Bitter substances in cucumbers Cut off the stem base generously

Cut off the stem of cucumber generously
Especially in summer, cucumbers are a welcome refreshment due to their high water content. The healthy vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals but low in calories. Cucumbers are best eaten with shell, but the stems should be cut generously. Because that's where bitter substances first form. These can harm your health.

Delicious cucumbers in salad or soup
Currently, you can find many fresh cucumbers from the region on the supermarket shelves. The delicious vegetables are about 95 percent water and therefore very low in calories. At the same time it is rich in vitamins, especially from the B group, as well as minerals such as calcium, zinc, iron, magnesium and potassium. Popular are cucumbers in salad or pure as a raw food snack. They are also suitable as an ingredient for cold soups on hot days. If a cucumber tastes bitter, you should spit it out again. The substances that cause this taste can harm your health.

Cucumbers are mostly made of water and are therefore a delicious refreshment, especially in summer. The stalk approach should be cut away. Bitter substances form faster in it. (Image: graletta / fotolia.com)

Bitter substances can harm your health
Cucurbits such as pumpkins, zucchini and melons are cucurbits of the cucurbits, which are typical for naturally occurring bitter substances called cucurbitacins. These cause a strong bitter taste that you can taste very well. Cucurbitacins are toxins that are usually present in low concentrations. However, over-eating may cause gastrointestinal problems, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.

Poisoning with deadly course
However, very rare cases of fatal poisoning can occur. Last year, for example, a 79-year-old man from Baden-Württemberg was reported who died after eating a dish of zucchini from his garden. Health experts had warned the public at that time and informed them how to identify potentially deadly bitter substances.

Cut off the end of the stem generously
According to consumer advocates from Thuringia cucumbers form bitter substances first in the stalk. For the preparation therefore applies: "the stem end of the cucumber tastes slightly bitter, it should be cut generously".

So that the bitter substances do not spread over the entire cucumber, you should work towards the stem while peeling. Basically, a food that tastes bitter and foreign is better spit out again. "If you can not taste bitter something, you should ask someone else to try it for you," write the experts at the Consumer Center. (Ad)