Japan is not only famous for having the highest average life expectancy, but also for having the lowest obesity rate in the world.
Women here are always considered to have a youthful, graceful appearance with a well-proportioned body compared to their age. Even though they are in their 30s and 40s, many of them still look like they are in their twenties.
Cucumber is a familiar dish to every Vietnamese family.
Japanese women eat very scientifically every day, every meal must have less meat and more vegetables to stay in shape.
One of the habits that helps them eat less but still ensure adequate nutrition and health is eating cucumber 30 minutes before meals. Everyone knows about this vegetable but still has not fully utilized its benefits.
Benefits of cucumber
Also known as cucumber, cucumber is a green vegetable that when eaten will give a refreshing, awake feeling on hot days.
According to research, cucumbers contain up to 95% water and are extremely low in calories. Eating a lot of them will not make you fat but will also bring many unbelievable health benefits.
According to Rachael Link - Master at New York University (USA), cucumbers are not only rich in water but also have a rich amount of fiber. Eating them not only helps you feel full longer but also effectively moisturizes your skin.
Cucumbers are also rich in vitamin C - a micronutrient that helps keep your skin bright and healthy.
Cucumbers contain up to 95% water so you don't have to worry about obesity if you eat a lot.
According to Oriental medicine, cucumbers are sweet and cool, when entering the body will help to cool down, detoxify and diuretic. Cucumbers are suitable for people with fever, dry mouth, thirst, sore throat and edema. You can eat them raw, stir-fry or squeeze them to drink, all of which are effective.
Besides, the benefits of cucumber are also outstanding with the following characteristics, no wonder Japanese women always trust it:
Improve bone health
Cucumbers are rich in vitamin K, which is essential for building proteins that help build healthy bones and muscles. Rachael says that one cup of sliced cucumbers provides 19% of the daily vitamin K requirement. Regular consumption of cucumbers can help reduce bone diseases.
Prevent cancer
Few people know that cucumbers also have anti-cancer effects. Specifically, this vegetable is rich in antioxidants that can inhibit the harmful effects of free radicals - one of the causes of malignant cell formation. Cucumbers also contain cucurbitacins and lignans, which help protect the body against cancer very well.
Cucumbers can effectively protect the body from cancer.
Beautify skin, reduce signs of aging
The water content in cucumbers can soothe the skin from the inside out. Cucumbers contain a lot of pantothenic acid and vitamin B5, which can protect the skin from acne. In addition, drinking detox water from cucumbers also helps detoxify the liver and maintain a smooth skin, greatly reducing signs of aging.
Losing weight
As mentioned, cucumbers are rich in water and fiber, so they will make you feel full for a long time. This reduces cravings and limits calorie intake. This is also the reason why Japanese women often eat a few slices of cucumber before meals, not only to help replenish water but also to help you control the amount of food you eat effectively.
Support to reduce blood pressure
Cucumbers are a great source of potassium, which can help protect your heart. Rachael says potassium is an electrolyte that helps regulate the amount of sodium your kidneys retain. This helps your body excrete salt and lowers your blood pressure, naturally boosting your heart health.
Easy delicious dishes made from cucumber
Cucumber salad
Like other plants, cucumber can be made into a sour and spicy salad. With just simple ingredients such as cucumber, carrots, onions, seasoning vegetables, shrimp or meat and a few necessary spices, you have a delicious cucumber salad.
Salads made from cucumber include cucumber carrot and dried shrimp salad, cucumber squid salad, cucumber pork belly salad, cucumber chicken salad, cucumber dried snakehead fish salad, cucumber carrot and pig ear salad or more specifically, jellyfish cucumber salad.
When served with shrimp chips or rice paper, this dish will definitely bring you great flavors.
When making cucumber salad, you need to note that to make the cucumber crispy and delicious, after slicing it, you need to wash it with water to remove the sap and then marinate it with ice cubes. This way, the cucumber will be very crispy and retain its beautiful green color.
Pickled cucumber
Pickled cucumber is a familiar dish in Vietnamese cuisine. Just like pickled cabbage or pickled onions, this dish has the ability to stimulate the taste buds, prevent boredom, and help you feel more delicious when eating rice.
When it comes to pickled cucumbers, there are 1001 ways to make this dish. You can pickle the whole cucumber or slice it, or thinly slice the cucumber and roll bell peppers and carrots inside and then pickle it, or cut the cucumber into pieces, remove the seeds and stuff celery, white radish, and bell peppers inside the cucumber and then pickle it.
Stir-fried cucumber
Try stir-fried cucumber with garlic, you will find this dish is just as delicious as stir-fried cucumber with beef or squid.
In addition, cucumber can also be stir-fried with mushrooms or eggs to give you a light dish.
Stir-fried cucumber with fish cake. (Photo: Internet)
Stir-fried cucumber with mushrooms. (Photo: Internet)
Stir-fried cucumber with beef. (Photo: Internet)
Stir-fried cucumber with garlic. (Photo: Internet)
Cucumber soup
With a few cucumbers, you can make many different soups such as cucumber soup stuffed with shrimp, meat, cucumber seaweed soup, cucumber soup cooked with ribs, or shredded cucumber soup cooked with minced meat, cucumber egg soup.
No matter how you prepare it, cucumber soup will always bring you a sweet and refreshing taste. Surely everyone in your family will love cucumber soup.
Notes when eating cucumber
Cucumbers are an indispensable food in the diet. They can be eaten fresh or used to make pickles - one of the favorite side dishes of many people.
Although it is good and delicious, Rachael said you need to pay attention to some issues to use this vegetable scientifically.
Cucumbers are also processed into many different forms depending on needs.
Do not eat cucumbers with tomatoes because they contain an enzyme that breaks down vitamin C. If eaten with other foods, it will reduce the body's ability to absorb vitamin C.
You should also avoid combining cucumber with peanuts because it can easily cause diarrhea, even people with digestive problems should avoid it.
In addition, people with weak kidneys, sinusitis, cold stomach, stomach pain, pregnant women... should not eat cucumber because it will affect their health and make the condition worse.
Do not eat too many cucumbers at once, especially bitter ones because they are very poisonous and can even be life-threatening.
According to Healthline, Savvy
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