If You're Not Putting Cucumbers In Your Water, You're Missing Out

The leading cause of death in the United States is heart disease. Simply put, obesity, diabetes, lack of exercise and heavy drinking are all killing us at a rapid rate.

This year alone, over 600,000 Americans will die from heart disease. That's one out of every four deaths in the US on an annual basis.

To put this in perspective, the Civil War lasted from 1861-1865. Over the course of those four bloody years, around 620,000 people died. About the same number of people who died in America's deadliest war end up dying from heart disease every single year.

We really need to get off our lazy asses, exercise more and eat better.

One perfect way to start is by drinking cucumber water.

At this point, you're probably sick of getting health advice. It's everywhere.

You likely have at least one family member who constantly spams you with articles about how bad gluten is for you (even though it's in literally EVERYTHING that's delicious... sigh).

You also probably have at least one friend who swears by the Paleo Diet and another who is continuously counting calories.

And that roommate of yours, who seems to run marathons every other weekend, constantly makes you feel lazy and inadequate.

On top of that, all of your friends are constantly drinking matcha, the mysterious green beverage that apparently gives you super powers.

Anyone who makes an effort to improve his or her health should be commended, so we can hardly hate on these people. But you don't have to go to such drastic lengths to move toward a healthier and better you. Cucumber water is proof of that.

All you need is water and cucumber. Combine the two together and, voila, you have an extremely beneficial and healthy snack.

Hydration is one of the most vital parts of health. But, let's face it, water is pretty boring. We all get cravings for something with a little more flavor.

Cucumber water offers a tastier, but still hydrating, alternative to many of the unhealthy drinks we might be tempted to consume. For this reason, among others, cucumber water can aid in weight loss.

Losing weight is accomplished, in part, by reducing calories. Instead of drinking things like juice and soda, which can be very caloric, drink cucumber water.

Water has zero calories, and a slice of cucumber contains fewer than 50 calories. So if you throw a slice in a cup of water, you're consuming far fewer calories than you would with a can of Coke (140 calories) or a glass of apple juice (113 calories).

Cucumber water also helps you maintain a balanced appetite.

When we're dehydrated, we tend to feel hungry. By drinking cucumber water, you'll rehydrate while also taking in enough calories to curb hunger until your next meal.

In addition to helping you lose weight, cucumber water is great for your skin because it contains silica, which helps reduce acne and other skin conditions. Silica is also great for your muscles; it's known to help strengthen muscle tissue.

Cucumber water is also is full of beneficial vitamins and antioxidants, including Vitamin A and D. In other words, if you're hungover, cucumber water can help you detox, rehydrate and move forward from a day of headaches and Netflix binging.

So, clearly, there's really no excuse not to drink it.

Here's how to make it: Get yourself some water and a cucumber. Wash said cucumber off, slice it up and let the water soak it up for a while.

If you have a Brita, toss a few slices in there and let it soak overnight. And if you really want to add some flavor, throw some mint or strawberries in as well.

It's a simple, satisfying way to stay healthy.

Citations: 8 Great Benefits of Drinking Cucumber Water (Bembu), Cucumber Water & Weight Loss (Livestrong)