Cucumbers belong to the same plant family as melons, pumpkins, and winter squash, but they are not as nutritious. an 8-inch slicing cucumber provides only about 10% of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of vitamin C and smaller amounts of and potassium. The skin contains some vitamin A, but cucumbers are often peeled, especially those that have been sprayed with wax to retard spoilage.
because cucumbers are approximately 95% water, they are very low in calories; a cup of slices contains less than 15 calories. Folk healers often recommend cucumbers as a natural diuretic, but any increased urination is probably due to their water content rather than an inherent substance.
In the United States cucumbers are used as a salad ingredient or as pickles. Commercially, they are used mainly to make pickles and relishes; cucumber juice is added to facial masks, creams and lotions, shampoos, and other cosmetic products.