High blood pressure can increase your risk of developing kidney problems and heart diseases. In order to reduce health risks, people with high blood pressure should know the essential foods they should consume.

According to researchers, cucumber, which is usually treated as a vegetable, is the one that can help you in alleviating hypertension.

Cucumbers are rich in vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and trace metal elements that are important to our metabolism. It has vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin C, folic acid, iron, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, calcium, and potassium. Furthermore, cucumbers have very a lower calorie value, only 16 kcal per 100 grams and its mass is represented by 95.2% of water.

Benefits of Cucumber for High Blood Pressure

Low Sodium Content

Only 6 mg of sodium can be found in one raw cucumber, thus consumption of it can help in lowering blood pressure. According to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a high-sodium diet can cause high blood pressure or prevent you from lowering it. For those with high blood pressure, no more than 1,500 mg of sodium is recommended per day. Sweet, sour or dill pickled cucumbers can have more than 1,000 mg of sodium per serving.

High In Potassium

One large cucumber contains 442 mg of potassium, which is an important mineral for regulating blood pressure.

Weight Management

According to Mayo Clinic, if you are overweight or obese, you may be able to lower your blood pressure by losing excess weight. For you to do this, you need to consume fewer calories than you expend.

Only 45 calories can be found in a cucumber that weighs 301 g, or approximately 11 oz. More than 95% of the weight of a cucumber is from water, which is a calorie-free nutrient and a natural appetite suppressant.

Cucumber Helps Control Blood Pressure

Many studies show that cucumber has a compound known as sterols, which can help in decreasing levels of cholesterol.

Additionally, cucumber’s high levels of magnesium, fiber, and potassium work effectively in regulating blood pressure, thereby making cucumber a good treatment for both low blood pressure and high blood pressure.

Cucumber Juice Recipe

Ingredients:

3 medium cucumbers
Lime juice or Lemon (for flavor, if desired)
1 cup Water (if necessary, to improve consistency)

Directions:

Remove the skin of the cucumbers and slice them into manageable sizes. Then, put the cucumbers into a food processor or blender and process for at least 1-2 minutes for even consistency. Pour the blended cucumbers into a sieve or cheesecloth to allow the juice to filter into a jar. Press the cucumber fiber with a spoon to squeeze out as much juice as possible and then discard the cucumber fiber. If necessary, you may add water, and lemon or lime juice, to achieve the desired taste. Place it in the refrigerator, serve it cold and drink.