The benefits and harms of cucumbers with honey for the human body

Cucumbers and honey are affordable and healthy foods for the body. Cucumber contains a lot of liquid, high doses of potassium and calcium, improves the functioning of the heart muscle, cleanses the liver, kidneys and blood, removes toxins from the body, normalizes metabolism. Honey has an antibacterial, tonic, anti-inflammatory effect; it is used to treat coughs, burns, wounds, and diabetes mellitus.

As a rule, honey and cucumbers are used separately, but in combination, these products will bring even more benefits to the body. In the article we will discuss the benefits and harms of cucumbers with honey for the body, the peculiarities of their combination, the composition and properties of products, their use in cooking, folk medicine and cosmetology.

Composition, properties and nutritional value

Honey and cucumbers are distinguished by their taste, nutritional and healing qualities. The most delicious and healthy cucumbers - own harvest, grown without adding pesticides and other agrochemicals.

As for honey, different varieties are useful: linden, buckwheat, floral, acacia - the main thing is that the product is mature and natural.

Cucumber

Cucumber is 95-97% water. Its fruits contain a small amount of protein (0.7 g), carbohydrates (3.1 g) and practically no fat (0.1 g). Energy value per 100 g of vegetable - 15 kcal.

The remaining 3-5% include such active ingredients as:

• pectin;
• retinol;
• beta carotene;
• B vitamins: thiamine, riboflavin, choline, pyridoxine, folic and pantothenic acids, folates;
• vitamin C (ascorbic acid);
• vitamin K;
• vitamin PP;
• macronutrients: calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus;
• trace elements: iron, manganese, fluorine, selenium, zinc.

Cucumbers have a versatile beneficial effect on the body: they activate the work of the gastrointestinal tract, neutralize swelling, and reduce the severity of muscle pain. As antioxidants, they neutralize free radicals, remove waste and toxins from the body, and slow down the aging process.

Honey

Depending on the variety, honey contains from 13 to 22% water, 75-80% carbohydrates (sucrose, fructose, glucose) and a small amount of protein - 8-10%. Fats are completely absent.

The composition contains organic acids, niacin, calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine, iodine, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, fluorine, B vitamins: thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, folates, pantothenic acid, and also vitamin C, H, PP. Energy value per 100 g of product - 320 kcal.

Honey has an antibacterial effect, normalizes metabolism, relieves pain, inhibits inflammation, improves digestion, acts as a sedative on the central nervous system.

Honey is especially useful for hypertension, stomatitis, vitamin deficiency, skin diseases, neuroses, wounds and cuts (it accelerates the healing process). Acts as a prophylactic agent against myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease.

For reference. Natural honey itself rarely causes allergies. In most cases, an allergy to honey is associated with a low-quality or diluted product, the presence of impurities in the composition - for example, cane sugar, chitinous mites shells.

Features of the combination of cucumber and honey

Cucumbers and honey not only combine well in taste, but also complement each other with medicinal properties, enhance each other's action. This combination of products has found application in cooking, cosmetology, and alternative medicine.

The usefulness of cucumber and honey for the human body is recognized by official medicine, therefore they are often used as components of medicines.

Harm to health

Cucumbers in combination with honey can negatively affect health if consumed in large doses and in the presence of contraindications. People who are allergic to one of the foods have a high chance of having a local allergic reaction in the form of itching, peeling, rashes, redness, and swelling.

Cucumbers grown outside their ripening season in nature are potentially harmful to the body. To get an early harvest, farmers use agrochemicals to accelerate the growth and ripening of fruits that can cause toxicity.

Due to the presence of amino acids in the composition, cucumbers in the presence of diseases of the digestive system (gastritis, ulcer, enterocolitis) in the acute stage irritate the mucous membrane, increase pain, increase the acidity of gastric juice, worsen the prognosis for recovery.

In the presence of large stones in various parts of the urolithiasis, cucumbers, possessing diuretic properties, can provoke the movement of stones, which stimulates the progression of the disease, disrupts the outflow of urine, changes renal functions, urinary tract obstruction with subsequent damage or death of the kidney.

Useful properties of cucumbers with honey for men, women and children

Cucumbers with honey saturate the human body with micro- and macroelements, vitamins that ensure vital processes, create favorable conditions for the normal functioning of organs and their systems.

The main functions of cucumber and honey for the body:

1. From the digestive system: improve the absorption of other products, enhance intestinal motility, normalize metabolism, promote weight loss, cleanse the intestines of toxins, toxins, remove excess water from the body, regulate the water-salt balance.
2. On the part of the cardiovascular system: increase the density and elasticity of the walls of blood vessels and capillaries, lower cholesterol levels, normalize blood circulation processes, supply iron to the body, reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, regulate blood pressure.
3. From the nervous system: reduce the degree of excitability of the central nervous system, slow down the heart rate, increase physical and mental performance, eliminate tension, anxiety.
4. From the urinary system: increase the outflow of urine, increase the secretion of bile, have an anti-inflammatory effect, prevent the formation of gallstones.
5. From the immune system: increase the body's resistance to aggressive external and internal factors, protect against infection, prevent the attachment and reproduction of pathogens on the surface of the mucous membranes.

Cucumber also has a laxative, antipyretic, analgesic, antispasmodic effect.

Honey is good for eyesight, improves the condition of the skin, hair, nails, accelerates the healing process for wounds, burns, bedsores.

During pregnancy and lactation

Cucumber in combination with honey during the period of bearing a child can and should be consumed, but in moderation and provided there are no contraindications. Both products contain folic acid, which is involved in the synthesis of amino acids, promotes better absorption of iron.

For reference. A short-term deficiency of folic acid can cause pathologies associated with a violation of the normal development of the nervous system in the fetus.In a woman, vitamin B9 deficiency is manifested by irritability, nervousness, insomnia, fatigue, and depression.

Potassium and magnesium in the vegetable is no less important for the health of a woman and an unborn child - substances regulate blood pressure, promote the conductive work of the heart. The vegetable fiber contained in cucumbers removes excess fluid, thereby reducing puffiness. Also, cucumber reduces the severity or completely eliminates the burning sensation in the esophagus, sour belching.

After the birth of a child, a nursing mother is recommended to exclude honey and cucumbers from the diet for a while. Unpasteurized honey contains spores of the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, which, if ingested, can cause severe food intoxication and damage the nervous system. In children, the acidity of gastric juice is not high enough to kill bacteria.

Cucumbers are also undesirable in the diet of a nursing woman, especially the first 3-5 months after the birth of a child. The prohibition is associated with the laxative effect of the vegetable, the ability to increase gas production, which can cause colic and flatulence in newborns.

For losing weight

Cucumbers contain a lot of vegetable fiber. It is not absorbed by the body, but it enhances intestinal peristalsis, improves the functioning of the digestive system, accelerates the breakdown of fats, removes toxins, toxins, excess water from the body, thereby reducing puffiness.

Once in the stomach, pectin fibers swell, take up free space, a person does not feel hunger for a long time, and there is no need for snacks.

For reference. Fiber increases endurance and performance, increases physical activity, which contributes to additional energy consumption, weight loss.

Honey does not contain fats, but it is rich in carbohydrates, to a lesser extent in proteins that the body needs for saturation and vital functions. It is also a source of vitamins, glucose, valuable nutrients; with dietary and / or proper nutrition, it can replace sweets.

The value of honey for weight loss is that, as a glucose supplier, it helps to avoid stopping weight loss. Also in the composition there are phytosterols that protect cells from the penetration of cholesterol, reduce the levels of this compound in the blood, which increases the effectiveness of weight loss.

For various diseases

Cucumbers and honey are used to treat and prevent diseases of the heart and blood vessels, such as atherosclerosis, ischemia, arterial hypertension and hypotension, anemia. The products are recommended for colds, liver and kidney dysfunctions.

They are also used as a general tonic, to improve digestion, for insomnia and neuroses. Honey and cucumber help with skin diseases, burns and wounds, and constipation.

Traditional medicine advises to regularly use cucumbers and honey as a pain reliever for people suffering from arthritis, arthrosis, gout. Cucumber relieves headaches well, relieves hangovers.

How to use

There are few variations in the combination of cucumber with honey. In cooking, salad and vegetable juice are prepared from products. Honey is also added as one of the ingredients. when preserving cucumbers.

Cucumber juice with honey

To prepare one serving of the drink, you will need 2 medium young cucumbers, 1 tbsp. honey, 2 tbsp. lemon juice, 100 ml of water.

Recipe:

1. Rinse cucumbers with water, remove tails, peel, cut into cubes.
2. Mix honey with lemon juice.
3. Put cucumbers in a blender bowl, add honey-lemon mixture, 50 ml of water. Beat until smooth.
4. Then add the rest of the water, beat until firm foam. Add ice cubes if desired before serving.

A simpler version of the recipe: beat cucumbers in a blender, add liquid honey, mix.

Advice... Based on taste preferences, cucumber juice can be mixed with carrot, apple, beetroot, celery juice.

Cucumber salad dressed with honey

Wash fresh cucumbers with peels, cut into slices, transfer to a colander to drain excess juice. At this time, mix 50 g of honey with 60 ml of purified cool water. Finely chop the dill. Put the cucumbers into a salad bowl, pour the honey mixture, sprinkle with herbs, mix, bring to readiness.

Rules and norms of use

The daily norm for combining cucumbers with honey depends on the general state of health, age, the presence of concomitant diseases and contraindications. The daily norm of cucumber juice for a healthy person should not exceed more than one liter, one-time - 200-250 ml.

The amount of fresh fruits in the diet varies from a few pieces to several kilograms. People who want to lose weight can eat from 1.5 to 2 kg of cucumbers per day, provided there are no contraindications.

For reference. In the presence of kidney stones, bladder, other parts of the urinary system, the daily norm of a cucumber is 100-200 g.

As for honey, an adult is recommended to consume 50 g of the product or 2 tbsp. l., for children over three years old - 20-30 g. It is forbidden to heat honey above 60 ° C, since under the influence of high temperatures it releases harmful substances that are toxic to the body, increasing the likelihood of oncological diseases.

Application in cosmetology

Cucumber in combination with honey moisturizes, tones, nourishes the skin, improves complexion, reduces skin rashes, relieves puffiness, fights redness, inflammation, narrows pores.

A popular recipe that can be prepared at home is a face mask: chop the vegetable pulp on a grater or in a blender, squeeze out excess juice, add 1 tsp. honey. Apply the product to a previously cleansed and dry face, you can capture the neck and décolleté area. Leave the mask on for 20-40 minutes (depending on the condition of the skin).

Then rinse with water at room temperature, apply a cosmetic cream.

Advice... If you put cucumber circles on your eyelids, you can get rid of puffiness under the eyes, smooth out fine wrinkles.

In cooking

Using honey, you can prepare delicious crispy cucumbers for the winter.

Ingredients for a 3 liter jar:

• pickled cucumbers - 2 kg;
• water - 1.5 l;
• salt - 50 g;
• honey - 50 g;
• vinegar - 100 ml;
• chili pepper - ½ part;
• garlic - 4-5 cloves;
• greens - parsley, dill, horseradish leaves, currants, cherries;
• spices - bay leaf, peppercorns and allspice.

Recipe:

1. Rinse cucumbers, cover with cold water for 4-6 hours.
2. Put spices at the bottom of a sterile jar, except for garlic, some greens, then cucumbers.
3. Boil the water. Pour boiling water over the banks. Leave covered for 10 minutes.
4. Pour the brine back into the saucepan, bring to a boil. Refill the jars for 10 minutes.
5. Drain the last water again, boil.
6. Add honey, salt, vinegar, garlic to the jar. Pour boiling water over, preserve.
7. Banks turn upside down, wrap with a warm blanket for 1-2 days until the conservation cools completely. Store in a cellar or cool place.

In folk medicine

Cucumber juice with honey is used as a medicine.... For this, the peeled pulp must be interrupted in a blender with honey. Another option is to grate the pulp, put it in cheesecloth folded in several layers, squeeze the juice.

The dosage and course of treatment depend on the underlying disease. With liver damage, drink 100 ml twice a day, as a laxative and for the prevention of heart pathologies - 200 ml on an empty stomach.

For diseases of the upper respiratory tract, accompanied by a cough, take 2-3 tbsp. cucumber juice with a daily frequency of 2-3 times.

Contraindications

The general absolute contraindication for the use of honey and cucumbers is individual intolerance to one or more components of the composition.Since cucumber increases the acidity of gastric juice, the fruits should not be included in the diet for people with gastrointestinal diseases - gastritis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, increased stomach acidity.

Fresh cucumbers have a laxative effect and should not be consumed for bowel disorders of various origins. The additional loss of water can only aggravate the overall well-being, aggravate the symptoms of diarrhea.

The following diseases and pathological conditions are referred to relative contraindications for honey:

• stomach ulcer, gastritis in the acute stage;
• severe form of urolithiasis;
• acute pancreatitis;
• dysfunction of the pancreas;
• mental disorders;
• hypervitaminosis.

It is recommended to use honey with caution or limit its amount in the diet for people suffering from diabetes mellitus, prone to obesity, during breastfeeding.

Conclusion

Cucumber and honey are valuable food products that saturate the body with energy, serve as a source of vitamins and minerals. When used correctly, they have a beneficial effect on the body, create optimal conditions for the normal functioning of the digestive, nervous, urinary, and cardiovascular systems.

The products have a general strengthening effect, tone and rejuvenate the skin, improve vision, slow down the aging process, and protect against influenza and infections. Before using cucumbers in combination with honey in cooking or traditional medicine, it is necessary to exclude possible contraindications.