Salted cucumbers are not an exotic product for the Slavic people. They can be seen in almost every home as a great snack or ingredient in a salad. There are many recipes for pickles, because they are considered not only a tasty dish, but also a useful component of the diet. They are prepared using brine in glass jars and wooden barrels. Claim that they contain many minerals and other substances that are needed by the body. Let's talk about what kind of vitamins are present in pickles and can they be used by absolutely everyone?
Calorie and chemical composition
It is very difficult to talk about the chemical composition and caloric content of products, the recipes of which exist a huge amount. If we consider the classic pickling, where, besides the cucumbers, salt, water and pepper are included, then the calorie content of the delicacy will be approximately 11-16 kcal per 100 g. This is due to the fact that during the salting the vegetable becomes more watery and loses calories. 
If other products are added to the marinade, for example, onions, currant leaves, sunflower oil or mustard, the number of calories, of course, will increase. The recipe is not recommended to add vinegar, because this spice will deprive the product of many nutrients.
If we talk about energy value given food then approximate figures on 100 g cucumbers These will be:
- proteins - 0.8 g;
- fats - 0.1 g;
- carbohydrates - 1.7 g
Did you know? Only 4 centuries ago, nation-wide festivities in honor of pickles were organized in Moscow. In the autumn, fairs were held where solemnly uncorked barrels of pickles and treated them all.
Consider the chemical composition of pickles and find out what vitamins are in favorite pickled cucumbers. Since cucumbers themselves are the main ingredient of "twists", the dish will be rich in potassium, zinc, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, nickel, rubidium, copper, iodine, and also vitamins of group B, C, E and PP. 
Cucumber remains truly unique product. Despite the fact that 98% of the green vegetable consists of plain water, it is rich in essential minerals and vitamins. For all sorts of pickles, the fermentation effect is a natural process. That is why lactic acid appears in the product. Thanks to salt, the dish is rich in sodium.
Learn how to cook salted cucumbers, what properties they have, and whether you can freeze cucumbers for the winter.
Beneficial features
Many useful properties are attributed to pickles. Scientists say that due to sour-milk components, cucumbers perfectly affect the intestines, lower cholesterol in the blood, improve appetite and speed up metabolism. The brine is not used for one century as a laxative.
Many athletes love this product for their presence. sodium. It is believed that it increases the overall tone of the body and a positive effect on human endurance, and also strengthens the bones. Cucumber contains antioxidants that can help the body to avoid the development of cancer. 
Thanks to potassium and magnesium, it is known that there is a beneficial effect on cardiovascular system, normal blood pressure. This is the prevention of thrombosis, heart attack and stroke. Iodine has a great effect on intellectual activity, and the overall composition of pickles will become an obstacle to beriberi.
Important! Doctors warn that the frequent use of a large number of cucumbers can be useful only for people who are actively and regularly engaged in physical activity.
Cucumbers, which are perfectly preserved throughout the year with the help of salting, will help to recover from winter ailments: ARVI, flu, colds. It is believed that this product has the ability to remove toxins from the body and even contributes to its rejuvenation. Cucumbers will help reduce puffiness or even get rid of it. 
Contraindications and harm
Like any food, pickles have contraindications to use. Harmful cucumbers can be for people who have diseases of the gastrointestinal tract with an indicator of acidity, gastritis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer. This is due to the fact that they increase the level of acidity of gastric juice.
Important! It is not recommended to pickle cucumbers of early varieties purchased in the store. The fact is that their skin can contain a large amount of nitrates, which are able to "react" differently to the fermentation process and become even more dangerous for the human body. If the vegetables are homemade - then salt on health!
Marinades and pickles will harm those who suffer from liver problems, hypertension, atherosclerosis. Another reason why some people should not eat pickles is a violation of the water-salt metabolism. The fact is that a high content of salt in this case may slow down the metabolism even more, and the salt itself will begin to "postpone." This will lead to muscle pain, problems in the musculoskeletal system, stiffness of movement. 
To all of the above, there is tremendous pressure on the kidneys. Also, pickles will not benefit for those who have low thyroid activity, with nephritis, gouty rheumatism, during pregnancy, as well as for any diseases in which you can not use a lot of salt. This product can be given to children only from 8-10 years in the absence of contraindications.
Learn more about cabbage harvesting methods (red, cauliflower, broccoli), the benefits and harms of sauerkraut, and how to quickly ferment cabbage at home.
What you can add and what is combined
Salted cucumbers can become an ingredient for almost any salty dish. Our ancestors have always said that this is the best snack for a festive table.
In Ukrainian, Belarusian, Russian cuisine green vegetables are surely used in Vinaigrette and Olivier. Without a cucumber salad loses its true taste. 
Often pieces of pickles are put on sandwiches. And the legendary pickle is simply impossible without this product.
Familiarize yourself with the recipes for harvesting tomatoes for the winter: green, fermented in a barrel and salted in a cold way; salted and pickled tomatoes; salad with tomatoes, "Lick fingers!" and jam.
Experienced housewives often experiment with pickles. The cucumber was added to the green borscht so that the taste was more sharp. There are a lot of salads with this green vegetable, especially those that include boiled beets, mushrooms or fresh bell peppers. It is known for its excellent combination with fish, especially with canned food. 
The savory taste of pickles will add a special charm to meat sauces. For many European nations, the combination of pickled cucumber, boiled jacket potatoes and herring is considered classic. Such products are always on hand in any home, so the festive table will be laid very quickly!
Did you know? In Russia, salted cucumber (only necessarily standing in a barrel for at least six months) was added to a special recipe for kvass, which was considered the most beloved by the nobility. For a long time this ingredient was secret, because no one could guess that it is thanks to the green vegetable that a wonderful drink is obtained.
Is it possible to eat pickles on a diet
Considering the fact of how many calories in pickles, girls who watch their figure cannot ignore this food.
Most of the existing methods and tips for weight loss allow you to add cucumbers to your daily slimming menu, but with this product, which has a fairly concentrated pickle, you need to be extremely careful:
- they are indeed very low-calorie, but, unfortunately, in connection with the formulation, they have a large amount of salt, which is characteristic of significantly retaining fluid in the human body, which slows down the breakdown of lipids;
- in the morning not to see in the mirror ugly, and most importantly, unhealthy swelling, pickles during the diet is better not to use less than 4 hours before bedtime.
That is why, answering the question whether it is possible to use pickles when losing weight, it is impossible to answer it unequivocally. If you really want to lose weight, but do not ruin your health, then you definitely need to discuss the fact of inclusion in the diet of pickles with a nutritionist.Important! Suitable for a diet or just proper nutrition are just pickles, but in any case not canned. Marinade will be very harmful not only for your figure, but also for the whole organism.
Since this product has a low calorie content and, at the same time, it has a very positive effect on the digestive processes and metabolism, a unique diet on pickles is very popular. Such an unusual technique will be effective not only for weight loss, but also for general cleansing and healing the body. Mono-discharge, which is designed for five days, is also known. 
In this case, you can use only cucumbers from cans (they are allowed to eat up to 2 kg per day) or a less fast, but more balanced and harmonious method, built on the basis of this green vegetable.
Read also about the methods of harvesting winter onions, peppers, zucchini, squash, garlic, arugula, physalis, rhubarb, celery, asparagus beans, horseradish, ceps, butter, mushrooms.
In the case of such an approach, it is recommended to add at least a slice of pickled cucumber to each of the meals, even during a late dinner, by all means diluting and enriching the “modest” diet with a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits.
However, it is worth remembering that such a "hard" diet, in which only cucumbers are included in the diet, can significantly undermine health. Before you start any diet, you should consult with a specialist. In the absence of contraindications, pickles will bring both benefit and pleasure.
