What is the calorie content of fresh cucumber: benefits, composition, contraindications

Cucumber is a standard and common vegetable for everyone, which can always be seen on store shelves. It has become so familiar to everyone that few people think about what is useful in it and why it is so important for our body. And this is completely in vain, because it is not only very tasty, but also healthy, in particular because it can get rid of extra pounds.

And the whole secret is that the calorie content of cucumber per 100 grams is very small. It will not be a revelation to say that it contains very little protein, fat and carbohydrates. Just imagine, 95% of it consists of water. In addition, it contains enzymes, thanks to which proteins of animal origin are quickly and well absorbed in the body. In particular, this is why it is so often combined with meat. Cucumber also contains vitamins: C, B1, B2, P, A, enzymes, and minerals. Thanks to this, it becomes very useful, improves appetite, and the stomach begins to work much better. It has a laxative effect, as well as a diuretic and choleretic effect.

About cucumber

Cucumber is a herbaceous plant - a member of the Pumpkin family. Currently grown in greenhouses and on soil. On a creeping stem that can reach up to 2 meters, there are five-fingered heart-shaped leaves. The fruit is juicy with a huge number of seeds inside. Green color.

Cucumber is a fairly common vegetable, which is usually eaten raw and pickled, and also added to various salads. This vegetable is unique in that it consists of 97% water, and the rest is potassium, magnesium, vitamins C, B, PP, in addition, cucumber contains a small amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

In folk medicine it is used as a diuretic or laxative. It is recommended to take it orally for burns. But cucumber has a place in cosmetology too. Thus, it is used in nourishing face masks that moisturize the skin, making it firm and elastic.

What's the benefit?

This is an amazing vegetable that consists almost entirely of water. It contains 3-5% plant fiber. Due to this, nutrients are completely absorbed in the body. The stomach quickly fills, and a feeling of fullness appears, even though it is a light meal.

Please note: And the fact that cucumber has very few calories makes it possible to eat it without limits. So, 100 grams of cucumbers contain only 15 calories.

The laxative effect, which is achieved by removing fluid from the body, promotes weight loss. And fiber, which is also included in the composition, works as an absorbent. Due to this, toxins and wastes leave the intestines, which negatively affect the functioning of the digestive system.

The latter property allows it to be used as a cleanser, for example, for poisoning. Fasting cucumber days are very useful. If you eat only this vegetable all day, you will not feel hungry at all, because you can eat at least two kilograms of it. The pancreas is not subject to stress, the kidneys are cleansed and washed, the intestines are freed, and swelling goes away. In a word, a miracle of means.

Please note that there is another unique substance - tartronic acid. Its action is similar to insulin. That is, thanks to it, blood sugar levels are normalized, and fats that come with carbohydrates are not deposited in the body. There is especially a lot of such acid in bitter fruits. Most of the time it’s difficult to eat them, so we peel them. But in vain. This bitterness is beneficial in particular for those who are maintaining their weight. Bitter cucumbers are also effective for diabetes. But eating fresh cucumbers is beneficial.

They have many useful properties:

• The functioning of the cardiovascular system is normalized
• Relieve kidney diseases
• Promotes weight loss
• Treatment for gout
• Neutralize acids thanks to alkaline compounds.

Interestingly, its beneficial properties are second only to radish.

How many calories are in pickled cucumber?

Pickled cucumbers will serve as an excellent appetizer for various dishes in winter, when cucumbers are so scarce. This cucumber has very few calories, only 16 per 100 g. Pickled cucumbers can cause food poisoning if they were improperly preserved, the same applies to pickled cucumbers, because they also undergo canning. To avoid this, vegetables should be washed thoroughly and only filled with boiling water; in this case, it is necessary to carry out the sterilization procedure in the oven or in boiling water (applies only to jars). High temperatures should kill all bacteria.

What's the calorie content?

Due to the fact that it contains practically no fats, proteins and carbohydrates, there are extremely few calories. So, there are only 15 calories in 100 grams.

For 100 grams of fresh cucumbers there are:

• 0.8 proteins
• 0.1 fat
• 3.0 carbohydrates

This means that you can safely eat cucumbers without limiting yourself in quantity for fear of gaining excess weight. In addition, thanks to cucumbers, the formation of fats from carbohydrates in the body is inhibited. This indicates an active fight against excess weight. In order to quickly and effectively cleanse the stomach, you need to eat a fresh cucumber, and then wash it down with a glass of cold water or milk. The laxative effect will not be long in coming, which means the stomach will quickly clear.

Of course, the calorie content depends on the form in which it is eaten. How many calories are in a cucumber (fresh, lightly salted) depends on the cooking method. Although there is a small difference, there is a difference in whether the cucumber is salted, lightly salted, pickled or greenhouse. For a more accurate determination of calorie content, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the table.

In the table you can find out how many kcal are in a cucumber per 100 grams

In addition, its energy value also varies.

Nutritional value table, per 100 grams of product:

In order to use the most non-calorie cucumbers for food, there are several recipes. They allow you to use the vegetable most rationally.

Hearty and tasty salad

To prepare this dish you will need:

• 300 grams of cucumbers
• 50 milliliters vegetable oil
• 15 milliliters vinegar
• 1 teaspoon mustard
• Salt to taste
• Onion
• Dill

Washed cucumbers should be cut into slices and salted. Then they need to be poured with vegetable oil, which is mixed with mustard and vinegar. Add dill on top. After mixing the salad, you need to leave it in the refrigerator for 10 minutes. Before serving, you can sprinkle leeks on top for taste and beauty.

Beetroot salad

To prepare this dish you will need more ingredients, in particular:

• 300 grams of cucumbers
• 100 grams of beets
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 50 grams shelled walnuts
• Vegetable oil
• Salt
• Green onion

Raw beets need to be grated. Heat the beets a little in a frying pan, adding lemon juice. After this, you need to cool everything and mix it with cucumbers, pre-cut into rings. This also includes walnuts, finely chopped. Add salt and vegetable oil. If desired, you can season the salad with green onions on top. Such salads are popular not only because of their low calorie content, but also because of their taste, which will not leave anyone indifferent.

Methods for preparing lightly salted cucumbers

There are many options for preparing lightly salted cucumbers, however, some of the healthiest and most delicious are:

Quick salting.

Required:

• small cucumbers – 350 grams;
• 5 cloves of garlic;
• salt – 12 grams;
• 3 currant leaves;
• one sprig of parsley.

Preparation:

1. Vegetables are washed and wiped dry.
2. Then, using a sharp knife, cut lengthwise into two halves.
3. Placed in a plastic container in two rows.
4. The vegetables are sprinkled with salt on top.
5. Parsley is washed and dried.
6. Then the twig is finely chopped and poured on top of the prepared vegetable.
7. Currant leaves are carefully placed on top.
8. The container is tightly closed with a lid.
9. Afterwards, the person begins to shake him violently for 3–4 minutes, without stopping.

Let's celebrate! Once shaking is complete, the cucumbers are ready to eat. The main thing is not to store them longer than 6 - 7 hours, otherwise they can lead to stomach upset.

With celery and bay leaf.

Required:

• small cucumbers – one kilogram;
• 2 cloves of garlic;
• celery – 7 grams;
• one sprig of dill;
• water - one liter;
• salt – 20 grams;
• bay leaf - 4 pieces.

Preparation:

1. The garlic needs to be peeled and cut into 5 – 7 pieces per clove.
2. Wash the celery and dill and then chop them.
3. Place all prepared ingredients on the bottom of the pan.
4. Place bay leaves on top.
5. Take cucumbers, wash, dry and cut into 4 pieces each.
6. Place prepared vegetables in a saucepan.
7. Next, take a separate container, fill it with water and bring it to a boil on the stove.
8. Salt is thrown into boiling water and everything is left on the stove for another 30 seconds.
9. Then salted water is poured into the pan with cucumbers.
10. The top is covered with a terry towel and a lid.

Note! After 3.5 hours, the snack should be placed in the refrigerator for 10 hours. Next, the dish is ready to eat.

Hot way

Required:

• cucumbers – one kilogram;
• dill sprigs - 2 pieces;
• pepper (peas) – 3 pieces;
• currants (leaves) – 4 pieces;
• water - two liters;
• salt – 15 grams.

Preparation:

1. Take a large saucepan and place vegetables, dill, peppers and currants on its bottom.
2. Place a pan of water and bring to a boil, then add salt.
3. Boiling water is poured over the vegetables and everything is placed on the stove for 3 minutes.
4. Then the pan is removed from the stove, covered with a lid and left on the table.
5. After 8 hours, you can try the snack.

Tip: you can add more herbs and spices.

Dependence of calories in cucumbers on cooking method

Depending on the cooking option, the number of calories in lightly salted cucumbers may increase or decrease.

In order to make this product less calorie you need:

1. When salting, do not add sugar or reduce its amount by half.
2. Try not to add mustard.
3. Exclude apples and other sour fruits from the recipe.

Tip: to reduce calorie content when pickling, add only salt and herbs. Important: in general, any salting option can change the calorie content by 2 to 4 units, up or down.

Differences in nutritional and energy value of other types of cucumbers

Eating fresh, lightly salted and pickled cucumbers, as well as cucumber juice, has different effects, since the proportions of the components they contain differ.

Fresh

The energy value of fresh cucumbers is higher (14-15 kcal) than that of pickled cucumbers. However, the difference is so insignificant that, taking into account other nutritional qualities, fresh fruits are more often used in different diets. Carbohydrates (2.5 g) prevail over proteins (0.8 g) and fats (0.1 g). Eating the pulp without the peel allows you to reduce the calorie content of the product, but at the same time its nutritional value.

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Lightly salted

Lightly salted cucumbers, with a lower calorie content (12-13 kcal) compared to fresh greens, contain almost the entire range of useful substances (vitamins, fiber, antioxidants, etc.). They saturate the brine with potassium and magnesium salts, which helps with gastrointestinal disorders and hangovers. BJU (proteins, fats, carbohydrates) per 100 g of product – 0.6/0.1/1.3 g.

Pickled

Pickled cucumbers improve appetite by stimulating the stomach. They are especially good for constipation, having a mild laxative property. However, compared to other types of product, they have a lower concentration of useful substances due to the use of acetic acid.

The calorie content is the same as that of fresh greens - 16 kcal, and the content of BZHU is 2.8/0/1.3 g.

cucumber juice

All the beneficial minerals and vitamins of fresh vegetables are also present in freshly squeezed juice, which normalizes blood pressure, improves vision, and helps with rheumatism and gout. The ratio of BJU in fresh juice is 0.8/0.1/2.5 g, and the total calorie content is 14 kcal.

Benefits of cucumbers

It is immediately worth noting that greenhouse cucumbers are inferior in the amount of vitamins to ground cucumbers. It is advisable to consume from 10 am to 6 pm - this is the most optimal time for digestion and absorption.

Vegetables promote better absorption of proteins and fats, lower blood pressure, cleanse joints, remove toxins and waste, cleanse intestinal microflora, and increase the acidity of gastric secretion. For people with vascular diseases, they help in removing water and salts. It has long been noted that cucumber has a diuretic and laxative effect, so it is useful to use the product for constipation and intestinal atony.

Cucumber juice with honey is used to relieve expectoration and soothe cough. In cosmetology they are used to clean and tighten enlarged pores. With systematic use of the gruel or juice, the skin becomes whiter, acquires elasticity, oily shine disappears, elasticity and the appearance of fewer wrinkles are noted.

Cucumbers neutralize acidic compounds that are found in our food and disrupt metabolic processes. Gives a feeling of fullness due to the presence of a large amount of fiber and slows down the process of processing carbohydrates into fats.

When salted and pickled, they promote increased secretion of gastric juice.

Nutritional value of lightly salted cucumbers

Despite the low calorie content of the product, it is rich in nutritional value. So lightly salted cucumbers:

• easily digestible;
• contain many vitamins and microelements;
• are quickly digested;
• improve many processes in the body;
• have a positive effect on the work of some organs.

Note: 100 grams of product contains 0.5 grams of protein and 2.2 grams of carbohydrates.

Vitamins

Lightly salted cucumbers are rich in various vitamins. They contain:

1. Thiamine (B1), which actively affects the normalization of digestion, enhances metabolism, and has a beneficial effect on blood circulation.
2. B2 helps to fully saturate cells with oxygen and strengthen the immune system.
3. A, strengthens the immune system, accelerates cellular recovery.
4. C, reduces the likelihood of infection in the body, helps to quickly cope with diseases, and removes toxins.
5. E, has a positive effect on reproductive functions.

Note! Nicotinic acid is also present, which improves kidney and stomach function.

Minerals

This product is rich in various minerals. It contains:

• iodine;
• iron;
• fluorine;
• potassium;
• sodium;
• calcium;
• phosphorus and others.

Let's celebrate! Such microelements help transport oxygen to internal organs and also strengthen muscles and bones.

Fresh cucumbers: composition and nutritional value

So, why is fresh cucumber so popular among those trying to lose weight? The fact is that this tasty fruit perfectly combines low energy content and a number of vital microelements. Cucumber fruits are an excellent source of moisture for the body, because they consist of almost 95% water. It is thanks to this composition that the calorie content of fresh cucumbers does not exceed 15 kcal. This means that the fruit can be eaten daily without any harm to the figure.

Not only the caloric content of a cucumber is important for the diet: 100 grams of this product contains a reduced amount of proteins and fats, which so often need to be limited when losing weight. Carbohydrates in fresh cucumber are present in a volume of 2.8 g per 100 g of product. In addition, cucumber fruit contains a number of vital elements. Among them:

• iodine;
• phosphorus;
• sodium;
• potassium;
• calcium;
• iron;
• retinol (vitamin A);
• ascorbic acid (vitamin C);
• B vitamins.

Those who want to know how many calories are in a cucumber and why it is useful should also remember that the vegetable contains a lot of fiber, which has a beneficial effect on digestion. It also contains special enzymes that help better digest animal proteins, which is why fresh cucumbers are especially recommended to be combined with meat dishes.

Advice from nutritionist Irina Shilina Healthy eating is incompatible with strict dietary restrictions, malnutrition and prolonged fasting. Today there is no need to strive for abnormal thinness by depriving yourself of food! Pay attention to the latest weight loss techniques for 2020. Read more about healthy food and vitamins ->

The remarkable nutritional properties of fresh cucumber make it one of the best products for specialized nutrition for certain diseases: it has diuretic, choleretic and mild laxative effects, has a positive effect on the cardiovascular and urinary systems, and improves metabolic processes. Thus, fresh and juicy fruits can, without a doubt, be considered one of the healthiest vegetables.