There is something so refreshing about the smell of cucumbers, especially on a hot humid day here in Orlando.

My motto is always, “healthy skin from the inside out” and cucumbers are at the top of my list for not only eating, but adding to skin care treatments. When I can find organic cucumbers, I take every opportunity to eat them, juice them or slice them up for my water.
When choosing any type of cucumber, the darker the color (except for the Kirby) the better. A yellow color indicates old age. It is highly recommended to choose organic cucumbers that have not been waxed. The skin on the cucumber has so many nutrients and you wouldn’t want to ingest the wax as well as the chemicals trapped in the skin. If you aren’t able to find organic cucumbers, just peel before consuming. Because cucumbers provide a wonderful feeling to the skin, they have been used for centuries as a natural toner for the skin.

Cucumbers are composed mostly of water, making it a must for glowing, hydrated skin. They are a good source of Vitamins A, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and folic acid. The skin of the cucumber is rich in fiber and a variety of minerals including silica, magnesium and potassium. The silica in cucumbers is an essential component of healthy connective tissue, which includes muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and bone. I often recommend cucumber juice to clients because the mineral silica improves the complexion and health of the skin. The ascorbic acid and caffeic acid in cucumbers prevent water retention, which may explain why cucumbers applied topically are often helpful for puffy eyes, burns and dermatitis.

Paul Bragg, a health crusader pioneer wrote in an old issue of “Nature’s Path”, “There is nothing more nourishing for the skin than to have the liquid juice from the cucumber.” He noted that cucumber juice was very beneficial at cleansing the body. When you juice the entire cucumber, it will cleanse your body of old waste materials and chemicals.

Hydrating Skin Elixir Recipe

• One cucumber
• One apple
• One tbsp. lemon juice (fresh squeezed is best)
• Two tbsp. aloe vera gel(remove from aloe leaf)
  (Purchase organic cucumber, apple and lemon if possible)

Combine all ingredients in a blender and enjoy!

**Tracy Neely is the founder and owner of Nourish & Flourish Healthy Living, a holistic nutrition and wellness consulting business located in Orlando Florida. Tracy’s love for raw foods led her to implement raw food cooking demonstrations within her consulting business.Tracy is a mother of a wonderful little boy and a wife to an amazing man and enjoys doing yoga, juicing and creating green smoothie recipes, reading books and going for walks with her family.