Cucumbers could stop you from overheating

You know that old adage cool as a cucumber? Well, it may have originated in ancient India. There, people believed that cucumbers could stop you from overheating and becoming ill. They used cucumbers in their practice of Ayurveda, a kind of alternative medicine popular in South Asia.

Given cucumbers’ high water content and therefore its hydrating abilities, that mystical property doesn’t seem so far fetched in modern times. Also, how often have you seen people at a spa with cucumbers on their eyes to reduce swelling and puffiness? Maybe those practicing Ayurvedic medicine were onto something after all.