Move over, celery juice! There is a new craze taking the wellness world by storm in the form of cucumber juice. The Medical Medium has claimed that 500ml or more per day can act as the ‘best rejuvenation tonic in the world’, which can ‘cleanse and detox the entire body’. Plus, searches for ‘cucumber juice benefits’ are up a staggering 99 per cent on Pinterest, according to their annual report.
The Medical Medium claims that 500ml or more per day can act as the ‘best rejuvenation tonic in the world and can benefit a multitude of ailments, including migraines, depression, eczema, anxiety and digestive issues.
But is cucumber juice really that good for you? We spoke to top nutritionist, Sophie Pelling, to find out.
“The Medical Medium also claims that cucumbers have an alkalising effect on the body, which supposedly reduces the stress load in your blood,” says Sophie. “Newsflash… the food you eat has zero impact on how acidic your body is. This is controlled by several (very complicated) internal systems and a cucumber isn’t going to change that!”
Whilst Sophie says that cucumbers certainly don’t create a miracle drink, she does maintain that when juiced, they create a very hydrating drink, which is unsurprising when you consider that they’re made of 96% water. “However, the fact it is marketed as a juice, rather than a smoothie, means that all the beneficial fibre (2g per cucumber) is removed,” she adds.
Sophie also explains that the juice does contain a number of beneficial nutrients such as potassium, vitamin K and vitamin C which the body requires. “However,” she warns, “if you think these will ‘cleanse and heal’ your body like the claims say, get ready to be disappointed. Your body is designed to eliminate toxins on its own through organs such as the liver. Additionally, no amount of juice is going to be the golden ticket to optimal health.”
The takeaway? Adding cucumber juice to your diet is a hydrating and vitamin-packed alternative to plain old water but don’t expect miracle results.
