You shouldn't mix cucumbers with radishes, as they can interfere with vitamin C absorption.
Here's why:
Cucumbers contain ascorbate oxidase, an enzyme that oxidizes (and effectively reduces the availability of) vitamin C. When you consume cucumbers with foods rich in vitamin C, like radishes, the ascorbate oxidase in the cucumber can hinder the absorption of vitamin C from the radish. This doesn't make the combination inherently dangerous, but it may negate some of the vitamin C benefits you'd get from eating radishes alone.
Think of it this way:
- Cucumber: Contains ascorbate oxidase (acts like a "vitamin C absorber").
- Radish: Contains Vitamin C.
- The Mix: The ascorbate oxidase in the cucumber can reduce the amount of Vitamin C your body absorbs from the radish.
While this interaction is known, the extent to which it impacts overall health is debatable and depends on factors such as the amount of each food consumed and individual dietary needs.
