Why You Must Not Underestimated Cucumber

by Trina Grant

From the antioxidant benefits of tomatoes to “the incredible edible egg”, people are turning from fad diets and processed foods to more natural, wholesome fare. Health-conscious people are also resorting to homeopathic remedies for common aches and pains, as well as more natural alternatives for skincare. One of the most overlooked resources for wellness both inside and out is the common cucumber. 

This garden staple has become a standard for fragrances, bath products and aromatherapy, but the nutritional benefits have historically been overlooked in favor of more savory, colorful foods. It may be surprising to find this produce-aisle standard is a veritable treasure trove of nutrients and minerals necessary to good health and wellness.

Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins needed to meet standard recommended daily nutritional needs. 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.

 According to the National Institutes of Health, each of the nutrients the cucumber provides is essential to good health. Vitamin B6 is essential for proper nervous- and immune-system functionality. Vitamin B12 is important for nerve and blood function and is involved with the production of DNA. Magnesium is one of the most important minerals our bodies need. It is stored mostly in bone. Magnesium is important in the function of many of the body’s systems including blood sugar, metabolism, muscle and nerve function, and blood pressure.

Cucumbers are not just good for gaining necessary nutrients, but are also excellent for snacking. Having next to no calories, sodium or fat, they provide a filling, healthy snack without risking packing on the pounds. 

•   Fresh Cucumber

When you are 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. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by people for quick meals to thwart off starvation, because they store well.

Beyond the necessary nutrients cucumbers provide, they are excellent for home remedies and natural treatments. Here are a few natural remedies you can try at home:

• The meat of the cucumber is excellent for a cooling touch on tired eyes. Cool, fresh slices of cucumber are perfect for a quick spa treatment. If the cucumber has been refrigerated, the coolness will alleviate puffiness and under-eye redness, while the hydrating properties will reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

• Cucumbers are purported to be a quick way to minimize the appearance of cellulite? Rub a slice or two of cucumber along your problem area for a few minutes. The enzymes in the cucumber will cause the outer layer off collagen to firm and tighten and reduce the visibility of cellulite. This works well for reducing the appearance of wrinkles as well.

• If you want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache, eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up without the traditional headache and groggy, flu-like symptoms. Sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes in the cucumber replenish nutrients the body loses, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding a hangover and the ensuing headache.

• When you are 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 react with the boiling water and is released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown reduce stress.

• When you have just finished a date and realize you don’t have gum or mints you can take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for thirty seconds to eliminate bad breath.

• According to Christina Venessa Becherer of Livestrong.com, the skin of the cucumber is just as nutrient-packed as the meat, and is a good source of fiber, imperative to good digestive system function.

Long overlooked as both a food and remedy source, cucumbers are an inexpensive, simple staple to keep around the house for snacking, quick home remedies and as an alternative to expensive, harsh beauty products. The next time you are looking for a quick, low-calorie snack, or a natural home spa treatment, try the lowly cucumber.

Nigeria: A Retrogressing Giant of Africa

Babalola Yusuf Abiola

Nigeria is always regarded as the giant of Africa but the questions on Nigerians lips is, is Nigeria truly the giant of Africa?

Nigeria is a country that is blessed with numerous human, material and natural resources but the populace believed that their leaders failed to harness these resources for the betterment of every citizen as some groups of people are sitting on what is meant for everybody.

According to them, Nigeria is a country where nothing works; every sector is in disarray, from the education sector where hardly do we have a year without strike in the country ivory tower, hence reducing the standard of education to the aviation sector where leaders inadequacies has led to loss of lives of patriotic Nigerians.

The health sector is also a sector that need quick intervention as best hands in the health sector has gone abroad to seek for better welfare package and condition of service therefore leaving average Nigerians who cannot afford oversee treatment at the mercies of depressed medical personnel that have been overstretched due to the numbers of patients they are to see daily.

The sport sector that is supposed to be a place for grooming sporting talents is also in comatose, little wonder the country recorded abysmal failure in the just concluded London Olympics, the once feared football team in the world is now an object of mockery among emerging football playing nations due to poor management of resources.

Nigeria roads is the worst hit as they are worst than that of war torn countries, and it is regarded as the third most deadly road to ply in the world, to collaborate this statement virtually every day we lost lives of innocent Nigerians who met their untimely death because the political leaders they voted into power refused to do what they voted them in to do.

But to some Nigerians who have travelled abroad they believed that citizens’ friendly policies are formulated in other African countries like Ghana, South Africa and Liberia than it is in Nigeria.

According to Chinedu, a Nigerian that has travelled round the world, he said “I have travelled to five African country, five European countries, one Asian country and one North American Country.  I have not seen countries so un-organized like Nigeria.

He continued “there are many countries in the world that do not have any natural resources but are living, paying their university students and paying their people it is only Nigeria that we have numerous natural resources still we are suffering.

 Benin Republic have steady powers supply  they have no recognized Natural Resources, they are only surviving by seaport, free importation what  about Togo nothing but they are paying their university students,  there is 24 hrs powers.

“I have been to Ivory Coast, I spent many years there no power failure they have only Nescafe that is cocoa which Nigeria has abandoned.  I have also been to guinea Bissau and they have only cashew  but they are  living well paying everybody what about guinea konacre they have steel, but Nigeria have steel more than them we have Ajaokuta steal, Enugu coal steel but we refused to maximize the potentials.

Similarly, Chinedu who is also referred to Mr. Traveler said he has been to The Gambia where they only maximize their sea and have been able to turn it into a tourist centre where tourists come from around the world.

Speaking further, he said, Cameroun have only Banana, plantain and crude oil that is not up to what we have in Nigeria, the leaders in that country are also corrupt but they are living well.

“I have been to Libya I spent years there they are living comfortably that is the only Country that have no poor man  ‘how do I mean by that’, the person that are called poor man is somebody that have a Car, but  one thing about that Country is that almost everybody has his own tractors for farming.

“Nigeria has over forty natural resources but people are suffering, no regular power supply there has never being a week that the power supply is not interrupted. It is only in Nigeria that when Abule Egba have power, Sango will not have power.

Chinedu disclosed that when Nigerians travelled abroad, immigration and police officers disrespect Nigerians abroad asking what they are always doing in foreign countries when their country is blessed by God.

According to him “it is only in Nigeria you will see policemen extorting money from innocent Nigerians it is not done like that in civilize society. It is only in Nigeria that we do not have government house or properties for the average citizens but subsidized government properties are available in North African countries. 

“Nigeria wants to reduce the price of cement then I asked myself are we producing cement, No, but we have a business man that is enjoying the backing of the government to do that. When will government start subsidizing the price of cement for it to be affordable to Nigerians?

“In some countries it is the government that fixed price of products you buy in government price it will not go up rather it will come down because government is taking care of the price but a country like Nigeria put everything in the hands of shylock business man that is ready to reap Nigerians to the bone.

 

•  Accident caused by bad road
  

“Nigeria is a country where you cannot sit down with your leaders not even the so called councilors, the day they become elected that is when they alienate themselves from Nigerians but abroad you sit down with colonels, presidents and tell them your problems,” he concluded.