5 Health Benefits of the Humble Cucumber That’s Suddenly Going Viral

Remember this time on The Kardashians when Kendall Jenner struggled to chop up a cucumber? (Seeing is believing.) It was great PR for the humble vegetable, which has always been known for its hydrating properties and is great in a salad. And as if Kendall's seal of approval wasn't enough, now the Cucumber herb (to give the scientific name) is getting even more airtime, courtesy of a guy named Logan on TikTok.

Not only does Logan, who gets millions of views on his cucumber salad videos, have a loyal TikTok following, but “viral cucumber salad” is trending on Google. Logan rather fabulously proclaims that “pickles are a lifestyle,” and creates easy one-pot recipes using cucumbers—including a kimchi blend and his “iconic” salmon, cream cheese, and cucumber—that look (and taste) much more appealing than they sound.

When I discovered a fan in my friend and fellow journalist Lucy Partington, who shared her own interpretations of his recipes on Instagram, I asked her what she thought of the trend. “I know cucumber salads are already very popular in Asian cuisine, but I love the charming way Logan explains how to make them,” she says. “They're really easy, healthy and a nice change from regular salads. Cucumbers are cheap and fun and you don't have to invest a ton of money in ingredients to try one of these recipes, I had most of them in my cupboard. Plus, making and eating something in a jar is pretty novel too. You literally shake it to make it.”

The health benefits of cucumber

Cucumber salad may be trending right now, but the vegetable in general is packed with health benefits. “It's the beauty food that nourishes your gut and helps you eat your water,” agrees naturopathic doctor Jessica Shand. “It doesn't often get the recognition it deserves, possibly because of its subtle flavor and the fact that it's an old-fashioned salad staple. But it's a really wonderful cleansing beauty food to add to your meals in the summer.”

From a nutritional perspective, cucumber is 95% water, so it's very hydrating and good for all aspects of your health, including your skin. “I like to think of cucumbers as a great way to get water, but with all the added benefits of containing soluble fiber, which nourishes the digestive tract, rids the system of toxins, prevents constipation, and also creates a less acidic environment in the gut microbiome,” she says.