Even if you’re just a casual TikTok user, you’ve probably heard of the latest viral sensation, the Cucumber Guy. But in true 2024 style, @Logagm is doing more than just preparing and eating a whole cucumber every day; he’s influencing the entire internet to do the same.
While one might assume that eating cucumbers (or other vegetables) is always 100% healthy, we had to ask ourselves: is too much of it bad?
We asked Daily Harvest nutritionist Carolina Schneider, MS, RD, to weigh in on this trend, and the general consensus is…drum roll, please…that it’s perfectly safe and healthy to eat them on a regular basis.
Why are cucumbers healthy?
I guess TikTok made the right guy famous this time. The vegetables are packed with vitamins, including vitamin K for healthy bones, vitamin C for the immune system, and potassium and magnesium. They are also low in calories – a whole cup contains just 18 calories.
“They also contain antioxidants that can help fight oxidative stress in the body,” adds Schneider. “A diet rich in vegetables is associated with better health parameters, a lower risk of disease, and overall improved health and well-being.”
If you follow Logan’s COTD videos (and by follow, I also mean slicing the whole thing up to make a trendy shake salad), you can expect better hydration (cucumbers are 95% water), better digestion (they’re full of fiber), and better skin (they have anti-inflammatory properties). And you might even lose weight thanks to the low calorie, water, and fiber content, Schneider tells Delish.
The potassium found in cucumbers can also help regulate your blood pressure by balancing sodium levels and promote overall cardiovascular health, while the antioxidant properties protect against chronic disease.
Veronica Rouse, MAN, RD, CD, who specializes in heart health, agrees.
“Adding a cucumber to your diet can also help you meet the USDA’s recommendation of five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Many people don’t eat enough vegetables, so including a cucumber in your daily diet is an easy and tasty way to increase your intake,” she said Good+Good.
Can you eat too many cucumbers?
There Is However, there is a caveat. While the vegetables are perfectly safe and healthy when consumed regularly, excessive amounts of anything can lead to negative side effects, says Schneider.
“In the case of cucumbers, their high water and fiber content can cause digestive discomfort when consumed in large quantities,” she says. “This is because fiber stimulates bowel activity, and for some people, especially those who are not used to a high-fiber diet, this can lead to bloating, gas or even diarrhea.”
Variety is also important. “Eating the rainbow is a simple but powerful concept because fruits and vegetables of different colors offer a unique range of nutrients and health benefits,” says Schneider.
Although eating a cucumber a day can have a positive impact on your diet, you still need protein, healthy fats, and other vitamins and minerals that the vegetable doesn’t contain. The good news? We have recipes for those, too.
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