June 14^th is National Cucumber Day! Let’s celebrate this nutritious and versatile whole food and all its health properties in various forms. The celebration comes just in time for a summer full of hydration and wellness with the help of this tasty and refreshing fruit.

Learn more about the health benefits of cucumber and how to incorporate it this summer. 

Key Takeaways:

• Celebrate National Cucumber Day and find out more about the health benefits of cucumber and how to incorporate it this summer to improve your well-being. 
• Learn about creative uses for cucumber for skin health, hydration, and more. 
• Learn how cucumber helps round out a healthy summer diet. 

Use cucumber in your snacks, meals, drinks, and even on your face for a summer of refreshing and revitalizing health!

Table of Contents:

1. Cucumber: Summer’s Hydrating Fresh Fruit
2. Beneficial Nutrients in Cucumbers
3. Using Cucumbers for Snacks & Salads
4. Infuse Your Water with Cucumber
5. Soothe Your Eyes After a Day in the Sun
6. Make Your Own Cucumber Face Mask
7. Enjoy a Hydrated Summer with the Help of Cucumbers

Cucumber: Summer’s Hydrating Fresh Fruit

National Cucumber Day is celebrated annually on June 14^th, just in time for the summer, which is the season where cucumber prospers. They are planted in late spring - early summer and are ready for harvesting all throughout the summer months.

Cucumber is one of the best options to include in your diet in summer. They have an extremely high water content. These fruits are made up of 95% water, making them the perfect low-calorie and hydrating snack. 

Not only are cucumbers great for your health, but they’re delicious, refreshing, and satisfy the craving for a crunchy texture. They’re versatile and work in many different recipes. 

Beneficial Nutrients in Cucumbers

Every food has macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients are the “big three” — protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals. 

Cucumber is full of healthy vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which have natural anti-aging effects. They don’t contain any fat and have very few carbs. 

One average-sized cucumber offers 10% of your daily value of vitamin C. You need vitamin C to keep your immune system healthy and strong. 

Along with vitamin C, the same serving of cucumber offers 57% of your daily value of vitamin K, 12% of your daily value of potassium, and 9% of your daily magnesium level.

Vitamin K is important for bone health and proper blood clotting. Without it, you’d be susceptible to bleeding problems. 

Potassium is important for the fluid balance in your body. You need proper ratios of sodium and potassium to thrive. 

Magnesium offers many benefits for your body, including relaxation, sleep support, heart health, and blood sugar regulation. 

Cucumber is high in fiber, which helps keep your digestion regular. Fiber also regulates the impact of food on your blood sugar levels, which is key to managing your hunger. 

Overall, cucumbers offer an abundance of health benefits for your mind and body, making them the perfect addition to your summer diet. 

Using Cucumbers for Snacks & Salads

Many people enjoy using cucumbers as alternatives to tortilla chips and other less-healthy dippers in the summer months. This is a simple way to switch out an unhealthy option with a nutritious one while still getting that crunch fix.

Try cucumbers instead of chips or crackers with various sauces, like salsa, cheese dip, hummus, ranch, and guacamole.

You can also dice cucumbers up and use them for salads, which will increase the volume of the dish and keep you fuller for longer periods. 

Try creating interesting and refreshing salads this summer like a watermelon, cucumber, feta salad. Another popular choice is pairing cucumber and mango together with a zesty vinaigrette. Cucumbers are so versatile and their flavor complements nearly every fruit or vegetable, making it easy to include them in any summer salad.

As you spend time at summer cookouts and make fresh lunches this season, consider adding more cucumber to your plate!

Infuse Your Water with Cucumber

You can add cucumber and other summer fruits to your water bottle to infuse those flavors into your drink! This is a great way to incentivize yourself to stay hydrated. 

You can also buy special water bottles that have an infusion compartment for fruits and vegetables. These slowly leach the flavors (and nutrients) into the water. 

As you drink your water, you’ll be taking in the beneficial micronutrients found in the cucumber’s skin. Vitamin C, magnesium, and vitamin K will have you feeling great!

You can even add cucumber to other drinks for more flavor and nutrients, but remember to always stay hydrated in summer!

Soothe Your Eyes After a Day in the Sun

Being outside for hours can leave your skin feeling warm, fatigued, red, and peeling. If your eyes are tired from the sun and UV exposure, try soothing them with cucumber slices. 

Many spas use cucumber slices to soothe and hydrate the surface of your skin. You can do this at home using a freshly washed cucumber. 

Cut two medium-thick slices of cucumber and save the rest for meals, snacks, or later skin-soothing sessions. Place one slice over each eye and relax. Maybe practice some breathwork, meditation, or positive mantras during this self-care time.

If you want to soothe the skin on the rest of your face while using cucumber slices, you can put on a sheet mask or hydration mask and let your skin soak up all the wonderful ingredients for a renewed glow!

Make Your Own Cucumber Face Mask

Go a step beyond cucumber slices on your eyes and create your own skin mask with a fresh and ripe cucumber right off the vine! You can create the perfect cucumber face mask at home this summer that will help you decompress from the heat and rehydrate your skin. 

There are thousands of DIY face mask recipes online, but one popular combination is avocado and cucumber. 

These two ingredients help calm your skin’s inflammatory response. Cucumber may remove some skin impurities and infuse hydration into your skin barrier. 

Other ingredients you can use in cucumber face masks include:

• Yogurt
• Egg whites
• Honey
• Pineapple 
• Turmeric
• Olive oil
• Oatmeal
• Aloe

Always test these ingredients on a small patch of skin first to make sure you don’t have any sensitivities. Now, get ready for glowing and revitalized skin with summer’s favorite fruit! This makes for the perfect way to celebrate National Cucumber Day this June.

Enjoy a Hydrated Summer with the Help of Cucumbers

Summer is the time for fun in the sun, a boosted mood, and enjoyable adventures. Make sure you show yourself some care and prioritize your health this season. Start the summer now by celebrating National Cucumber Day and incorporating more cucumber into your life for a simple health boost. 

Spend some time creating cucumber dishes and using these self-care hacks to improve the flavor and nutrition of your meals, revitalize your skincare, and take on the summer feeling refreshed!