Cool as a Cucumber!

March 19, 2025

What’s the coolest vegetable?  I’d choose the cucumber (although it’s really a fruit). Stick with me here. One might not associate “coolness” with a cucumber, but I sure do. The cucumber is really quite complex…in a good way. It doesn’t need to show off, it’s just that cool. But if it wanted to show off, it has lots of cool attributes!

First of all, cucumbers are old, really old, but look at how good they look and taste. The first mention of a  cucumber dates back to 9750 BCE in Myanmar. In ancient Egypt they were sliced in salads and brined for pickles, just like we do today! The Egyptians also added sliced cucumbers to their water for a more refreshing drink. (I do that so I must be cool!) Actually, they would bury the cucumber for a few days to encourage fermentation, resulting in a low-proof alcohol and then add slices to water. Kinda genius!

Just like tomatoes, eggplant and peppers, cucumbers are classified as a fruit because they develop from the flower of the plant. But they don’t care…cucumbers are sooo cool that they get along with all kinds of fruits and veggies. I’ve used them in my dinner salads as well as my fruit salads for a little extra crunch. Melon and cucumber? Yum! They don’t need to be the star ingredient, they know they’re welcome in all kinds of recipes!

Popular, cool… however you want to name it. Cucumbers were loved by all throughout the centuries. Ancient Romans created moveable greenhouses just to grow cucumbers year round.  Even Christopher Columbus brought cucumber seeds with him on his journey across the ocean.

Cukes have lots of cool uses. The ancient Romans used them as remedies to treat bad eyesight, scorpion stings, and infertility. Wow! Pretty amazing properties for a funny-looking thing that grows on a vine. Doctors in the 17th century would lay feverish patients down on a bed of cucumbers to cool the blood. It’s believed this is the origin of the saying “cool as a cucumber.”

A spa day is just what a cool cucumber lives for!  Cucumbers can tighten pores, reduce visibility of wrinkles, and eliminate dark circles under eyes. It’s even thought to help reduce the visibility of cellulite. Cukes are loaded with antioxidants and  Vitamins A, C, K, D, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, Folic Acid, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc, and enzymes, almost like a multi-vitamin! The skin of the cucumber provides silica that supports collagen production. Collagen helps tighten sagging skin and anything that slows down the aging process is pretty cool to me!

At only 16 calories per serving, cukes are 95% water, making them a great source of hydration. Good hydration allows nutrients to flow to your cells, flushes out bacteria and reduces constipation. When we are well hydrated we are less likely to overeat. Cucumbers help stabilize metabolism and blood sugars. Some varieties have a slightly bitter skin. In fact, the skin is most nutritious part of the fruit. Here’s my grandmother’s tip to reduce the bitterness. Take a fork or veggie slicer and score the cucumber lengthways all the way down. Take a paper towel and hold firmly around the cucumber to absorb some of the moisture. This draws the bitterness out. Slice and be rewarded with pretty slices that look like flowers. How cool is that?!!

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