Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Cool as a cucumber

Image from my altered book from Croneletta.

A friend of mine sent this list of "amazing" things that the cucumber can do. I tried to verify it and founds lots of blogs posting it, but no direct link to a NY Times article. I searched the NY Times and couldn't find this article, either - lots of recipes for cucumbers, but not this list. I'm always wary about any email that suggests that I "send it to everyone on your email list." I'm offering this as something interesting, maybe true and apparently harmless. Have fun with it!

And don't send it to everyone on your email list!

Update: here is a link that does have lots of information about the benefits of cucumbers.

The Amazing Cucumber

This information was in The New York Times several weeks ago as
part of their "Spotlight on the Home" series that highlighted
creative and fanciful ways to solve common problems.

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just
one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin
B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium,
Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda
and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins
and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can
last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try
rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the
fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few
slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all
season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum
to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests
crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going
out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along
your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the
cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the
outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great
on wrinkles too!!!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few
cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and
headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and
electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost,
keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and
headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge?
Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by
European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart
off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that
you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut
cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and
durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber
slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak
is gone!

10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit
to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling
pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with
react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating
a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in
new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or
mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your
mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the
phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for
causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or
stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the
surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish
and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm
you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the
cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works
great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate
the walls!!

2 comments:

Jasmine said...

I love stuff like this. If you are interested in the amazing powers of nature and things that grow, you will love Assayya's blog. She is a herbalist and focus's on a healing plant most days. Its written in Dutch but there is a translator.

http://thefairyglade.blogspot.com/

Delphyne said...

Thanks for the link, Jasmine - I'll check her site out later. Have to run to the store and figure something out for dinner.