Water Vegetables

Our body is 70% water and we need to keep that replenished. Many times, I hear people saying that they do not like to drink water that often. Incorporating the water vegetables into your everyday meal takes care of that. The vegetables having 90% plus water content are ridge gourd, bottle gourd and sponge gourd, cucumber, tomatoes, cabbage, lettuce, zucchini and leafy greens like spinach etc.

The benefits of eating these vegetables are many.

1. Easy Digestion

2. Prevents Dehydration

3. provides a variety of nutrients to the gut flora

4. Help in detoxing your body

5. Reduce fatigue

6. Help in regulating insulin levels in the blood

7. Most have high levels of anti-oxidants

8. Most have fibre that help in metabolizing the other foods in your intestine

Most of these vegetables can easily be incorporated into your meals as a starter, by way of a soup, as a mid-day snack, accompaniment to the main dish at dinner or even as a refreshing juice during summer. These vegetables cook easily and have a mild flavour. Some of them can be even eaten raw. The addition of these not only provide the above benefits but each of them also have a host of other nutrients too like Potassium, Vit B, Vit C, manganese, magnesium along with dietary fibre. Low on calories, they are the ideal for weight- watchers, Diabetics, people suffering from cholesterol and heart patients.

The water vegetables are not just great to ingest but they can be used externally too. The juice of the Bottle gourd also has benefits when used externally when applied to the skin and hair. Iced Cucumbers are great for your eyes. Tomato juice can be used to reduce suntan. Cabbage juice is used in Korea to reduce acne and even for certain skin ailments. Cucumber, lettuce and cabbage pastes can be used as cooling masks during summers or even for inflamed skin and rashes. So the next time you go grocery shopping go ahead and fill your bag with some water vegetables.