Cucumbers

Cucumbers are filled with some of the best nutrients we all need on a daily basis. 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.

There is so much available for us in the natural world that is healthy, useful and non-toxic. As and example, I have used white distilled vinegar for weed control for decades. I use baking soda and vinegar to help with most drain clogs or whenever I find myself building a clay volcano and need it to erupt. There are many other organic and natural remedies that can be used for so many reason. But, today let’s stick with cucumbers.

Rather than caffeine or all of the sugar or high fructose corn syrup found in a soda, if you are feeling tired in the afternoon, 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.

I found this little tidbit helpful for those who want to keep their home cleaning as healthy as possible. If your bathroom mirror is 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.

Cucumbers can be very good for your garden, as well. Do you have 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.

I’ve been to spas where cucumbers are placed over your eyes while you lie there. This is to help minimize laugh lines and such. If you are 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.

If you are 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 the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

If you want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache just 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!!

Don’t break down with a cookie for that afternoon or evening snacking binge. Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

I was at the airport in Vegas about a month ago and noticed there are a handful of shoe polishing stands scattered about. I also noticed that most people don’t wear shoes that need much polishing while traveling anymore. However, if you 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.

Back “in the day” people used WD 40 for everything that squeeked. Instead, take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

If you finish a business lunch or meeting and realize you don't have gum or mints for your breath 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 phytochemicals will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

If you are looking for a 'green' way to clean your taps, 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 is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

When I am writing my books or articles I have some material on the computer and also I have many ideas in various notebooks before I input it into the computer. I generally write using a pencil. However, if you find you have used 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.