Although, cucumber isn’t particularly high in protein, it has a pretty decent protein content, as compared to other macronutrients. Actually, approximately 24% of calories of cucumber come from protein!
How much protein do we need?
The recommended daily intake of protein for most people is 0.8 g per kg (2.2 lbs) of body weight.
Only active people who work out regularly require more protein. In fact, people with minimal, moderate, and intense physical activity should get at least 1.0 g, 1.3 g, and 1.6 g of protein per kg (2.2 lbs) of body weight, respectively.[1,2]
For instance, an 80 kg (177 lbs) person with moderate physical activity should get approximately 100 g of protein a day, while a 59 kg (130 lbs) person who follows a sedentary life requires only 59 g of protein.
Protein deficiency is rather unlikely, though. People who consume adequate amounts of calories and follow a well-balanced diet, probably consume more protein than they need.
What’s the protein content of cucumber?
Cucumber is low in protein. It has only 0.59 g of protein per 100g. It may seem that the protein content of cucumber is pretty low, but, about 24% of its calories come from protein!
Actually, cucumber is particularly low in calories. It has only 10 calories per 100g! Even a large cucumber has no more than 30 calories! In fact, cucumber contains negligible amounts of protein, carbs, and fat.
A small, medium, and large cucumber has about 0.93 g, 1.2 g, and 1.65 g of protein, respectively.[3]
Cucumber pickles have a slightly lower protein content, as compared to fresh cucumbers. They have only 0.5 g of protein per 100g.
Health benefits of cucumber
Regular eating of cucumber is good for you.
First, cucumber is pretty low in carbs and sugars. Therefore, even people with diabetes can consume it regularly. Moreover, cucumber is keto-friendly. It’s great food for people who follow a ketogenic diet.
Certainly, cucumber is great for weight loss. It’s low in calories, but high in fiber. It has a great satiating effect, helping us consume fewer calories in a day.
In addition, cucumber hydrate the body. It’s almost 97% purified water, Furthermore, cucumbers contain electrolytes, such as potassium as well as essential minerals like iron. Besides water, we also have to replenish electrolytes. Especially, during the summer, when we sweat a lot.
Most noteworthy, cucumbers have a cleansing action within the body. They help remove old waste materials, chemical toxins, and heavy metals.[4,5]
Common foods high in protein
First, meat, poultry, fish, dairy, and eggs are excellent dietary sources of high-quality, complete protein.
People who follow a plant-based diet can get adequate amounts of protein as well. Beans, nuts, seeds, whole-grains, and vegetables contain protein.
But, people who follow a plant-based diet should consume a wide variety of foods. Most plants lack one or more essential amino acids. So, we have to combine them to consume all essential amino acids.
Thus, athletes and active people who have higher protein needs could benefit from taking a high-quality plant-based protein powder. You’ll find a wide variety of plant-based protein powders on Amazon.
