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Cucumber Relish with Coconut Sugar

March 9, 2016

Cucumber relish can be used as a great addition to many different types of side dishes, salads and sandwiches. It will spice up your meal and make it taste even better. Now let’s focus on the ingredients in order to find what makes Cucumber Relish so special.

Cucumber Relish ~ Health Benefits

Cucumber is one of the oldest and most popular vegetables in the world. According to some sources, people have used cucumber even 5 millennia ago. This vegetable was found in the tombs of Ancient Egyptian pharaohs too. Cucumbers are mainly composed of water and even though they have lower amount of nutritious substances in them compared to other vegetables, they can still bring numerous health benefits.

Cucumber counteracts toxins and lifts depression; it cleanses the blood, moistens lungs, purifies the skin and acts as a digestive, especially as a pickle in brine. It calms inflammatory conditions such as stomach inflammation, conjunctivitis, sore throat, acne, and inflamed skin diseases. It contains erepsis, a digestive enzyme that breaks down protein and cleanses the intestines. Apparently, this property allows cucumber to destroy worms, especially tapeworms. Cucumber skin is rich in silicone and chlorophyll.

Cucumbers provide completely natural hydration of the body as they are composed of about 96% water. Since more than half of our body consists of water, it is highly recommended to eat cucumbers because they support the proper functioning of many bodily systems. Dehydration can lead to dry mouth, tiredness and cramps.

Cucumbers are packed with vitamin K, which is very important for the bones and can also improve the production of liver proteins that help proper blood clotting. Obviously, this is very important in cases of bleeding.

Furthermore, this tasty vegetable is loaded with vitamin A. This vitamin is one of the best antioxidants that protect the body from the negative effects of free radicals, lower the chances of developing different types of cancer and diseases that come as a result of cell damages. Vitamin A has many important functions in different bodily systems – it supports the production of white blood cells, proper growth of bones and proper functioning of blood cells. In addition, vitamin A is good for the vision. Most importantly for you if you suffer from gastrointestinal issues or inflammation, Vitamin A is instrumental for gut lining repair.

Finally, cucumbers are rich in potassium. This essential mineral helps the body manage the metabolic functions and it also has positive effects on the growth of muscle mass. Potassium is good for the heart health and is typically low both in people with high blood pressure and in American diet. In addition, cucumbers contain many other beneficial minerals like magnesium, phosphorus and calcium.

Why Coconut Sugar instead of White Sugar?

This is another important ingredient when it comes to cucumber relish. Many nutritionists recommend coconut sugar as a replacement for regular white sugar because it is less refined and contains significantly fewer calories than white sugar. Table sugar impairs the immune system and increases inflammation. On the other hand, the processing of coconut sugar allows for some nutrients to be retained. For instance, coconut sugar has potassium, calcium, zinc and iron as well as certain types of antioxidants, polyphenols and short-chain fatty acids.

Looking for more recipes with functional nutrition benefits? Follow me on Pinterest!