Welcome to the Official blog page of The Health Cafe - "Lets Talk Health"

The health cafe' concept is one where we discuss complicated health issues of a very serious nature in a very light and understandable language. The medical jargon often used by doctors do sound like Greek and Latin to many of us. Hear at the health cafe' it is our effort to detail, discuss and focus on these health issues in a very simple language and light cafe like atmosphere. The focus it to create an interactive platform where people at large could get authentic health related information at the click of a mouse from the true experts in the field. Hope you all enjoy reading the health cafe' and you are welcome to respond with your views and queries to our team who are every ready to help you out with your health care needs. THE HEALTH CAFE TEAM

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Tuesday, October 16, 2012

A bit of Crunchy Coolness and a whole lot more!

A bit of crunchy coolness and a whole lot more
Thinking of ways to beat the heat this summer? The cooling crunchy cucumber could be the ideal solution! This refreshingly wonderful vegetable with its unique flavor is one of the oldest cultivated crops and is believed to have originated in the plains of northern India. Currently, it’s the fourth most commonly grown vegetable in the world, after tomatoes, onions and cabbage. And the perfect cucumber is best harvested when it is tender and sweet, just short of reaching maturity.
Cucumbers are not just a wonderful way of replenishing water and electrolytes in your body, they are also a storehouse of essential vitamins and nutrients, so keep reading on to see what cucumbers have to offer us…
Cucumbers are amazingly low in calories, just 16 calories per cup, and have no sodium, fat or cholesterol to boot! The 3g of carbohydrates that come with a serving of cucumbers is just enough to give you a perk -without the side-effects of weighty issues! Aside from this, cucumbers are also rich in fiber content (when consumed unpeeled), which when combined with the 1g of protein in it, serves as a fat burner.
A single serving of cucumber will give you vitamins A, C, K, B1, B6, B9 as well as potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, selenium and zinc. However, it’s important to note that cucumbers do not contain large quantities of these vitamins and minerals. But a cup of this vegetable does provide you with small doses of nearly all essential vitamins and minerals. So what we are essentially saying is that though cucumbers aren’t nutritional rock stars, the fact remains that they are a great way of boosting your daily vitamin and nutritional intake.
Health Benefits Cucumbers are no longer considered just as a refreshing salad accoutrement, they have emerged as a bona fide tasty and healthy vegetable in their own right. Usually eaten along with other things, here are some reasons to honor the humble cucumber and elevate them to essential veggie status.
Cucumber for Eyes: They are used the world over as eye pads for treating dark under-eye circles or for refreshing tired eyes after a long days work. Cucumber also helps in reducing swelling around the eyes.• Cucumber for Skincare: Cucumbers are the proverbial magic wands when it comes to skin care. Due to its high water content and vitamins and minerals, cucumbers are an integral part of many skincare products, face packs and facials and can be used for skin tightening as well as cleansing; cucumber skin is a great antidote to caring for sunburns and windburns. • Cucumber for Anti-Aging: Cucumbers contain a great combination of anti-oxidants such as alpha-carotenes, beta-carotenes, vitamin A, vitamin C, zea-zanthin and lutein. These natural compounds act as protective scavengers -flushing out free oxygen radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are the villains in the aging process and other disease conditions.• Cucumbers for Hydration: Cucumbers have a water content of over 90% which is more nutritious than regular water; this makes it a great way of keeping the body hydrated and regulating the body temperature. It helps in flushing out harmful toxins from the body too.• Cucumbers as Diuretics: The water content of the cucumber acts as a diuretic and promotes the elimination of toxic waste products from the body through urination. It’s believed that regular intake of cucumbers can result in dissolving bladder or kidney stones.• Cucumbers for Blood Pressure: Cucumbers can be used for controlling both low and high blood pressure by virtue of their potassium and magnesium content. A cup of cucumber contains about 181mg of potassium and 16mcg of magnesium- both minerals are essential to controlling and reducing blood pressure. The potassium is a heart-friendly mineral and also reduces heart rates by countering the effects of sodium. • Cucumbers for Bone Strength: The high content of vitamin K in cucumbers has been found to play a potential role in controlling bone loss and increasing bone mass. A cup of cucumber can provide up to 17mcg of vitamin K.• Cucumber for Gout and Arthritis Relief: Blended cucumber and carrot juice are great in relieving pain caused by arthritis or gout, as they lower the uric acid levels. The rich vitamin A, B1, B6, C, D and K as well as calcium, magnesium and folates present in cucumber are responsible for this action. Cucumbers are also an excellent source of silica, which is well known for promoting connective tissue strengthening and improving general joint health. Those on the wrong side of 40’s, please take note.• Cucumber for Healthy Teeth and Gums: Cucumbers are a good source of crisp dietary fiber that is great for massaging gums and maintaining teeth hygiene. • Cucumber for Hair and Nails: The high silica content also helps prevent chipping and splitting of finger and toenails. The high silicon and sulfur content promote growth of beautiful healthy hair. • Cucumber for Digestion: The high water and dietary fiber content of cucumbers are very effective in throwing out toxins from the digestive system and aiding in digestion as well as constipation. Other digestive disorders like acidity, heartburn and even ulcers can be soothed by consuming cucumber juice.• Cucumber for Weight Loss: By virtue of its low calorie count as well as its high water content, cucumbers are an ideal food for those looking to lose a few unwanted kilos.• Cucumber for Tapeworms: With their rich content of vitamin E, cucumber seeds are a natural remedy for getting rid of tapeworms.• Cucumber for Cancer: Cucumbers are known to contain some amazing chemicals such as lariciresinol, pinoresinol and secoisolariciresinol; these three lignans have been proven repeatedly in numerous researches to be responsible for reducing cancer risks. These cancers include breast cancer, prostate cancer, uterine cancer and ovarian cancer.• Cucumber for Diabetes: Cucumbers have also been implicated in helping to control sugar levels in chronic diseases like diabetes. The juice contains a hormone–like chemical that is needed by the pancreas for producing insulin.
So adding a little cucumber to your daily diet can boost your health and increase your fat burning efforts in earnest, so go ahead and make your day!
For glowing skin
1. Peel and deseed cucumber.2. Add 4-5 mint leaves to it and puree.3. Add beaten egg white to the puree.4. Apply on face for 20 minutes before rinsing off…and witness a newer you with a glowing complexion!
Juice it, dice it
Though cucumbers are seen to have so many amazing benefits to the human body, you must keep in mind that these molecules are not present in such large quantities as to be of therapeutic value and be used in place of medications. However, that’s not reason enough not to indulge in cucumbers whenever possible and here are some great ideas on how to enjoy their health benefits:
1. Grind a cup of cucumber for a refreshing glass of juice; just add a dash of lime juice for additional flavor and enjoy your nutritious drink2. Dice cucumbers and onions and add to yogurt as a quick sandwich topper or a cooling raita to add to your meal.3. Try dicing cucumbers and melons with a dash of lime juice and mint leaves for a scrumptious summer salad!4. Or just cut them into sticks and enjoy as a snack.

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