Although there is still some time left until the cucumber season, when many people prepare homemade pickles, nothing stops you from including them in your daily diet now. Ready pickled cucumbers you can buy it in stores or stock up from your own pantry or basement. Even though it has long been known how beneficial they are to health, not everyone still finds a permanent place for them in their diet. If they also appear too rarely in your daily menu, it’s time to make up for it.
Pickling is one of the most popular natural methods of food preservation. It occurs during lactic fermentation in which probiotic bacteria participate. Vegetables intended for pickling are salted or placed in brine, which then ferments the sugars contained in the plant. The resulting lactic acid is responsible for the characteristic smell and sour taste of silage. What’s more, pickling prevents the product from spoiling.
Stoneware barrels, pots or glass jars are best for preparing cucumbers. The taste of pickled cucumbers is enhanced by the addition garlic, dill and horseradish. Some also add currant or oak leavesas well as spices such as bay leaves or peppercorns.
Eating even the healthiest food will not magically make you lose excess weight. The key to success is maintaining a calorie deficiti.e. consuming fewer kilocalories than required. We also cannot forget that it is equally important for health ensuring that the menu is based on wholesome, unprocessed products. Pickled cucumbers do not make you lose weight in themselves, but they can be an excellent support for the body during the weight reduction process. Above all they are low-calorie, 100 g contain only approx. 15 kcal, therefore you can eat them without any major restrictions. Eating pickled cucumbers has a beneficial effect on digestion, not only because of the probiotic bacteria, but also because of the fiber they contain. In addition, products containing fiber fromgreater satiety of the mealwhich reduces the desire to snack. Additionally pickled cucumbers have a low sugar content and a low glycemic index, which also promotes weight loss.
However, it is worth keeping in mind that Pickled cucumbers contain a lot of salt, which should be eaten in reasonable amounts. According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), adults should not exceed 5 g of salt per day. This is an amount equivalent to one level teaspoon. There is approximately 1-2 g of salt in 100 g of pickled cucumbers.
Pickled cucumbers are valued primarily for their probiotic properties, thanks to which they have a great impact on the intestinal microflora. It is worth remembering that healthy intestines have a huge impact not only on proper digestion, but also on the body’s immunity and even allergies. There’s no shortage of them either antioxidantswhich support the body’s fight against the harmful effects of free radicals, have anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties.
Additionally, pickled cucumbers also contain:
- vitamin C – supports immunity, has antioxidant properties and contributes to better iron absorption and collagen synthesis,
- vitamin K – responsible for proper blood clotting, supports the health of the skeletal system,
- potassium – regulates blood pressure and water and electrolyte balance,
- calcium and phosphorus – strengthen bones and teeth.
- magnesium – supports the functioning of the heart, brain and muscles.
It is also worth mentioning that pickled cucumber juice or cucumber water is healthy and absolutely should not be thrown away. Contains electrolytestherefore it is a type of natural isotonic that can be consumed, for example, after intense training. There is also a common belief that pickled cucumber juice can be an effective remedy for a hangover.
Please bear in mind that both the drink and the pickled cucumbers themselves contain a lot of salt, so do not overdo it. They are also not recommended for people suffering from heart disease, hypertension, kidney or liver disease.
Sources: Terazgotuje.pl, zyczenie.medonet.pl
