Cucumbers on Keto: Why cucumbers will help with starting Keto

Cucumber is mostly made up of mostly water and otherwise mostly very low in essential nutrients protein and fat. They consist mostly of carbohydrates.

1 large cucumber with peel (280g) contain 8.76 gram net carbs and 45 kcal of calories.

1 large cucumber, peeled (280g) contain 4.05 gram net carbs and 34 kcal of calories.

Peeling the cucumbers before eating would help reduce the carbohydrates, up to 30% of it is concentrated in the skin. Peeling the cucumbers also remove a lot of the antinutrients which is used to protect the cucumber that is concentrated in the skin. These antinutrients will block absorption of nutrients in our body making us unable to use them.

Cucumbers are relatively low carbs compared to other vegetables and are fine to eat while losing weight. You will still need still need to consider the total carbohydrates combined with other vegetables but adding cucumbers is an easy way to add variety to your diet with minimal effect.

Cucumbers come packaged as 97% water with the full range of essential minerals which help hydration and reduce cravings that are related to mineral deficiencies, which you can tell when you have strong snack cravings even after a meal.

Cucumbers are a good source of Vitamin C, which is an essential vitamin with a range of functions including acting as an antioxidant. Antioxidants help reduce and prevent inflammation in the human body which in turn will reduce depressive symptoms, improve mood and sense of well being.

Other vitamins and nutrients include vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, fat soluble vitamin K and vitamin E and choline. Vitamins and minerals are essential as they are the co-factors for chemical reactions for energy production in the mitochondria in all our cells. Maintain our body’s mineral status will help us prevent fatigue.