If you are trying to slim down, you should really consider cucumbers for your daily menu. The fact that they are poor in salt as well as calories and have no properties to affect your Cholesterol levels makes them a good choice. With only a mild flavor to recommend them, cucumbers are however bad-fats free. Cucumbers can be consumed in salads or in sandwiches and can be a bracing tonic during the hot summer days. The nutritional value of cucumbers depends on how you eat them. How the way they are prepared affects their nutritional value is described below:
Peeled fresh cucumbers:
If you’re trying to lose weight, then the fiber content of cucumbers will be of help. Also, aside from the minerals, an added help will be the vitamins they contain, such as vitamins K and C. Despite the fact that the greater part of calories they provide is sugar-based, cucumbers won’t ruin your diet efforts, but quite the opposite.
More Potassium in the peel to balance your pH
The only difference between a peeled raw cucumber and one that is unpeeled, is the significantly higher Potassium content of the latter. This surplus in Potassium is a good thing, because this particular mineral is very useful in keeping the pH levels of your body in balance. When the body becomes Potassium deficient it is an open door to the possible onset of several different diseases.
Low-salt dill pickles are a good alternative in any diet
These pickles contain no bad fats and are almost Cholesterol-free. Their content of vitamins and minerals as well as fiber remains the same as that of raw cucumbers. They are a good choice when you’re on a diet, not only because of their poor salt content or low calorie count, but also because it is their natural sugars that provide the calories.
Kosher dill pickles
These pickles are the same as the low salt dills but unfortunately they are really very high in salt so even though they are prepared according to the Kosher laws, they are a problem for those who need to stick to a low salt diet.
Regular sour pickled cucumbers are a ‘no-no’ when dieting
Although they preserve all the nutritional qualities of fresh cucumbers, they are not recommended in diets because of their heavy salt content.
Cucumbers that are sour pickled but low sodium:
These sour pickled cucumbers contain high levels of fibers, as well as minerals, and being so low in sodium, they won’t ruin your weight-loss process.
Sweet pickles for those determined to tip off the scales
This also includes the bread and butter pickles. These pickles can be added to give more flavor to delicious dishes or simple snacks. They don’t lose any of the valuable nutrients of the cucumber when they are processed, but they are heavy on salt and added sugars, and therefore, heavy on calories. They are then about thirty percent salt and a little more than one-fifth added sugar. Even though they offer a great source of Vitamins K and A, they are not a good choice for those who are trying to lose weight.
Bread and butter pickles why you need to avoid them
Bread and butter pickles contain all the nutrients a fresh cucumber has and close to no salt. However, they are highly rich in calories because of the sugars added in the pickling process.
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