The Amazing Cucumber!

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 explores 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 boiling pot of
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 phytochemcials
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!!