Cucumber

What are the benefits of eating cucumbers?

Cucumbers contain important nutrients and antioxidants but have few calories and no fat. A single 11-ounce cucumber contains 62% of the amount of Vitamin K the FDA recommends in a daily diet and also contains Vitamin C, magnesium, potassium and manganese.

Cucumbers contain two grams of fiber and can help promote regularity, while the high water content helps with hydration. The mix of antioxidants found in cucumbers can help prevent the accumulation of free radicals. Cucumber also may help regulate blood sugar and aid in weight loss.

Can I eat cucumber seeds?

Yes. Cucumber seeds are soft and nutritious, so most people can easily chew and digest them. The skin is also fully digestible, making the cucumber entirely edible.

Some people with digestion issues or sensitive stomachs might want to remove the seeds, which can easily be done by cutting a cucumber in half lengthwise and lightly scraping a spoon or knife down the center.

How many calories are in a whole cucumber?

A large, whole cucumber that's approximately eight inches long and weighs about 11 ounces or 300 grams contains about 45 calories. The circumference of the cucumber can affect the calorie count, so cucumbers that are wider in the center or thicker than average may contain slightly more calories. Cucumbers are such a low-calorie food that even extra-large vegetables don't contain many calories.

Is a cucumber a fruit or a vegetable?

Cucumber is considered a vegetable, mostly because of the way it's used in cooking, but technically the cucumber is a fruit. Cucumbers grow from flowers and contain seeds, which classifies them as a fruit along with other fruits we consider vegetables like tomatoes, eggplant, squash and bell peppers.

How many carbs are in 1 cup of cucumbers?

One cup of sliced cucumber contains about 3.8 grams of carbs.