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Alexandra Murcier (Freelance dietician-nutritionist)
Spicy pickled cucumber: this is the recipe that has been all the rage on TikTok for several weeks, causing a major shortage of this vegetable in supermarkets. A dangerous excess for consumers? We asked Alexandra Murcier, dietician-nutritionist, the question.
In Icelandic supermarkets, cucumbers are in short supply. A recipe that went viral on TikTok has caused a drastic drop in stocks. But while this vegetable has become a must-have for many residents, what are the risks of excessive consumption? Answer.
Cucumber salad causing national shortage
It all started with a TikTok video where we see a young Canadian – Logan Moffitt – preparing a salad of marinated cucumbers, in a plastic container, based on sesame oil, garlic, rice vinegar and chili oil. A recipe that was a huge success, to the point of causing a shortage of cucumbers in supermarkets.
However, health experts around the world are concerned. While the influencer claims that “Sometimes you just have to eat a whole cucumber” (a priori, to be happy), this overconsumption is not without consequences.
“The high water and fiber content of cucumber can cause digestive upset if consumed in large quantities.“, warns Carolina Schneider, American dietitian, in the Daily Mail.
“This is because fiber stimulates intestinal transit and, for some people, especially those who are not used to a diet rich in fibersthis can lead to bloating, gas or even diarrhea” she says.
Comments confirmed by our dietician-nutritionist, Alexandra Murcier.
“Eating too many cucumbers, like other raw vegetables, can be harmful to people with irritable bowel syndrome or for those who are sensitive to cause bloating, flatulence due to a high fiber content” she confides.
NO to diets, YES to WW!
50 grams of cucumbers maximum per day
Cucumbers are certainly good for your health. However, you should not overdo it, explains Alexandra Murcier.
“Cucumber is an inexpensive food, easy to use, which may explain this craze, but it does not have any “extraordinary” properties.s,” she says. Besides, it is better not to consume it to excess.Ideally, over a day, we should consume 50% raw vegetables to preserve vitamin intake and 50% cooked vegetables to preserve digestive tolerance.“, concludes the expert.
Slideshow: The eight health benefits of cucumber