Are dill pickles high in potassium?
Dill pickles are cucumbers that have been fermented in a brine made up of water, vinegar, salt and dill. While the cucumbers and the dill used to make pickles contain essential vitamins and minerals, the finished product is high in sodium. You don’t have to give up dill pickles, but they should be eaten in moderation.
Calories, Fat and Cholesterol
Dill pickles are low in calories. One dill pickle spear contains just 4 calories, and a 1-cup serving of dill pickle slices contains only 19 calories. Dill pickles don’t contain any fat or cholesterol. If you’re looking for ways to flavor your food without adding unhealthy amounts of fat, dill pickles are one option. Dill pickles might replace mayonnaise on a sandwich or burger. Replace high-fat salad dressing with dill pickle slices to enhance the flavor of a tossed green salad.
Sodium
The primary drawback to eating dill pickles is the amount of sodium they contain. The average diet includes 3,400 milligrams of sodium per day, which is far more than the 1,500 to 2,300 milligrams recommended for good health. If you eat too much salt on a regular basis, it can increase your risk of kidney disease, high blood pressure and stroke. One dill pickle spear contains 306 milligrams of sodium, and 1 cup of dill pickle slices contains 1,356 milligrams. Even if you eat just one dill pickle slice, you are still consuming 61 milligrams of sodium, which is quite a bit for one tiny pickle slice.
Nutrients
Dill pickles are made from cucumbers, which contain essential nutrients that increase the nutritional value of the finished product. Cucumbers are a healthy source of fiber, and pickling the cucumbers doesn’t eliminate the fiber. One cup of dill pickle slices contains almost 2 grams of fiber, and one dill pickle spear contains 0.4 grams. Dill pickles also contain about 0.5 grams of iron per 1-cup serving. They contain small amounts of potassium, vitamin C and vitamin K as well.
Considerations
Certain brands of pickles offer low-sodium versions, which makes them more nutritionally sound. Because dill pickles have such a bold flavor, it only takes a small serving to flavor your food. Top a burger or sandwich with just two or three slices. Replace an entire dill pickle spear with two or three slices instead. Add just 1 tablespoon of chopped dill pickles to potato, pasta or tuna salad for the intense flavor without adding a large amount of sodium. Consider making your own dill pickles, which allows you to control how much salt you add.
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are dill pickles high in potassium?
Topics: health, healthy living
Asked by gordo on February 08, 2010
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