As per the reports provided by USDA, the nutritional value of 52 gms of cucumber with the peel consists of an adequate amount of potassium, Vitamin C and K. The detailed nutritional quotient of approximate 50 gms of cucumber is:
It is found that a half-cup of chopped cucumber contains almost 1.9 gms of carbohydrates. In addition to this, it includes 0.3 gms of fibre and 0.9 gms of natural starch. Furthermore, cucumber contains a moderately low glycemic index with a level of 15, which indicates that the consumption of cucumber will not increase the sugar level in the blood.
Cucumber shows a high concentration of water and the presence of Vitamin C and K and other minerals. Around 50 gms of cucumber contains 8.5 mcg of Vitamin K and 1.5 mg of Vitamin C. In addition to this, it has 76.4 mg of potassium and small amounts of magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, Vitamin A, etc.
One of the primary health benefits of cucumber is it helps in weight loss management. Cucumber has an extremely low fat content, with only 0.1 gms in 52 gms of cucumber. The amount of fat it contains is in unsaturated form and helps to improve the level of cholesterol.
Approximately 50 gms half-cup of unpeeled, sliced cucumber has roughly 8 calories, whereas a whole cucumber which is generally 300 gms in weight, will have around 45 calories. It is for this reason cucumber fits well in the low-calorie diet.
Cucumber has a very low amount of protein and is hence not applicable to those who want a protein diet to gain muscle. For this reason, cucumbers are added to a chicken or Mediterranean salad, which are some heavy protein food items. Adding cucumber to the salads adds extra freshness and crunch, which makes it more appetising.