Cucumis sativus L. (cucumber) is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, which comprises 90 genera and 750 species. C. sativus is cultivated in nearly all countries of temperate zones. It is one of the oldest cultivated vegetable crops and the second most cultivated Cucurbitaceae in the world after watermelon.C. sativus is thermophilic, growing best at temperatures above 20 °C. Consumer and processing industry demand dictates the external appearance such as the size, shape, and color of the fruit, as well as the internal quality (taste, health benefits)

The consumption of fresh vegetables is an essential part of the human diet and has been consistently associated with numerous health-promoting benefits (reduced obesity, fewer diet-related diseases, anti-inflammatory effects, etc.). In addition to vitamins, phytochemicals are considered the most important factors contributing to the health benefits and nutritional value of vegetables. Phytochemicals are classified into six major classes (phenols, alkaloids, organosulfur compounds, phytosterols, carotenoids, and nitrogen-containing compounds).https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35153489/.

Chocolate is classified as a high-calorie food due to its high fat and sugar content. The sugar-free dark chocolate in this trial offered fewer calories compared to conventional dark chocolate due to the absence of sugar. Sugar substitutes have gained importance due to the increasing demand for diet products resulting from the growing effort to reduce the ingestion of added sugars. Cacao, a component of dark chocolate rich in polyphenols, could be beneficial in preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus