Cucumber benefits include weight loss, bone health

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The best time to eat cucumbers, which can be found all year round, is from April to July. In Korea, they make fabulous kimchi or pickles, or they can be just included in a salad.

They are often dismissed as nutritionally light, but they bring a wide range of health benefits — from supporting bone health to aiding weight management and stabilizing blood sugar levels.

Rich in vitamin K for bone health

A single cucumber can provide more than half of the recommended daily intake of vitamin K, a nutrient essential for blood clotting and bone metabolism. Vitamin K helps calcium bind effectively to bones, lowering the risk of osteoporosis while also preventing calcium buildup in blood vessels.

Cucumbers are low in calories but rich in dietary fiber, magnesium and potassium, making them an ideal food for those trying to lose or maintain weight. Nutritionists recommend eating them with the peel, where much of the fiber is concentrated.

Kimchi made with cucumbers / gettyimagesbank

Blood sugar management

With a glycemic index of around 15, cucumbers are considered a low-glycemic index food, meaning they have minimal impact on blood sugar levels. This makes them a suitable choice for people managing or seeking to prevent diabetes.

Composed of about 95 percent water, cucumbers can help maintain hydration. Consuming 120 grams of cucumber provides roughly the equivalent of drinking 114 grams of water, supporting body temperature regulation, blood pressure control and waste elimination.

The combination of water, fiber and seeds in cucumbers helps promote bowel movements and may relieve constipation.

Cucumbers are also known for their skin-soothing properties. When applied topically, they can help cool and calm sunburned or irritated skin by providing moisture and reducing inflammation.

How to choose and store

Choose cucumbers that are not too thick and have a long, slender shape. The stem end should be fresh, and the flesh should be firm.

Wrap each cucumber individually in newspaper and store in the refrigerator. Keeping them upright with the stem facing upward in a container helps them last for up to 10 days.

This article from Kormedi.com, Korea’s top health care and medical portal, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.