Saturday, November 14, 2009

How About Those Cukes...?


Do you like cucumbers? My sister sent me some very interesting facts about them that I thought I'd share this Saturday!


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!!


Now, my Friends, let's get some coffee an sit out on the patio for a bit!

18 comments:

2 Tramps said...

Oh, H.J., you come up with some of the most interesting trivia! I am just pickled at your clever quips... Thanks!

HermitJim said...

Hey 2 Tramps...
I'm glad you get little bit of enjoyment from these little slices of information! I'd be in a real PICKLE if no one liked them!

See, now you got me started on the puns!

Hey, thanks for the visit today!

Kyddryn said...

Heh...all I need to know is that the Evil Genius loves his cucumber slices...preferably with a little salt on them.

Neat stuff, Mister Hermit, sir.

Shade and Sweetwater,
K

HermitJim said...

Hey K...
As long as you don't tell him that they're good for him and have a lot of vitamins...all will be well!

Fresh veggies certainly can't hurt!

Thanks for the visit today!

TEAM HALL said...

Morning Jim!
There aren't enough cucumbers on the planet to erase the cellulite from my legs!! hahahaha But maybe worth a try!
You have a grand weekend!
Cath

Mo said...

I've got to try some of those. Looks like I'll need to find a spot in the garden for cukes next year. Thanks for posting.

Anonymous said...

Well, there's a lot there I didn't know. Thanks HJ. I'm going to print this out for myself and HB. May I reproduce this on my Tips & Tricks sidebar?
YeOldFurt

JoJo said...

Good Morning My Special One, More great tips. Also thanks to your sis, Maybe I might try to grow some if I find a place to park all summer. Use a container for the garden.
Cloudy again today, nice and cool. Coffee on the patio sounds great.

HermitJim said...

Hey Cath...
Never hurts to try! Besides, it may just help...ya never know!

I sure am glad you could drop by today!


Hey Mo...
One thing about cucumbers...they don't take a lot of tending to! Pretty eay to grow...

Thanks for coming by today!


Hey Jesse...
Of course you can spread the info...! Anything I post is for everyone to use at any time! Glad to find it may be of some use to someone, ya know?

Thanks so much for coming by today, buddy!


Hey JoJo...
A container garden is not a bad idea at all! All it would take is dirt, sun, and water...oh, and some seeds!

Hey, sweetie...thanks or coming by today!

Niall E. said...

Hi Jim. Haven't looked in here for a while. I just finished a big mug of coffee and for some reason thought of you!
Amazing information about cucumbers! I bought an organic cucumber the other day and then wasn't in humor of eating it. It's just sitting there! Now you've given me some ideas.
Best regards, Will B.

HermitJim said...

Hey Will...
Good to see you! I'm glad you got some use out of this post...and hope one or more of these uses can benefit you!

Thanks so much for the visit today!

Mamma Bear said...

HJ...that is some good information. I am printing off a copy and putting it in my survival book.

HermitJim said...

Hey Mamma Bear...
Glad I could be of some use to you!
Can't ever have too much information like this around, I'm thinking!

I'm glad to see you again...and glad you could stop in for a bit!

Rae said...

Who could have guessed that they would be so useful. Thanks for the info.

Tatersmama said...

This HAS been printed off...lol! I planted waaaay too many plants this year, and I have a feeling I'll be up to my dimpled thighs, in cukes!
Who would have thought that there were so many uses for all those potential pickles?
:)

HermitJim said...

Hey Rae...
You just never know what surprises Mother Nature has hidden for us to find and make use of!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!


Hey TattersMama...
Well, looks like I got the information to you just in time! Hope you can make use of some of these!

Thans a lot for coming by today!

Bullseye said...

WOW !! never would have known all that. I eat cukes in place of chips with my cheese sandwich at lunch. Just refreashes me somehow. Thanks for always having such great info.

Your Friend,

Bullseye

HermitJim said...

Hey Bullseye...
Glad to know these may be of use! Good info can never hurt, I'm thinking!

Sounds gtood to have one with a cheese sandwich!

Hey, thanks for coming by today, buddy!