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 explorers 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 pot of
boiling 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
phytochemicals 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!
Pass this along to
everybody you know
who is looking for
better and
safer ways to solve
life's everyday
problems.