & Adebisi, M. A. (2015). Physicochemical Properties and Phytochemical Components of Spiced Cucumber-Pineapple Fruit Drink. Nigerian Food Journal, 31(1), 40–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0189-7241(15)30055-2
- Mukherjee, P. K., Nema, N. K., Maity, N., & Sarkar, B. K. (2013, January). Phytochemical and therapeutic potential of cucumber. Fitoterapia. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2012.10.003
