Cucumbers are 96% water, which means they do not contain as many nutrients as a drier vegetable like squash; but cucumbers are low in fat, sodium, and calories. One-half cup of sliced cucumbers has just 8 calories. Cucumbers are a good source of Vitamin C, Vitamin K and Potassium. The anti-inflammatory compounds in cucumbers help remove waste from the body and reduce skin irritation, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Cucumbers contain two phytonutrient compounds associated with anti-cancer benefits: lignans and cucurbitacins. In recent years, pharmaceutical companies have been paying special attention to cucurbitacins, hoping to use them in new cancer drugs. Photo: © James "Bo" Insogna