What is the calorie content of lightly salted cucumbers and is it possible to eat them while losing weight

Normal weight is the key to health and well-being. Overweight problems in 70% of cases are associated with an unbalanced diet and excess calories.

Nutritionists advise replacing baked goods and sweets with vegetables and fruits to reduce weight. Cucumbers, for example, are known for their minimal fat and calorie content. When there is no way to get fresh vegetables, preparations come to the rescue.

Energy value of lightly salted cucumbers

Lightly salted, freshly salted and pickled cucumbers are low-calorie foods. Unlike fresh non-greenhouse fruits, they are available to consumers all year round.

Cucumber energy value and nutrient content vary depending on the recipe for the preparation.

The table shows the nutritional characteristics of cucumbers harvested according to various recipes.

According to nutritional indicators, it is best to lose weight by eating lightly salted cucumbers: they have no fat, they contain fewer carbohydrates and have the lowest calorie content.

The dependence of the calorie content of cucumbers on the recipe of the preparation

In the process of harvesting, cucumbers go through several stages of processing:

1. Washing. The dirt is washed off the fruit under cold running water.
2. Peeling. Optional step, used when cooking blanks from overripe and purchased greenhouse fruits. Peeling removes the chemicals that were used to process the cucumbers during cultivation, as toxins accumulate under the skin. However, the amount of dietary fiber and vitamins decreases, therefore, if the cucumbers are home-grown, they do not peel off the peel.
3. Soak in fresh cold water. It is used in the manufacture of lightly salted and pickled cucumbers. During soaking, the cells of the fruit are saturated with water and, under the influence of turgor (internal) pressure, are partially destroyed, and the nutrients are washed out. The longer the soaking process, the more nutrients, vitamins and minerals will be lost. The calorie content is also reduced.
4. Cooking. An optional step, used in some pickle recipes. During the cooking process, nutrients are removed from the fruits, including fats and beneficial trace elements. Temperature breaks down complex carbohydrates and proteins, they are easier to digest, and the body uses less energy to process food. To reduce your overall calorie intake and lose weight, nutritionists recommend eating uncooked vegetables and fruits.
5. Soaking in brine. For lightly salted cucumbers - from 12 hours, freshly salted - from 3 days, salted - from two weeks. The longer the fetal cells are in contact with the brine, the less vitamins and minerals remain in the cucumbers.

The composition of the brine also affects the calorie content, benefits and harms of blanks:

• Sugar adds calories and increases your waist.
• Seasonings, onions, garlic and dill do not significantly affect the calorie content, but give the blanks a taste and aroma.
• Vinegar breaks down complex proteins and converts nitrogenous vitamins (H, PP, group B) into an inactive form. This preservative also leaches out minerals, which together reduce the health benefits of the product.
• Salt is a component of any brine. On the one hand, it is a safe preservative that helps cleanse the intestines. On the other hand, salt retains water in the body, can cause puffiness and weight gain by increasing the amount of interstitial fluid.

Attention! Products with vinegar are not recommended for gastritis, peptic ulcer and heartburn.

Considering the recipe of the brine and the holding time of the fruits, lightly salted cucumbers are the optimal product in the diet for weight loss.

The use of lightly salted cucumbers for weight loss

Both fresh and lightly salted cucumbers are high in nutrients (vitamins and minerals). Nutritionists advise to strictly monitor their amount in the diet so that the rejection of high-calorie foods does not harm health.

To replenish the body's daily need for nutrients, it is enough to eat up to 5 medium cucumbers a day, provided that other vegetables and fruits are included in the diet.

The slimming effect with regular consumption of salted cucumbers is achieved due to the following beneficial properties:

1. When replacing high-calorie and starch-containing foods (potatoes, cereals, bakery and pasta) with cucumbers, the total energy value of the diet and the daily intake of carbohydrates are reduced.
2. Increasing the level of salt in the intestinal contents helps to cleanse the digestive tract.
3. If kidney function is not impaired, lightly salted cucumbers, as a product with a high content of water and mineral salts, enhance blood filtration and elimination of toxins. Then the breakdown of fat begins, which the body stores when it encounters stress factors - chemicals and heavy metals in food, water, air.
4. Lactic acid, which appears after the partial breakdown of glucose in cucumbers, lowers blood lipids.

Before including lightly salted cucumbers in your menu for weight loss, you should consult with a nutritionist. There are more than a dozen reasons for weight gain, and which of them should be dealt with, diagnostic studies and tests will show.

Lightly salted cucumbers will help if weight gain is not associated with hormonal problems, but is caused by eating disorders or unbalanced nutrition.

Contraindications when using lightly salted cucumbers

Remember to keep in moderation when changing your diet. You should not eat salted cucumbers in large quantities if you have the following health problems:

1. Urolithiasis and renal failure. In this case, excess fluid will be retained in the body, which will lead to swelling.
2. High blood pressure... Salty foods increase the stress on the heart as a result of water retention in the circulatory system.
3. Pancreatitis... Lactic acid enhances inflammation in the internal organs.

With these diseases, a couple of cucumbers will not cause significant harm, but it is unlikely that you will be able to lose weight with the help of salted preparation.

Pathologies in which lightly salted cucumbers are contraindicated:

• cholelithiasis;
• hepatitis;
• gastritis, gastric ulcer and 12 duodenal ulcer;
• colitis;
• acute cystitis.

With the above health problems, it is recommended to replace salted cucumbers with fresh ones.

Read also:

How to eat onions for weight loss: recipes for dietary meals.

Effective melon diets for weight loss: reviews and calories.

Why is watermelon useful for losing weight, is it possible to eat it while fighting obesity, options for a watermelon diet.

Conclusion

The calorie content of lightly salted cucumbers is 13 kcal per 1 medium fruit or 10 kcal per 100 g, which allows them to be included in the diet for weight loss. Among the methods of harvesting this vegetable, the recipe for short-term salting without the use of vinegar and sugar is optimal.

If the cucumbers are grown at home, and not bought in a store, the peel is not peeled off before salting so that save useful vitamins and minerals.