15 Health Benefits of Cucumber Water Plus Recipes & Helpful Tips

You probably already know that sipping cucumber water is healthier than drinking just water. But that’s not the sole reason to prep a pitcher of this simple infused beverage. I’ve also seen it a lot lately in hotel lobbies as a welcome amenity for guests while they’re waiting to check in or on their way out. But what exactly are the health benefits of cucumber water? And why should you make infused waters part of your daily wellness plan?

The most obvious reason is that hydration is vital to good health. Since infused waters taste nice, you’ll likely drink more throughout the day. The fact that you’ll feel a little like you’re relaxing at a luxury every time you take a sip is just a bonus.

In this post, I’ll discuss why you should make cucumber water part of your wellness plan. I’ll also share ideas for infused cucumber water recipes, tips for selecting the perfect cucumber, and some interesting cucumber facts. I’ve also compiled a list of questions people have asked me about why it’s such a healthy drink that I have answered through expert references.

The Many Health Benefits of Cucumber Water

Is cucumber water good for you? Absolutely! Is it easy to make? It sure is. Should you drink it while on vacation? Definitely.

1. It Keeps You Hydrated

We all know that drinking enough water is a major wellness DO, but chugging down plain tap water all day long gets pretty boring, pretty quickly. Deliciously infused waters make drinking your six to eight glasses easier before bedtime rolls around. Plus, cucumbers have a high water content of about 95%. You’ll be surprised how energetic you feel when you’re truly hydrated.

2. Cucumber Water Is Good for Your Muscles

Surprised? Cucumbers contain silica, a trace mineral necessary to keep connective tissue healthy. When you infuse your workout water with a few cucumber slices, you’re getting a little infusion of silica along with that bright, fresh flavor and meeting some fitness needs.

3. It Boosts Bone Health

Cucumbers are rich in vitamin K, which helps transport calcium to bones. Just one unpeeled cucumber contains about 22% of your daily recommended intake, so feel free to nibble on the cukes in your glass of cucumber water.

You’ll also reap the benefits of the silica and manganese minerals in cucumbers — both of which can also help strengthen your bones and possibly even lower your risk of developing osteoporosis.

4. Cucumber Water Is Good for Your Skin

Staying hydrated is the number one key to beautiful skin, but the silica and antioxidants in cucumbers can also help skin stay clear and prevent breakouts. The pantothenic acid or Vitamin B-5 in cucumbers may also calm acne when you wash your face with cucumber-infused water or apply the chilled cucumbers from your glass directly to any areas of redness or inflammation. Vitamin K, as mentioned above, is also an essential nutrient for skin health.

5. It Is Low in Calories

An entire cucumber averages about 45 calories, which means that sliced cucumbers in your water won’t add many additional calories. Freshly infused cucumber water has a vibrant flavor but is so much better for you than sports drinks or soda and more appropriate for any weight loss program.

6. It’s Full of Antioxidants

Antioxidants are powerful nutrients that can prevent or even repair cell damage that can lead to illness. Cucumbers are rich in Vitamin C, manganese (a key part of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase), beta-carotene, molybdenum (which activates antioxidant enzymes), and other flavonoid antioxidants.

7. Drinking Cucumber Water Supports Brain Health

Did you know that cucumber may boost your brainpower? Cucumbers also contain a flavonol called fisetin that, in studies, has been shown to keep aging mice (even those prone to Alzheimer’s) from developing memory loss and learning deficits.

We don’t know yet whether it can do the same in people, but even the possibility is inspiring.

8. Cucumber Water Is a Detox Drink

I’ve been encouraged to drink cucumber water and other infused waters, like lemon water, during my juice cleanses. This is why cucumber lemon water is so popular. Cucumber and lemon water are natural diuretics and detox waters, which help the body pass toxins through urine.

And if you nibble a little cucumber while you drink, the fiber in this super vegetable will sweep toxins from your digestive system, too.

9. It Lowers Blood Pressure

Cucumbers are a good source of potassium, an electrolyte that helps regulate blood pressure. When you drink cucumber water, the potassium will help your body eliminate the excess sodium that can contribute to high blood pressure.

10. Cucumber Water Curbs the Appetite

One of the best benefits of drinking cucumber water is that it helps you feel full, which makes waiting for your next meal more bearable. Plain water alone won’t necessarily help you kick your between-meal cravings. However, the fresh flavor of infused water can trick your brain and belly into thinking you’ve had a snack, so you’re hopefully less tempted to grab a bag of chips between meals.

11. It May Help Prevent Cancer

There is research that suggests cucumbers could help in the fight against cancer! Antioxidants like those found in cukes may prevent cancer, and they also contain compounds called cucurbitacins and a group of nutrients called lignans — both of which may play a role in stopping cancers before they can start or slowing the progression of certain cancers. A recent study suggested that dietary flavonoid fisetin found in cucumbers might help slow prostate cancer progression.

12. It’s (Usually) Inexpensive

Cucumbers are the fourth most widely cultivated vegetable in the world. However organic cucumbers cost a bit more than other organic fruits and vegetables, but they are generally less expensive than other veggies.

13. It Fits Various Diets Like Keto, Gluten-Free Diets, and Vegan

If you have dietary restrictions, you’ll likely be able to enjoy glasses of water with cucumber slices in them.

14. Guests Love It at Home and in Hotels

Adding some extra “wow” to your table with a beautiful pitcher or carafe of chilled cucumber water is so easy. This will make even an impromptu afternoon get-together with friends feel just a little luxurious!

When I have time to prep, I include cucumbers in a sparkling water bar so guests can make their own infused waters with various fruits and herbs, like fresh mint leaves. I’m also a fan of using mason jars for infused water.

And this is a big reason why many hotels and resorts will have it available. It costs them almost nothing and guests like me appreciate it so much.

15. And, Finally, It’s Delicious!

Too many people skip plain water and reach for sugary coffees, sports drinks, and sodas when they feel thirsty. This tasty beverage has a fresh but subtle flavor that you’ll love. And you might drink more water if it tastes good.

How to Select a Cucumber for Your Infused Water

Cucumbers should be firm, not wrinkly, and a medium to dark green color. Grocery stores sometimes put edible wax on the skins of fruits and vegetables that otherwise might store poorly. English cucumbers are popular, but, truthfully, any kind will work.

This wax helps retain moisture and serves as a barrier to bacteria and algae, but its texture leaves much to be desired, and the wax can make the cucumber’s skin look unpleasant.

However, there is so much good stuff in cucumber skin that I can’t recommend peeling organic cucumbers. Conventional waxed cucumbers might retain more chemicals than organic waxed cucumbers. I peel conventional cucumbers.

How to Make Cucumber Water

You don’t really need a recipe because you can make it to taste. However, here is a rough guideline and a few easy-to-make drink recipes with minimal prep time.

Yield: 6

Easy Cucumber Water Recipe

Print

Sure, it takes just a few minutes to fill a pitcher (or glass) of water and slice a few cucumbers into it. However, cucumber water and other infused waters will be far more refreshing after it sits in the refrigerator for several hours.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

• One medium cucumber
• Large pitcher of water (60 oz)
• Ice cubes if you need to serve immediately
• Lemon, lime, mint, strawberries or other ingredients (optional)

Instructions

1. Wash the cucumber and slice it into 1/4–1/2″ slices.
2. Place as much sliced cucumber as you like into a pitcher.
3. Reserve a few extra cucumber slices for garnishes.
4. Place other optional ingredients into the pitcher.
5. Fill the pitcher with water.
6. Let the flavor infuse into the water by leaving it at room temperature for 1-2 hours or in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours before drinking.
7. Strain the cucumbers out of the water (or leave them in, if you like).
8. Garnish the glass with a cucumber slice or let a slice or two simply float in the water.

Notes

Don’t leave cucumbers in the water for more than 12 hours as they will tend to soften. In fact, a good rule of thumb is if you have any infused water left over after a day, remove all fruit and herbs before refrigerating the rest.

I also prefer infused water to be cold, so if you don’t have time to chill the water in advance, pour it over ice cubes.

Cucumber Infused Water + Plus Other Ingredients

Who says you need to limit infused water to just cucumber slices? Other fruits and herbs definitely add extra flavor to a glass of cucumber water to make it even more of a refreshing drink. Add these flavor variations to the above cucumber water recipe:

• lemon slices
• lime
• orange
• fresh mint leaves
• strawberry
• kiwi
• rosemary sprigs
• thyme
• lemon verbena
• lavender
• watermelon
• raspberries
• mint

The most popular combinations in my house are cucumber lemon water and cucumber watermelon water. My backyard has an unruly mint plant, so I sometimes add a few sprigs to make cucumber mint water. If you can keep these ingredients in the kitchen, you’ll always have access to the health benefits of cucumber water

How to Drink It When You Travel

One key to a successful trip is staying hydrated, and if you need a little help, there are some ways. It’s obviously easier if you have a vacation rental with a kitchen. Unless a drink dispenser in the lobby or spa is already prepped, it’s a little more challenging in a hotel.

If I order a salad, I ask for a few extra slices or slip a few in my water if the salad is undressed. I’ve also done that with room service bagel plates that come with smoked salmon, capers, cucumbers, tomatoes, and the like.

Truthfully, when I’m on the road, it’s a little easier (and free) to ask restaurants and in-room dining for a side of lemon to drop into some water.

FAQs About Cucumber Water

See also: Are There More Health Benefits in Lemon or Lime Water? and Turmeric Lemon Water: Your Daily Detox Drink

What other fruits and herbs do you add to your water? If there is a cucumber water recipe featuring an ingredient other than those above you love, please share in the comments!