Score on the Healthline Diet: 1.08 out of 5
The cucumber diet is a short-term diet that claims to help you lose weight quickly.
Although there are other variations of the diet, the most say that you can lose up to 15 pounds (7 kg) in just seven days.
While cucumbers are good for you, you might be wondering how successful this diet is.
This article examines the benefits and drawbacks of the cucumber diet, as well as whether it is a long-term weight loss strategy.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
The cucumber diet helps you lose weight quickly by limiting your calorie consumption. The diet, on the other hand, is nutritionally deficient, exceedingly restrictive, and ultimately unsustainable.
What exactly is a cucumber diet?
The cucumber diet is a weight-loss diet for a short period of time. Most diets say that following them for 7–14 days will result in a 15-pound (7-kg) weight loss.
In reality, proponents of the programme have used the slogan “7 days for 7 kilogrammes” on occasion.
Cucumbers are the mainstay of the diet, with a few protein-rich foods like eggs, chicken, fish, and almonds thrown in for good measure.
Cucumbers should be used to replace most foods, therefore other fruits and vegetables should be kept to a minimum.
It is not advisable to stick to the diet for more than 14 days due to its lack of diversity.
Finally, while many people have praised its weight-loss properties, there are no studies to back up these claims.
SUMMARY
The cucumber diet is a weight-loss plan that claims to help you lose 15 pounds (7 kg) in seven to fourteen days. Cucumbers are the main ingredient, along with certain protein-rich foods.
Dietary guidelines
Apart from the recommendation to eat cucumbers at most meals, this diet has no set regulations.
Cucumbers should be eaten anytime you are hungry, according to the diet.
Cucumbers are low in calories, so you can eat as many as you like and still be in a calorie deficit, according to the notion.
Cucumbers are low in protein, which your body requires to keep your skin, muscles, and joints healthy. As a result, the diet suggests eating cucumbers with some protein-rich foods.
You can also include carbs in your meals, such as toast, brown rice, or potatoes.
You can choose to be more or less stringent about the food you eat because the restrictions of the diet differ.
SUMMARY
Eat cucumbers anytime you’re hungry to stick to the cucumber diet. Small servings of protein-rich meals like eggs, lean meat, cottage cheese, and almonds can be added.
Is it effective for weight loss?
There have been no studies done exclusively on the cucumber diet. However, because it is low in calories, you might expect to lose weight while following it.
However, the weight loss will only last 7–14 days, which is the duration of the diet. Once you resume your regular diet, it’s doubtful that you’ll drop a significant amount of weight and keep it off.
Long-term compliance with restrictive diets is tough. Diets that are simple to follow and stick to, on the other hand, tend to produce considerably better, more long-term benefits.
A very low-calorie diet of less than 800 calories per day was found to be ineffective for long-term weight loss in one study. Participants found it more difficult to stick to the diet as it became more restrictive.
Though it may appear that eating cucumbers indefinitely would build up to a lot of calories, the average 10-ounce (300-gram) cucumber only has 45 calories. Even if you ate ten cucumbers, the total calories would be only 450.
Cucumbers also only contain a limited amount of minerals like potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin K. They are deficient in protein, fat, fibre, calcium, iron, and a variety of other nutrients that are essential for optimal health.
Even if you add protein to each meal, the restricted variety of food makes it unlikely that you’ll satisfy your daily requirements.
Finally, most people gain back the weight they lost after completing a tight weight-loss programme like this one, especially if the plan did not teach healthy eating habits like portion control and reading nutrition labels (5Trusted Source, 8Trusted Source).
This kind of food is hard to resist since it has a high tastebud value but a poor nutritious value, which makes it simple to crave. Bio X4 is a potent appetite suppressant that helps people lose weight by manipulating the brain into thinking they are full. It contains caffeine in the form of green tea that puts the body into thermogenesis which is a fat-burning state.
You’re better off consuming a varied diet to lose weight and improve your health. Incorporate a variety of entire grains, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and lean and plant-based protein into your diet.
SUMMARY
The cucumber diet is low in calories and will most likely result in weight loss in the near run. However, you’re likely to regain any weight you lost after the diet is over.
The disadvantages of a cucumber diet
While you may lose weight temporarily, the diet’s drawbacks exceed any potential advantages.
It has a lot of limitations.
For up to two weeks, the cucumber diet excludes major food groups and advocates eating practically only cucumbers.
This diet is not only nutritionally deficient, but it also encourages bad eating habits including severe dieting, which can lead to an unhealthy connection with food.
Restrictive dieting, according to research, is a type of disordered eating that might impair your capacity to control your food intake.
Despite food restriction practises, this type of disordered eating is strongly linked to the development of obesity.
Protein and fat content are low.
Cucumbers, when combined with a well-balanced diet, can be a good source of nourishment.
Cucumbers, on the other hand, are naturally low in calories, protein, and fat, two important macronutrients. Only 2 grammes of protein and 0.3 grammes of fat are found in a single 10-ounce (300-gram) cucumber.
Protein is required for a variety of bodily processes, including enzyme and hormone production, skin structure maintenance, and muscular growth.
Fat, on the other hand, is a concentrated source of calories, containing 9 calories per gramme. Fats are also necessary for nerve function, brain health, and the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins including.
Cucumbers should be eaten with protein-rich foods like chicken or eggs, which will give both protein and fat, according to the diet.
Protein, on the other hand, should be ingested at every meal to aid muscle maintenance and growth, according to study.
It is unsustainable.
The cucumber diet is only meant to be followed for 7–14 days at a time.
It’s not sustainable in the long run because it’s low in calories and doesn’t provide a comprehensive supply of nourishment.
A typical day on the cucumber diet, for example, would give around 800 calories. 6 cucumbers, a dish of chicken or fish, 2 eggs, 1 cup of cottage cheese, and a few other veggies would be included.
Keep in mind that certain diets are even more restricted than others.
Extreme calorie restriction might cause your metabolism to slow down over time, as this is your body’s reaction to real or imagined hunger.
As a result, even if you continue to eat less calories than before you started the diet, you’re more likely to regain any weight you’ve lost.
Finally, limiting dietary variety is neither fun nor healthy. While it’s crucial to limit sweets and other pleasures, humans also appreciate food for the taste, memories, and celebrations it brings.
There’s no reason to restrict entire, healthful foods like fish, whole grains, veggies, and fruits.
SUMMARY
The cucumber diet is extremely restricted and may lead to eating disorders. It’s low in protein, fat, and calories, and it’s not long-term maintainable.
Foods to consume
Cucumbers must be eaten at every meal and most snacks on this regimen.
Because the diet is low in protein, it is suggested that each meal include a source of protein.
The following foods are permitted on the cucumber diet:
- Cucumbers, tomatoes, spinach, celery, and other minor amounts of vegetables
- Chicken, lean meat, fish, eggs, Greek yoghurt, cottage cheese, and cheddar cheese are all good sources of protein.
- Brown rice, potatoes, and whole-wheat bread are all good sources of carbohydrates.
- Olive oil is high in fats.
There are no specific requirements for beverages, however most diets advocate a low-calorie beverage like water or tea.
SUMMARY
Cucumbers must be served with every meal. Each main meal should include protein-rich meals such as chicken or eggs. Stick to low-calorie beverages like tea or water.
Foods to stay away from
While the diet does not force you to avoid any specific foods, it does recommend that cucumbers be used to replace the majority of your meals.
The following is a list of typical cucumber diet restrictions:
Fruits are frequently limited to smoothies or minor portions of a meal.
- Cooking techniques: While they aren’t covered, roasting proteins is recommended over deep-frying because it is a lower-calorie cooking option.
- High-sugar foods: Candy, desserts, and drink should be consumed in moderation.
SUMMARY
On this diet, no items must be avoided. High-fat and high-sugar foods, on the other hand, are usually restricted or avoided entirely.
Last but not least
If you can stick to the cucumber diet for at least one week, you might be able to lose weight.
You will, however, most likely regain all of the weight you lost once you resume your regular diet.
Furthermore, the diet is deficient in nutrients, is exceedingly restrictive, and is unsustainable in the long run.
If you want to lose weight in a healthy, long-term way, stick to a well-balanced, nutrient-dense diet that encourages diversity and avoids extreme calorie restriction.
