The humble cucumber has emerged as an unlikely ‘super food’ for 2019 after a post about its many uses was widely shared.
The post which listed the health and household benefits of cucumbers had been shared more than 9,000 times in an Australian mother’s Facebook group.
Most readers only regarded cucumber as a humble filler in a salad or sandwich, and were surprised at the fruit’s ‘super’ health and cleaning uses.
According to the post, cumbers can be used as a vitamin boost, to protect plants, to clean leather, to banish cellulite and even as a hangover remedy.
‘To think all these years I’ve only been making salads with cucumbers,’ the original poster wrote.
A post about the useful ways you can use a cucumber is going viral because of the surprising facts it shares about the fruit’s health and cleaning properties
1. Contains vitamins
Many of the vitamins you should be ingesting each day are contained within cucumbers.
Small amounts of vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc can be garnered from the fruit.
Live Science claims you will get about four per cent of your daily potassium, three per cent of your daily fibre and four per cent of your daily vitamin C from a single serving.
Those essential B vitamins work as a good pick-me-up come 3pm when you’re looking to snack on something filling.
2. Stops slugs eating your plant beds
According to the post, if you place a few slices in a small tin and place it in the garden, it will keep away pests all season long.
The cucurbitacin chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminium to give off a scent undetectable to humans but which drives garden pests crazy and makes them stay away from the area.
This fact was confirmed by Houzz who said the fruit can be used as a good repellent.
Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumber along your problem area for a few minutes before you head out the door
3. Quickly reduces cellulite
Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumber along your problem area for a few minutes before you head out the door.
The phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. It can also work on facial wrinkles too.
Daily Routine Fitness said cucumbers can also minimise bloating.
4. Helps to prevent a hangover
Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free.
Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, and avoiding both a hangover and headache.
The Alternative Daily confirmed that the combination of vitamins and sugar can do wonders to those who have had a little too much to drink.
5. Cleans leather shoes
If you’re heading out the door and realised at the last moment you forgot to polish your shoes, head to the fridge.
Rubbing a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe will provide a quick and durable shine that not only improves the look of your footwear but also repels water.
However, it won’t polish scuffed shoes, so you’ll still need to dig out the chemicals for that larger job.
Rubbing a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe will provide a quick and durable shine that not only improves the look of your footwear but also repels water
6. Fixes squeaky hinges
If you’ve run out of WD-40 and need to fix something that’s squeaking, cucumbers can help.
A slice of the translucent fruit rubbed onto the problematic hinge will prevent the squeaking from happening again.
Dejong Dream House tried the trick herself, despite being a little bit sceptical, and informed her followers that it works as well as people have said it does.
7. Clean your faucets, sinks and stainless steel
Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean.
Not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but it won’t leave streaks or harm your fingers or fingernails while you clean.
Rubbing the cucumber peel over crayon on walls can also remove markings easily.
8. Freshens your breath
Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath.
The phytochemicals will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.
Quite a cheap and natural alternative to a mint to have on hand!