In this article, we will answer the question “Can you eat cucumber on keto?”, and what is the carb content of pickles?
This article also includes different keto-friendly cucumber-based healthy and hearty recipes.
Can you eat cucumber on keto?
Yes, you can eat cucumber on keto. Fresh cucumbers are low-fat, low-carb, and contain zero cholesterol. The carbohydrate content of the cucumbers by serving size is given in the table below.
Serving size | Total carbs | Net carbs |
1 Cucumber Slice (7 g) | 0.151 g | 0.102 g |
Small Cucumber 6 3/8″ Cumber (158 g) | 3.41 g | 2.3 g |
Medium Cucumber 7″ Cumber (201 g) | 4.34 g | 2.93 g |
Large Cucumber 8 1/4″ Cumber (280 g) | 6.05 g | 4.09 g |
1 Cup Sliced Cucumber (119 g) | 2.57 g | 1.737 g |
Are pickles keto-friendly?
Pickles are often fermented cucumbers and submerged in saltwater. They are a great addition to your burgers and sandwiches for a tangy punch. F
fermented pickles are full of vitamins, minerals, and aid in digestion by supporting healthy gut bacteria. Read on if you are wondering if this sodium-rich fermented food is suitable for the ketogenic diet or not.
Carb content of pickles
Raw cucumbers are very healthy for the ketogenic diet because they are very low in carbs.
However, the whole pickling and fermentation process changes the nutritional profile of the cucumbers and may add to their carb content.
A ⅔ cup (100-gram) serving of different types of sliced pickles contains the following amount of net carbs.
Type of pickle | Net carb content |
Candied | 39 g |
Bread and butter | 20 g |
Sweet | 20 g |
Dill | 1.5 g |
Sour | 1 g |
Are pickles acceptable on the keto diet?
It all depends upon the type of brand type, how the pickle was processed and what ingredients were used in its manufacturing.
Ideally, your best bet is to go with whatever brand of pickles that contains no more than15 grams of carbs per 2/3 cup (100 grams).
Always read the food label and go for lightly sweetened and forego sweetened pickles or simply stick to dill and sour pickles.
What about their sodium and lectin content?
Keto diets encourage fluid loss to bring about the desired weight loss. In this case, consuming more sodium to retain fluid is lunacy. Because high sodium intake is linked with a 9.5% increased risk of death by heart diseases.
Pickles have a high content of lectin proteins which have been rumored to impede weight loss. The jury is still out on this one and no scientific evidence supports this theory.
Our advice is to eat pickles in moderation so that you can eat more fresh fruits, veggies, and whole grains.
Keto cucumber recipes
Caprese Cucumber Salad
Toss Basil, mozzarella, shallots, and cucumbers in balsamic vinegar to make a light and nutrient-dense keto salad. This salad is rich in healthy fats and is quick to make.
Smoked salmon pate with cucumber slices
Swap the crackers for cucumber slices to make your smoked salmon pate keto-friendly. This cucumber keto recipe promises a rich omega-3 fatty acid content.
Ranch dressing with chopped cucumber, cauliflower, and bell pepper
Improvise your ranch dressing by making your own using cucumbers, dill, sour cream, chives, and black pepper.
To make this recipe keto-friendly, serve the dressing alongside crisp veggies like celery, radishes, and lettuce, etc. This combo is a powerhouse of antioxidants and micronutrients.
Cucumber dill salad
Mix cucumbers with sour cream, fresh dill, and olive oil. Add some red onions for a crunchy texture. Sprinkle some garlic salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Voila, your creamy and rich cucumber dill salad is ready. This salad is quick, gluten-free, and provides healthy fats.
Green goddess dressing with sliced cucumber and feta salad
Healthy fats come to form the olive oil and sweetness is added by monk fruit. Then this dressing is poured over sliced cucumber, torn kale, feta, and avocado. This recipe is low in carbs and provides you with plenty of antioxidants.
Spicy greek salad with pepperoncini
The low-carb greek salad is a great source of healthy fats that come from olive oil and feta. Red onion, cucumber, fresh herbs, and green veggies complete this salad by enriching it with antioxidant content.
Zesty chili lime keto tuna salad
Toss the cucumber, tuna, and chopped green onions in chili seasoning and lime juice for a spicy and tangy hint. This recipe is rich in proteins and antioxidants.
Other FAQs about Cucumber that you may be interested in.
Can you get sick from eating bad cucumbers?
Can you eat pickling cucumbers without pickling?
Conclusion
In this article, we answered the question “Can you eat cucumber on keto?”, and what is the carb content of pickles?