Do you like cucumbers?

In the Netherlands it is currently literally and figuratively cucumber time. It is the holiday season with little real news and the cucumbers themselves are on offer. For Thailandblog there is no cucumber season because there are interesting stories to tell about Thailand all year round and the cucumber is also available all year round.

I wanted to talk to you about that cucumber, which is one of the top 3 most cultivated vegetables in the world. No, I'm not going to tell you how healthy eating cucumbers is and I'm not going to give you recipes for special Thai or non-Thai dishes that contain cucumbers. If you would like to know more about this, Google on the Internet offers you numerous possibilities to obtain information.

Not healthy

I read in this month's monthly magazine 'Hot Magazine Hua Hin' – somewhat to my surprise – that there are people who think cucumbers are not healthy. They hate it terribly. So much so that you could almost call it phobic. They only need to see a picture of a cucumber to be horrified and they smell the disgusting smell of the cucumber from a great distance to their noses.

Food in Thailand  

Not everyone smells the cucumber, because sometimes it has been processed and the cucumber is shielded by other ingredients. Take, for example, a ham salad sandwich or a hamburger. Then there is a good chance that slices of cucumber have also been used. The taste buds immediately "discover" the cucumber with all its consequences. There is no point in removing the cucumber after all, it is too late. The contamination has already taken place and the dish becomes inedible for the cucumber haters.

For these people it is useful to learn at least one Thai language phrase when they are in Thailand, because cucumber is a common ingredient in the local cuisine. With every order of a dish just say “mai ow tang kwa” – “I don't want a cucumber”!

Cause

Until recently, the cause was believed to be psychological. Now we know it's genetically determined. Cucumbers contain certain organic compounds, which cause the smell and taste of cucumbers, which some people find repulsive. A gene called TAS2R38 is responsible for this. So it is true that "cucumber hatred" is stored in one's genes.

Genetically superior

You should be happy if you like cucumbers and are genetically superior in that respect to the mortals who hate cucumbers. Enjoy it, because you can do so much with cucumbers. Not only to use with or in dishes, but the cucumber also has practical benefits. I mention a few:

• put some slices of cucumber lemon on sunburned areas and the aching pain will ease;
• place the discs on your eyes to prevent swelling and puffiness;
• take a slice in the mouth and push it against the palate with your tongue to prevent bad mouth odor;
• cucumbers contain silicon (silicic acid), which makes your hair and nails shine and also makes them stronger. The silicon and sulfur in cucumber also help stimulate hair growth;
• to prevent a hangover in the morning you should eat a few slices of cucumber before going to bed. Why? Because cucumber contains a lot of vitamin B, sugar and electrolytes; which provide the necessary nutrients and reduce the effect of a hangover;
• cucumber is a good cleaning agent to remove stains on stainless steel;
• all the water in a cucumber has the effect of a broom: it sweeps toxins out of your body.

For more health aspects of cucumbers, see: www.theperfectyou.nl/articles/2286/why-is-kommer-gezond

Source: Hot Magazine Hua Hin