This cucumber water recipe was brought to you by my scorching hot Carolina summer. It will help you figure out how to make cucumber water easily.
When you sit outside in the heaviness of southern heat and humidity, you tend to contemplate the possibility of a cool, refreshing beverage. That’s where cucumber water comes in.
What I found was more than a delicious drink, though. Cucumbers are packed with benefits that make this beverage all the more welcome in my life.
Plain water, move on over. The cucumbers have arrived.
The Benefits of Cucumber Water
Why drink water with cucumber? What’s so special about adding some sliced veggies to your water? It’s actually more beneficial than you might think! Here are just some of the benefits of cucumber water that I’ve discovered:
What Does Cucumber Water Do?
Strong hair and nails.
Cucumber is rich in the mineral silica, which helps your body build strong, healthy hair and nails.
For more information, see my other posts below:
Rejuvenate your skin.
Cucumbers are rich in vitamin C, minerals like magnesium and silica, and antioxidants that support healthy, youthful skin. These nutrients soothe inflammation and promote healthy connective tissue (i.e. skin and joints).
Hydration is also important for healthy skin, and drinking water with cucumber makes it easy to stay hydrated.
Cucumbers are cooling.
Of course, you’ve heard the saying “cool as a cucumber.” This may not be just figurative. In ancient Chinese medicine, cucumbers are considered a cooling food that helps rid the body of excess heat. They also combat irritation and inflammation.
It helps you stay hydrated.
Let’s face it: plain water is sometimes a little boring. We all need the motivation to stay hydrated, and this refreshing recipe does the trick. Plus, I added a pinch of sea salt to this recipe to help promote balanced hydration.
(Read more about why this is important in my book The Nourished Metabolism).
It’s a healthy replacement for sugary beverages.
You know me, I don’t bash sugar. It can even be a good thing in moderation. But drinking massive amounts of beverages filled with sugar and zero nutrition is not really what I call moderation. I drink a soda made with real sugar on occasion, but it’s not a daily thing. There are healthier ways to hydrate, and cucumber water is one of them.
It’s inexpensive.
Just try buying enough flavored “healthy” drinks at the store to hydrate for a week. You might just faint at the checkout aisle when you see the total. (Plus, Vitamin Water isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.)
I don’t know about you, but we’re on a budget and nourishing food takes up a big chunk of it. No point in spending my food budget on a cartload of drinks in plastic bottles.
Cucumbers are super inexpensive, even if you buy organic (you might be able to get a really good deal at your local farmer’s market, too). Two cucumbers can make a quart of cucumber water, so a little goes a long way.
It’s lovely to serve guests.
Having a party? Forget the punch. Get cool like a cucumber instead. Make a giant pitcher of cucumber water or divide into mason jars (filled with ice and cucumber slices of course). It’s a beautiful way to serve a healthy drink to friends and family. It looks like a million bucks but it won’t cost you a fortune. 😉
Anti-cancer benefits?
Cucumbers contain a compound called cucurbitacins, which have shown promising benefits in the fight against cancer. The research into cucurbitacins is relatively new and more studies need to be done, but the results so far look positive.
Q&A
How long is cucumber water recipe good for?
Cucumber water will stay fresh in the refrigerator for about 3 days, so it’s best to make a batch you’ll drink within that timeframe.
Do I peel the cucumbers first or leave the peel on?
It doesn’t really matter. As long as you clean the cucumbers well and slice them thinly, the peel is fine to leave on.
How to Make Cucumber Water
Ingredients
- 8 cups pure water
- 2 cucumbers, sliced thin (about 2 cups)
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt (or just a pinch)
Instructions
- Add cucumbers and sea salt to a large pitcher or jar.
- Pour water over cucumber.
- Stir and cover.
- Refrigerate for at least four hours or overnight to infuse flavors.
- Keep refrigerated. Drink within 3 days.
Video
Notes
OPTIONAL FLAVORS
Cucumber-Lemon Add 1-2 lemons, thinly sliced. Cucumber-Lime Same as lemon, but with the zip of lime flavor (I love lime!). Refreshing Mint Add 10-12 sprigs of fresh mint. Mint is especially cooling for the summertime. Cooling Mojito Combine the mint and lime for a mojito flavored cucumber water recipe! Pink Raspberry-Cucumber Add 1 cup of fresh raspberries. You can use other berries as well — blueberries and strawberries are both great choices, too.The small effort you take into account upon creating you cucumber water will greatly benefit not just your health but it would also comfortably cool you off with a refreshing drink.
The recipe is fairly easy to do and will teach you about how to make cucumber water for you and your family.
More Delicious Beverage Recipes:
- My Favorite Coffee Smoothie Recipe
- Chocolate Hazelnut Hemp Protein Smoothie
- Easy Horchata Recipe that Tastes Authentic
