Your loofah is actually a giant dried ‘cucumber’ – and the discovery is blowing people’s minds

IF YOU’VE had your legs out in the sunshine this week, it’s possible you may have used a loofah to get them prepped.

However, the lightweight, cream sponge we use to exfoliate our body in the shower is actually a giant dried “cucumber”.

It turns out they are made from the deep green fruit of the Luffa aegyptiaca plant, – also known as the sponge gourd and the Egyptian cucumber.

According to , it originates in India but is now grown commercially in China, Korea, Japan, and Central America.

The plant looks a lot like a large cucumber, and grows to between 12 and 18 inches.

When young, it can be harvested – and cooked and enjoyed like squash, or eaten raw like cucumber.

However, if you let it mature, the outer shell will turn brown.

When you can hear seeds rattling inside, it’s time to soak it in hot water for several hours.

After this you can slip the skin off to discover your very own loofah for the bathroom.

The revelation has surprised many people on on social media.

Taking to Twitter, one person wrote: “BRO. A LOOFAH IS A PLANT???? ITS A GOD DAMN CUCUMBER?”

Another commented: “I was today years old when I found out you can grow your own loofah from a plant.”

A third shared: “I cannot believe that at my big age of 19 I’m only just finding out that shower loofahs are made from a plant….. the luffa plant

“It’s like a weird cucumber and they like peel it and boom, sponge.”

Earlier today, we told you how beauty fans can bag themselves a free £17.50 MAC lipstick tomorrow to celebrate National Lipstick Day.

We also revealed how beauty fans have claimed Rimmel’s £7 setting spray has stopped their make-up from melting off.

And a study has shown that women are refusing to leave the house if they find a grey hair