For most of us, we are deep in the midst of spring, and what better way to cool off from the new warmer temperatures, than to add my Spring Cucumber Sesame Salad Recipe to any of your main dishes.
You won’t feel deprived in the least bit with this super-hydrating, protein-packed, and crunchy textured summery salad. Super-easy, super-delicious, and super-beautifying…your body will be thanking you in more ways than one!
Magical Beauty Food: Cucumbers
Cucumbers really are a powerhouse of nutrition, so the more you can work them into your diet, the better. Because they are high in water, they can be a good snack as they will fill you up with fiber and water.
Cucumbers are a serious beauty food—high in all the B vitamins (except for B12), Vitamin C, Zinc, Iron, Folic Acid, Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium—giving you energy while helping to repair and smooth the collagen in your skin.
With multiple B vitamins and zero saturated fats/cholesterol, cucumbers are nourishing to our skin and hair, and again, very hydrating (from the inside out!).
Cucumbers also have a good amount of vitamin K to help in supporting healthy bones (so you can keep up with those yoga moves), and an anti-inflammatory—supporting brain and joint health.
I hear many of you asking about ridding your buns and thighs of ‘thee dreaded cellulite‘, and the good news is—phytochemicals in cucumber cause the collagen in the skin to tighten, resulting in firming up the outer layer, and reducing the visibility of cellulite.
Beauty Tip: Rub a few cucumber slices on that pesky cellulite- right before going to the pool or beach! You can even rub it on wrinkles before a photo shoot or an evening out on the town!!!
Here are some of my favorite top ways to use cucumbers:
- You can throw them in your Glowing Green Smoothie® (switching up your greens)
- Add to your beauty salads
- Great for dips
- Wrap in nori wrappers with avocados or sprouts
- Throw some cucumber slices in your water for a spa-like mellow cucumber taste
Amazing Storehouse: Sesame Seeds
Are sesame seeds really that amazing?
I think so! I also think it is important to explore the benefits of foods that we may not use all the time and see how we can start implementing them into our meal plans, to gain the most nutrients.
Sesame seeds are one of the most widely used Ayurvedic medicines, and come in many different forms like, powder, paste, oil or the actual seeds themselves.
It makes sense that these seeds have been used as medicine, since they contain the life force ability to become trees and large, strong plants. They have an incredible storehouse for nutrients, that can only flourish to its highest potential as they begin to grow and germinate.
These tiny seeds are amazing storehouses of antioxidants as well as a rich source of vitamins and minerals, including magnesium, phosphorus, iron, omega 6, calcium, vitamins B and E.
Raw nuts and seeds are also a great source of protein. But I caution you, they are also a highly-concentrated and calorically dense food, which means we need to balance them with greens and other raw veggies (eating them before or with them). And as always, seeds are best purchased in their natural form.
Do We Really Need To Soak Seeds?
While it’s true we should always eat our seeds raw, do we really need to soak them too? Well, read the following and decide for yourself. It’s your body after all. ;)
See, the thing with seeds (and nuts), is that they remain dormant until they are in a safe environment to begin the sprouting and growing process. When soaked and/or sprouted in water, it begins the germination process, in which the active and readily available amounts of enzymes, vitamins, minerals, proteins and essential fatty acids (omega 3 vs omega 6) begins to be activated and multiplies exponentially.
There are also inhibitor enzymes on the outside of the seeds/nuts—which keep them safe from outside contaminants until it is safe to begin to grow—but make protein assimilation and digestion harder for us. How do we make things easier for our bodies? By soaking, of course!
Soaking your seed will increase their vital minerals and nutrition, while simultaneously allowing the inhibitor enzymes to shed off the nuts and into the water (you can see why it’s important to rinse them off well), making them easier for your body to assimilate and digest out of the body.
Let’s give our body’s the boost it needs to break down and digest the foods we eat, by taking in the knowledge and using it to the best of our ability!
Now on to the steps…
Prepare the ingredients.
Chop the cucumber.
Add the shredded the carrots.
Add the tomatoes.
Add the sauce.
Still in the dressing and garnish the sesame seeds.
Enjoy your cukes Beauties and get creative!!
See this full tasty recipe below…
- Salad
- • 2 large cucumbers, chopped
- • 2 large carrots, shredded
- • 2 tomatoes, chopped
- • 1 Tbs. black sesame seeds
- • 1 Tbs. fresh dill, chopped
- Sea salt, as needed to taste
- Dressing
- • 2 Tbs. raw apple cider vinegar
- • 1 Tbs. freshly squeezed lime juice
- • 1 Tbs. tamari
- Dollop of coconut nectar or pinch of stevia
- Trim the ends of the cucumber and chop. Place the sliced cucumbers in a bowl and toss them with the 1 teaspoon of salt.
- Peel and shred the carrots and chop the tomatoes.
- Prepare the dressing by whisking all ingredients together.
- Place the cucumber, carrots, and tomatoes in mixing bowl large enough to hold the salad.
- Add the dressing and toss to combine, coating the salad.
- Top with the sesame seeds, and cilantro. Season with sea salt as needed.
Let me know how you enjoyed this recipe in the comments below, and be sure to use #beautydetoxrecipe. I always enjoy hearing your thoughts and feedback on making your own creations at home!
Keep this recipe handy by adding it to your Dinner Recipes Pinterest Board!
Love,
Kimberly
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