Thursday, March 11, 2010

Cucumbers And Why You Want To Plant Lots of Them

It may seem nearly inconceivable now, but for each of you that plants a cucumber seed in May, there will come a time in July when you wonder to yourself "What the hell was I thinking????"

Your cucumber plants will be overflowing with blossoms and fruit, and you will be sick of cucumbers. Your co-workers will run from you, and you will be reduced to leaving unmarked brown bags of cucumbers on random doorsteps, simply to dispose of your overabundance of good fortune.

This incredible list of magical uses for cucumbers was just received from a friend, who received it from another friend, thereby it's origins being lost in the mists of time and cyberspace. Print and save for that moment in July. That moment will come, I promise you.


1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day

Just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon? Put down the caffeinated soda and
pick up a cucumber

Cucumbers are a good source of B vitamins and carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower?

Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror: it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds?

Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area. (Word from Chewy: This will be especially useful in strawberry beds, where slugs love to hang out, and you can't leave beer traps, on account of the possum keeps drinking them....)

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going
out or to the pool?

Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes. The phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too! (Word from Chewy: I love this one, but trust me, there aren't enough cucumbers in the universe to help with my cellulite)

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache?

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 has lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, and avoiding both a hangover and headache!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge?

Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often by European trappers, traders and explorers for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that
you don't have enough time to polish your shoes?

Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe. Its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Need to fix a squeaky hinge?

Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don't have time for a massage, facial or visit
to the spa?

Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water. The chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finished a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or
mints?

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 phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your taps, sinks or 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 and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean. (Word from Chewy: For some reason this reminds me of the tip to rub your hands on a stainless steel sink to get rid of the onion odor after cutting onions.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake?

Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing. Also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!


See? Now you have to plant more cucumbers, cause you'll never have enough for all these uses (especially the cellulite one.....)

If you know the origin for this list, let me know. I'd love to credit it.

1 comment:

  1. I'm glad to know that cucumber has more uses besides the obvious culinary ones! Thanks for the list!

    ReplyDelete