AGING BACKWARDS WITH CUCUMBERS

These days, people are looking for more natural ways to solve everyday problems. Today, I want to tell you about a versatile “vegetable” that does double and triple duty in the world of beauty.

I’m talking about the cucumber!

While you might think of a cucumber as a vegetable, it’s actually a fruit. It originated in India, where it has been grown for 3,000 years.1 And according to the U.S.D.A., Florida produces the most cucumbers in the United States.2

Fresh cucumber is a great source of vitamins and minerals including vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin B6, thiamin, folate, magnesium, and phosphorus. It’s also a good source of dietary fiber.3

Here are three ways you can use the versatile cucumber for aging backwards:

1. Got puffy eyes? Relaxing with cold cucumber slices over your eyes has been shown to help relieve puffiness. It’s really the cold temperature that does the trick. Cold constricts the blood vessels, which reduces the flow of fluid into soft tissue. You can also use chilled, used tea bags… but who can resist that spa-like scent of a cucumber?

2. If you’re a “snacker,” you’ll love this one: Though mostly water, cucumbers are actually quite filling and have very few calories. A half cup of raw, unpeeled cucumber slices has only 8 calories! So, go ahead… splurge and have a whole cup. Or, try this delicious side dish:

Sweet ‘N Sour Cucumbers

Peel and slice two large cucumbers and one onion and place them in a large bowl.
Pour in enough rice vinegar to almost cover them.
Add one tablespoon of organic sugar (or stevia) and a pinch of salt.
Let marinate in the refrigerator for 24 hours, stirring every so often.
Enjoy guilt-free all day!
3. Try this refreshing drink – it will probably remind you of your favorite spa: Thoroughly wash one cucumber and one lemon. Slice the cucumber (peeled or unpeeled) and the lemon into very thin slices. Then add three or four slices of each to filtered water. Enjoy with or without ice.

Alternatively, chop the cucumber and lemon into small pieces and place them in an ice tray. Pour filtered water over the fruit and freeze. Use the ice cubes to “spa” up your water.