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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!!