7 health benefits of cucumber

Just how healthy are cucumbers? Our nutritionist explains how they can help with hydration, fibre intake and more

Cucumber is classed as a fruit, because they contain seeds and are grown from the flowers of a cucumber plant

Cucumbers belong to the gourd family, which also includes melons, pumpkins and squash.

The most common is the English cucumber, which is typically long and thin, with a dark green outer skin

 You can find different-sized cucumbers, including Persian and pickling cucumbers (also known as gherkins, once they've been pickled)

There's also a variety called lemon cucumber – it's round and about the size of a tennis ball,

Research has found that cucumbers contain several antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress, including tannins

Hydration is vital to good health. Cucumbers are 96 per cent water – one of the highest amounts of any food

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