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.
The Amazing Cucumber
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!!
