cucumbers--don't know if true or not

seedcorn

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This information was in The New York Times several weeks ago as part of their "Spotlight on the Home" series that highlighted creative and fanciful ways to solve common problems.

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.

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!!!

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 lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, 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 used 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. Out of WD 40 and 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 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 will react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown to 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 faucets, 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.

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!!
 

lesa

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That is funny- I'll definitely try a few of those! Who knew cukes were so multi-purpose? Here I was just going to make pickles!
 

digitS'

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Seedcorn, that is one miracle veggie. Who knows . . . maybe . . . I've got these Hush Puppies that need a shine . . . and, maybe I'll just slip a few slices in between my toes . . . aaaawww!

I eat a lot of cucumbers during the heat of summer! Oh, yeah! Cool as a cucumber . . . off I go, down the road! The back of the pickup is full of this and that from the garden. I've got a peeled green fruit while clinging to the steering wheel.

Refreshing? Yep!

Thanks for the smile :D and all the information.

Steve
 

Ridgerunner

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I'd sure take any of these with a grain of salt. For example:

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explorers for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

Could you explain how European trappers, traders, and explorers were able to keep cucumbers fresh while traveling. I find they bruise easily if handled rough and don't keep all that long in the fridge. Maybe they had tougher cucumbers when Europeans were exploring?

Or:

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.

with

10. Stressed out and don't have time for 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 will react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown to reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

I guess you don't use an aluminum pot?

Or

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.

A slice in an aluminum pan lasts all season? Must be those tough European cucumbers. And what does this do to your polinators?

I'll quit while I'm behind. Anyway, it was a fun read. Thanks.
 

Herbgardener

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Wow!! :ep I like cucumbers and I knew they where good for you, but I didn't know you could do all that with them!

Thank you for that interesting information!! :happy_flower
 

journey11

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Interesting... I didn't know cukes had so many nutrients in them. I would say on #2 (afternoon pick-me-up), add to that some fresh chopped dill and you will be happy and perky! :lol:

Tell you what though, they do have some funky ability to tighten skin! I wear gloves now when cutting up cukes for canning pickles in the summer. One year I did 21 quarts of pickles in one day and the skin on my hands drew up so tight it hurt! I could hardly curl my fingers and I thought the skin would split if I tried!
 

Greenthumb18

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Didnt know cucumbers had so many uses. Here i am just using them in salads and pickles. Very interesting makes you want to grow them even more.

Thanks for posting this! ;)
 
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