Cucumbers are wonderful additions to your menu as they are generally very low in calories, with almost no salt and no properties that will raise your Cholesterol levels. They contain no bad fats and are mildly flavored. Cucumbers are very refreshing especially in the summer months in salads or as a sandwich. The nutritional content of cucumbers is conditioned by their different preparations or lack thereof. Below you will find a comparison in nutritional values from the preparation point of view.
Nutrients in peeled fresh cucumbers
Fresh cucumbers are a welcome addition to your diet because of the fiber they provide. They are a good source not only of minerals, but of vitamins B6, K and C. Even though most of the calories that are in cucumbers are from sugars, these are still good choices for losing weight.
More Potassium in the peel to balance your pH
Basically unpeeled fresh cucumbers have the same nutritional qualities as the peeled ones, the only exception being that they are richer in Potassium. Potassium is a mineral that helps to bring the pH levels of the body into balance. An insufficiency of Potassium in your body can trigger more than a few diseases.
Dill pickles low on sodium
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.
Dill pickles in Kosher style are too salty even for the more permissive diets
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.
Cucumbers that are sour pickled:
These do have all the same nutritional benefits but are very high in salt so again, not a good choice for those who are on a restricted salt intake.
Low-sodium sour pickled cucumber a good alternative when slimming down
Not only are these cucumbers rich in fibers and minerals, but they are poor in salt, which makes them a fine choice when you are on a diet.
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 or sweet pickles that are low sodium:
This type of pickles retain all the nutritional qualities of the cucumber. It doesn’t really make much difference that salt is no longer a big issue, since the additional sugars included in the pickling process make them into a calorie time-bomb.
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