If you’re on TikTok, your “For You Page” is likely cool as a cucumber.
The latest food trend sees people eating a whole cucumber a day — but is consuming an entire cuke even good for you?
User @logagm has skyrocketed to 5.2 million followers and 240.4 million likes for his now-viral “cucumber of the day” videos where he makes salads of all variations using an entire cucumber.
Logan is known for his aesthetic shakeable cucumber salads, though he has also whipped up cucumber kimchi, a cucumber flight and cucumber appetizers.
“Sometimes you need to eat an entire cucumber,” he wrote in one of his videos.
Foodies on TikTok have followed suit and started making their own cucumber salads — and aside from the cucumber recall due to reports of illness linked to salmonella, there are actually quite a few health benefits.
Having a whole cucumber isn’t a typical snack — most people opt for some cucumber slices — but eating a daily cuke is safe and can contribute to a healthy diet.
“Adding a cucumber to your diet can also help you meet the USDA’s recommendation of five to nine servings of fruits and veggies daily. Many people don’t get enough vegetables, so including a cucumber in your daily routine is a simple and tasty way to boost your intake,” Veronica Rouse, MAN, RD, CDE, who specializes in heart health, told Well+Good.
Amy Davis, RD, LDN, registered dietitian at FRESH Communications, agreed: “Since cucumbers are made up of mostly water and provide only small amounts of certain vitamins and minerals, it is safe and nutritious to eat a cucumber daily.”
Here are all the cool benefits of eating a cucumber a day:
Hydration
Cucumbers are a water-rich food, made up of about 96% water — which can help you meet the necessary daily fluid intake.
“Due to this high-water content, one may have improved hydration levels, and potentially more regular bowel movements by eating an entire cucumber a day,” Davis shared, adding that good hydration leads to a smoothly functioning digestive system and can help prevent constipation.
Nutrients
Eating cucumbers provide plenty of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, fiber and manganese.
“Eating a whole cucumber daily can support heart health due to its potassium content, which helps regulate blood pressure by counteracting sodium’s effects,” Rouse said.
“With approximately 290 to 300 milligrams of potassium in a medium cucumber, it can be a beneficial part of a heart-healthy diet.”
However, Davis warned that cucumbers have about half a day’s worth of vitamin K, which can affect blood clotting, so those on blood thinners should be mindful and check with their doctors before drastically increasing their cucumber consumption.
Meal satisfaction
Since cucumbers are low in calories, they make for a great snack for anyone looking to watch calorie consumption.
One whole cucumber is just about 45 calories, according to the USDA Food Data Central.
“Since cucumbers are so low in calories, but have a high water content, they can help promote satiety and aid in weight management,” Davis said.
