Who Knew?

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 photochemical 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 a 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 photochemical 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!!