Tip of The Day #4

Few foods can match the humble cucumber when it comes to internal and external application for beautifying and nutrifying the skin. A member of the Cucurbitaceae family (alongside melon and pumpkin), cucumber has been in use for over 3000 years. Much of cucumbers skin regulating and improving benefits come from its rich water (around 95%), cell salt, and silica content, which combine to add shine to the eyes, skin, and hair, when used over a regular period of time. Many of these nutrients are found in the skin so to get the most out of your cucumber don't peel them, and try and get ones which have not been waxed or sprayed with any questionable ingredients (organic, as a rule of thumb, is usually a good bet for this). 

Cucumbers in general have a bad rep, with many associating them with old memories of soggy cucumber sandwiches from school break time. It need not be that way. Give the recipe below a go to jazz up this store cupboard stalwart and banish those old soggy memories for good. Alternatively, simply add them to your vegetable juice. They go great with lemon, apple, ginger and celery. For topical applications simply slice thinly and rub onto your skin, let it dry and repeat. Or apply the fresh juice to your face with a facecloth/flannel. Instant facelift. 

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SOUR NIGELLA PICKLES

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•2 large organic slicing cucumbers chopped into quarters or 4 small pickling cucumbers

•2 cloves garlic

•1 bay leaf

•1TSP nigella seeds

•Fresh Dill

•2TB unrefined sea salt

•Around 700 ml of spring water

All spices are optional but add more depth and flavour to the recipe if used. 

Crush garlic and add to a glass jar with cucumbers and all the other spices and herbs. Make the brine by dissolving the salt into the water. Pour the brine into the jar until it covers the cucumbers. If it comes up short add more water until it does cover them. Seal jar with a lid or a cloth tied in place with an elastic band. Leave for a minimum of 1 week. Pickles will keep fermenting for up to 4 weeks and can be enjoyed at any point within this time frame. Moving them to the fridge slows down fermentation and souring. Enjoy them as they are or as an accompaniment to your main meal

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"Cooling thermal nature; sweet flavour; diuretic; counteracts toxins and lifts depression; cleanses the blood; influences the heart, spleen-pancreas, stomach, and large intestine; quenches thirst, moistens the lungs, purifies the skin; acts as a digestive aid, especially in the form of pickles. A pack of grated cucumber placed on the face beautifies the skin. If placed over the eyes, it relieves hot, inflamed, swollen, dry, or irritated eyes. Cucumber skin is rich in silicon, chlorophyll, and is bitter. Eating cucumber with skin enhanced its medicinal virtue in the above applications. A tea of the skin alone is used for swelling in the hands and feet."

- Excerpt from 'Healing With Wholefoods' by Paul Pitchford

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