Our dietician-nutritionist alerts us to two important precautions to know.
Rich in water, thirst-quenching, light, crunchy… Cucumber seems to be the perfect raw vegetable. Here’s why some of us love it and eat it (almost) daily in a salad, smoothie, gazpacho or even “à la crunch” as an aperitif or snack. However, can we eat it without moderation? Every day?
From a nutritional point of view, cucumber is excellent: it is full of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium and magnesium, which helps maintain blood pressure and therefore good heart health. It is also a good source of polyphenols, antioxidants that are said to have positive benefits on blood sugar. Composed of 96% water, cucumber provides good hydration to the body and contributes to good transit. In addition, it is filling while being very low in calories, which makes it a great ally for people wishing to control their weight.
In what maximum quantity?A small plate as a starter or about 1/3 of the plate in a mixed salad, there is no real rule, but we can say that an average portion of vegetables is equivalent to 150 g (which is about a third of a cucumber)”, he tells us Coralie Costidietician-nutritionist. In case of digestive disorders, however, we will adapt the quantities and frequency of consumption: if we tend to be bloated or if we suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, its richness in fibers can create real digestive discomfort, especially since we sometimes consume it with the skin (when it is organic).
Beyond digestive tolerance, cucumber contains potassium (around 140 mg per 100g). It will therefore be necessary to control its intake for patients with renal insufficiency, because its elimination is no longer optimally ensured by the body.Cucumber also contains vitamin K (15 µg per 100g) and may therefore not be recommended for patients taking anticoagulant treatment (particularly those taking cardiovascular disease) due to a risk of haemorrhage or thrombosis, depending on the dosage, especially if it is consumed with the skin.“, continues our interlocutor.
“Unless otherwise advised by a doctor, you can eat cucumber every day. But not necessarily all year round.advises the nutritionist. To make the most of its flavor and nutritional benefits, it is best to eat cucumber (like all other fruits and vegetables) when it is in season. It is also a small gesture that is not insignificant for the environment.“. The heart of the season extends more or less, depending on the climate, from April to September. As it is very rich in water, it is difficult to freeze cucumbers to eat them out of season. In addition, variety on the plate remains one of the pillars of a balanced diet, so it is best to eat several different vegetables every day.