No wonder they say you’re as cool as a cucumber. The veggie is 95 percent water. Sibling to squashes and melons, the vegetable defines “cool,” as in Rat Pack cool or Brad Pitt cool.

Zucchini and Brad Pitt cool? Watermelon and Sinatra cool? Nah. Here is cucumber cool:

In addition to being packed with so much water, they’re good source of vitamins A and C, molybdenum, potassium, manganese, folate, fiber and magnesium.

And talk about versatility! You can put cucumbers in just about anything, from snacks right out of your palm to soups, sandwiches, salsa, cold gazpacho soup to beat back summer humidity, and, of course, those ubiquitous healthy salads. Dice or slice ‘em for great additions to tuna fish or chicken salad.

Fourth of July ideas

At your July 4th bash, set out a tray with healthy fruit and vegetables – and don’t forget the cucumbers! Chop ‘em into yogurt along with dill, cilantro, basil, chervil or chives, or add to poached salmon or chicken. Moreover, cucumbers come in handy for many of us trying to get fiber into our systems.

Cucumbers are that versatile. Take that, squash.

What’s more, cucumber juice is often recommended as a source of silica, which dermatologists say can improve your complexion. The veggie’s high content of water is ideal for hydrating your skin. That’s why in fancy spas, you see people with cucumber slices resting on their eyes and a cucumber concoction covering their faces.  

Touché, watermelon.

Turning up 'volume'

But for those of us trying to lose weight, cucumbers are so cool that we can turn up the volume as loud as we want without disturbing the neighbors. Eating smart, not eating less, may be the key to losing weight – and nowhere is that truer than in “volumizing” – eating foods like cucumbers that are lowest in calories per weight.

Penn State researchers, who literally wrote the book on volumizing, say diets focusing on calorie density can promote healthy weight loss while banishing hunger.

“Such diets are known to reduce the intake of calories in the short term, but their role in promoting weight loss over the long term was not clear,” said Dr. Barbara J. Rolls, a Penn State nutrition science expert whose book, The Volumetrics Eating Plan, was named tops in the country recently by Consumer Reports.

Now, it’s clear. For instance, women, whose ages ranged from 22 to 60, in Rolls’ study who added water-rich foods, such as cucumbers, to their meals lost 19.6 pounds in six months, compared to 14.7 pounds for study mates who followed a reduced-fat diet. The women who lost the most weight also ate 25 percent more food and felt less hungry than the others, Rolls says.

What’s more, she adds, water-rich foods like cucumbers and other fruits and vegetables is not only in tune with current dietary guidelines, but also may help you reduce the risk of chronic illnesses. For instance, people who took part in the federal government’s recommended DASH diet – Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension – saw their blood pressure drop by 5.5 points by adding foods rich in potassium, magnesium and fiber.

Check these out . . .  

So how do you fit cucumbers into your diet? Try these ideas from Nubella’s 6,000-plus Recipe Database:

•  Chilled Cream of Cucumber Soup

•  Cucumber Salad

•  Grilled Steaks with Jalapeno Cucumber Relish

•  Potato Salad with Cucumbers and Red Onions

•  Simple Sweet and Sour Cucumber Salad

Comments on this article? Send them to MyComments.

Nubella News, a division of Marketing Technology Solutions, Inc., offers content intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We encourage our readers to seek prompt medical care for health issues and consult their physicians before starting a new diet, fitness regimen, or medical treatment.