Cucumbers are considered beneficial for people with high cholesterol due to their high water and fiber content. However, to effectively support cholesterol control, not everyone knows how to use cucumbers correctly and appropriately.
1. How can cucumbers help lower blood cholesterol?
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, high blood lipid levels are often described as corresponding to phlegm-dampness syndromes, arising from functional disorders of the internal organs, especially the spleen, kidneys, and liver.
There are many possible causes for this condition:
- Improper eating habits can damage the spleen and stomach.
- Due to congenital deficiencies, this is often equivalent to people with genetically inherited high blood lipid levels.
- Emotional distress can cause internal injury; excessive worry harms the spleen; and anger, stress, and resentment harm the liver.
- Due to lack of exercise or excessive exercise.
- Due to age, the liver and kidneys are weakened.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, cucumbers are known as "Hu Gua," and are described as having a sweet taste and cooling properties. They enter the spleen and stomach meridians, and have the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, and promoting diuresis. This herb has many health benefits and can help treat phlegm accumulation due to its various properties:
- It cools the body, promotes diuresis, and helps flush out waste, toxins, and phlegm through urination.
- Strengthening the spleen and eliminating stagnation helps cleanse the intestines and inhibit the formation of new phlegm.
- It stabilizes liver fire, harmonizes liver qi, avoids excessively suppressing spleen earth, and supports the digestive processes of the spleen and stomach.
Cucumbers have a cooling and detoxifying effect, promote urination, and help lower blood cholesterol.
According to modern medicine, cucumbers contain bioactive compounds that can directly affect the body's fat metabolism through the following main mechanisms:
Inhibits cholesterol absorption in the intestines.
Cucumbers are very rich in soluble fiber (pectin). When pectin enters the digestive system, it forms a thick gel layer around cholesterol and bile acid molecules, preventing them from absorbing through the intestinal lining into the bloodstream.
In addition, cucumbers (especially the seeds) contain plant sterols with molecular structures similar to cholesterol, which can compete with cholesterol for absorption sites in the intestines, thereby reducing the amount of bad fats absorbed from food.
Prevent the synthesis of new fats.
A special component in cucumbers is malonic acid, an active substance that can inhibit the enzyme that converts sugars into stored fat in the body, thereby helping to prevent the increase of triglycerides. Some active compounds such as flavonoids, terpenoids, and polyphenols extracted from cucumber seeds can reduce the activity of the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme – the main "factory" responsible for producing endogenous cholesterol in the liver.
Enhance detoxification and protect blood vessels.
Antioxidant compounds such as flavonoids and polyphenols in cucumbers help scavenge free radicals, prevent the oxidation of LDL-cholesterol, keep these fat molecules more stable, and reduce the risk of plaque formation.
At the same time, cucurbitacin B - the compound that gives cucumber stems their slightly bitter taste - has been shown to be able to prevent lipid accumulation in artery walls, helping to prevent atherosclerosis from an early age.
2. How to use cucumbers to lower blood cholesterol.
2.1 Cucumber, celery, and green apple juice
Ingredients: 1 cucumber, 2 large celery stalks, 1/2 green apple.
Effect: Celery contains phthalides that dilate blood vessels, and green apples contain a high amount of pectin. When combined with cucumber, this mixture helps to quickly eliminate excess lipids from the body.
Instructions: Wash the ingredients thoroughly, extract the juice, and drink it in the morning on an empty stomach or 30 minutes before dinner, continuously for 10-14 days.
Cucumber, celery, and green apple juice can help lower blood fat levels quickly.
2.2 Cucumber peel and hawthorn tea
Ingredients: Peel of 2 cucumbers (washed with salt water), 10g dried hawthorn berries (if hawthorn berries are unavailable, dried hawthorn berries can be substituted).
Effects: Hawthorn is a top-ranking herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine for its digestive properties. The active ingredient crataegolic acid in hawthorn promotes extremely rapid digestion of fats, and when combined with the diuretic properties of cucumber peel, it enhances the effect of eliminating excess fat.
Instructions: Boil cucumber peel and hawthorn berries with 500ml of water for 15 minutes, and drink it as a tea substitute after fatty meals.
3. Some things to keep in mind when using cucumbers.
Although cucumbers are good for high cholesterol, due to their cooling properties, they should absolutely not be consumed when experiencing diarrhea, stomach chills, or severe kidney disease. When using them, keep the peel and seeds intact to maximize their benefits. Do not use wilted cucumbers or those left overnight, as their bioactive compounds will have altered and will no longer be effective in lowering cholesterol.
Treating high cholesterol cannot rely solely on medication; it requires a comprehensive approach that includes a scientific diet, increased physical activity, avoiding anxiety and anger, and maintaining a habit of regular health checkups every 3-6 months to adjust treatment methods as needed.