Cucumber is a must-eat superfood to fight obesity! Nutritionist Xia Ziwen: "This" is the key ingredient, don't eat it at the wrong time

In the hot summer, it is best to eat a plate of cold cucumber dish, which is both appetizing and goes well with rice! The benefits of cucumbers are not limited to this. From a nutritional point of view, the key to cucumbers helping to lose weight is that in addition to having the characteristics of general fruits and vegetables such as low calories, high water content, and satiety, more importantly, its unique ingredient "succinic acid" can prevent fat production. Therefore, cucumbers can be called an "anti-obesity superfood."

Cucumbers have many benefits and are popular for preventing obesity

According to the foreign health website FITNEA, among all types of vegetables, cucumbers rank fourth in the world in terms of planting area. They are rich in nutritional value and have many benefits to human health. They are known as "superfoods." Among its many health benefits, the most interesting to women is helping with digestion and weight loss, and they have even developed the "cucumber weight loss method" based on this.

"FITNEA" reported that cucumbers are rich in fiber, which can promote digestion, assist in the treatment of chronic constipation, eliminate stool, and help lose weight; they contain hormones that balance insulin secretion and are beneficial for improving diabetes; a compound called "cucumber sterols" can promote cholesterol balance and prevent hyperlipidemia. Moderate supplementation of the above nutrients can not only prevent the three high diseases, but also reduce the risk of obesity and metabolic syndrome.

The real reason why cucumbers have become the secret weapon for people who want to lose weight may be the "succinic acid" they contain.

Cucumber's key to weight loss: succinic acid

Xinguang Hospital nutritionist Xia Ziwen said that compared with other vegetables, the fiber content of cucumbers is not high, and the water content is similar to that of green beans, bitter melon, gourd and even leafy vegetables, accounting for more than 90% of the whole. Although it can promote gastrointestinal motility and increase satiety, if it is to help lose weight, it may be limited in effect like other vegetables.

The real reason why cucumbers have become the secret weapon for people who want to lose weight may be the "succinic acid" they contain. Nutritionist Xia Ziwen said that fat is composed of glycerol and fatty acids, and sugars can be converted into α-glycerol phosphate and fatty acids after metabolism. However, the unique "succinic acid" in cucumbers has been proven by studies to inhibit glycolysis and reduce fat formation, making it a good helper for weight control.

Eat cucumbers to control weight, no more than 100 grams per day

Since the function of succinic acid is not to "metabolize fat afterwards" but to "block fat production beforehand", if you want to rely on eating cucumbers to help control your weight, it is more suitable to eat them as an appetizer or side dish with a meal. And because breakfast is metabolized quickly, it is recommended to eat cucumbers at lunch or dinner time to better maintain the effect of preventing fat production.

However, if you want to control your weight in the long term, you cannot rely on a single diet. You should consume a variety of fruits and vegetables and a balanced intake of the six major types of nutrients to promote the normal functioning of physiological functions and lose weight healthily without burden. Nutritionist Xia Ziwen reminds that although cucumbers have the effect of controlling weight, the daily intake should still be limited to 100 grams.