O cucumber is the fruit of the cucumber (cucumis sativus), a vegetable belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family (Cucurbitaceae), of which they are part pumpkin, zucchini, melon, chayote, watermelon and gherkin. The fruit of the cucumber is often (and wrongly) called a legume and even a vegetable.
versatile, the cucumber is present in different cultures, which can be noticed when analyzing the champion countries of vegetable production: China, Turkey, Iran and the United States. In Brazil, the producing states are Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Goiás.
The most common use of cucumbers is in cooking., in salads, juices, soups and broths, but the vegetable is also present in the cosmetic industry in creams, tonics, gels, lotion, face mask and also as a homemade solution to deflate the skin of the eyes, just applying slices on the spot.
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Why is cucumber a fruit?
It is common to relate vegetables used in savory foods with vegetables, but there are vegetables in which the edible part is the fruit, which is the case with cucumber. Tomato, chayote, pepper and zucchini are some of the fruits who also go through such confusion in nomenclature.
In the case of cucumber, it is the fruit of a creeping plant known as cucumber, which has rough and jagged leaves, with female and male flowers, with natural pollination performed by bees.
But, after all, what is a fruit? And the part of the plant where your ovaries are mature, place where the seeds are. There are vegetables in which the fruit is the food, while others consume the stem, leaf, root or more than one part.
- Fruit vegetables: the fruit is the edible part. They are born on trees and are usually sweeter, such as oranges, apples, lemons, guava and bananas.
- leaf vegetables: the edible part is the leaf, such as lettuce, kale, arugula and watercress.
- Stem vegetables: the edible part is the stem, such as heart of palm, guariroba, asparagus and celery.
- Root vegetables (tubers): The roots are the edible parts, such as potatoes, cassava, beets, yams and sweet potatoes.
See too: Escarole - vEgetal very rich in nutrients and with several health benefits
Cucumber Nutrients and Benefits
Cucumber is a vegetable of low calorie, rich in fibers and water. The fruit is the source of vitamins A, C, K and complex B, minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, calcium and manganese, in addition to antioxidants.
Consuming cucumber moderately has health benefits. Check out:
Helps hydration
with approximately 95% of Water, cucumber is an excellent source of hydration complement. If you're on the team that has difficulty hydrating, adding the vegetable to your diet will help, but don't stop drinking water, huh!
Helps to deflate
It is common for the routine to cause the excess of salt and processed foods cause bloating. Another common — and unhealthy — habit is holding the pee, which can do serious damage to the body.
Like diuretic effect of cucumber, the need to urinate increases and swelling is also reduced.
Another trick that comes from generations is to put cucumber slices under dark circles. The technique works as something punctual, reducing the swelling due to the anti-inflammatory action present in the vegetable. In recurrent cases, the ideal is to look for a health professional to take care of the case.
Improves bowel function
Cucumber is rich in fiber, especially pectin, which improves intestinal transit. The decrease in constipation is caused because the fibers are able to retain water from the
food, increase fecal bulge and promote acceleration of intestinal muscles.
Helps satiety
Fibers! Yes, them again. Fibers are responsible for the increased feeling of satiety, as they make gastric emptying take longer.
Can everyone eat cucumbers?
A popular belief is that cucumber is an indigestible food, which is not true. If consumed in moderation, can be beneficial to the majority of the population..
People with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may experience greater discomfort when ingesting the food, especially if the consumption is in large quantities. Gas, intestinal colic and diarrhea are symptoms that can appear.
Anyone who has kidney problems should also avoid consuming too much cucumber, since the vegetable has potassium. In excess, there may be overload on the kidneys.
Types of cucumber
The most consumed types of cucumber in Brazil are rustic, common, Japanese and industrial (canned).
redneck cucumber
The country cucumber is light green, it has stripes from one end of its shell to the other and has a spot known as "white belly", resembling its relative zucchini. most common in Goiás, the fruit was gaining ground in other states. The mild flavored vegetable is versatile and goes well in hot and cold recipes.
Common cucumber (aodai)
The common cucumber, also called aodai, is the most found in Brazilian supermarkets. the fruit has cylindrical shape and dark green shell. Its flavor is pleasant and refreshing, ideal for raw consumption.
Japanese cucumber (aonaga)
the japanese cucumber is elongated and has dark green skin and little white thorns. It tends to please the most demanding palates due to its pleasant taste and lack of seeds. Its cultivation requires more care, being the ideal fruit for indoors, which raises its market price.
Industrial/canned cucumber
Industry/canned cucumber is a early harvested fruit for the purpose of use in industrialized products, being the pickles the most common. This is the type of cucumber with the greatest export demand.
Read too: Cará - tuber rich in carbohydrates and fiber
Cucumber conservation and durability
It is important to pay attention to the cucumber's durability so that the food can be consumed in good conditions, without losing nutrients. On the supermarket shelf, for example, the fruit lasts a maximum of seven days after harvest.
Chilled at 10ºC, the cucumber's durability increases for up to 14 days. However, if the refrigeration is below 7ºC, which is common in refrigerators, the damage to the vegetable is larger, so it is necessary to pack it in perforated plastic bags and place it at the bottom of the refrigerator.
How to consume cucumbers?
In food, cucumber can be used in different ways. In Brazil, it is common for the vegetable to be attributed to the most refreshing foods for being light and rich in water, combining well with the hottest days. However, cucumber also goes well with hot recipes and also as a drink.
THE salad it is the easiest food to make and it goes very well with the common cucumber or the country. It is possible to go from the simplest option, with tomato, lettuce and onion, even giving a bittersweet touch when adding mango and others fruits.
On colder days, hot soups and broths are welcome. Cucumber can be used in different ways, either to add texture or even as a star on the plate. In the heat, switch to cold versions of the recipes for a more refreshing meal.
Another form of consumption that brings several possibilities is the cucumber juice. The drink can be prepared with water or coconut water and enhanced with fruits or vegetables (very common for digestive versions, called detox).
Some people find it difficult to consume food because of the bitterness that can arise in some types of cucumbers. One way to soften the bitter taste is to add a little salt.
By Lorraine Vilela Campos
Journalist