Are kosher dill pickles good for diabetics?
What are kosher dill pickles made of?
If you’re a pickle fan, you might be wondering if kosher pickles are a good option for you. Here’s a look at what the experts say.
Kosher dill pickles are made with cucumbers that have been soaked in brine (a salt water solution). Fresh dill is added to either a vinegar brine or a salt brine along with other ingredients, to add more flavor like garlic, peppercorns, and mustard seeds .
The brine helps to preserve the cucumbers and gives them their distinctive flavor.
Does the fact that its kosher make it healthier?
The long and short of it is no.
Firstly to clear something up – whether the pickles are just dill pickles or kosher dill pickles will make no difference to a diabetic as the recipe is the same. The kosher dill pickle has simply been made in a factory under rabbinical supervision and certified as kosher. This is important to understand, as just because a food is kosher doesn’t automatically make the food healthier and diabetics of all people need to be aware of this.
Are dill pickles good for you?
So the real question being asked here is whether dill pickles are good for diabetics.
Some research has shown that soaking cucumbers in brine can help to reduce their glycemic index (GI). This means that they’re less likely to cause spikes in blood sugar levels. That’s good news for diabetics, who need to be careful about how much sugar they consume.
However pickles can be high in sodium. One pickle can have up to 1000mg of sodium, which is about half of the recommended daily intake for adults and this can be risky and since diabetics are already at a higher risk of developing heart disease and high blood pressure they should only eat dill pickles in moderation like most foods.
In general pickles are also not regarded as a food with a high nutritional value with few vitamins and minerals and as mentioned too much sodium is not good for diabetics.
Are kosher dill pickles sour?
To find out if the pickles are sour you either need to check the label. One container I looked at was the famous Eskal dill pickle. It has less than 1 gm of sugar and they are not sour but rather salty so it is very much so a personal taste – what is sour to one person may not be sour to another.
The dill herb which is added in the dill pickle recipes gives them more of a naturally sweet flavor of anise,parsley and celery! However there are many brands of dill with different seasonings and they may vary in their levels of sourness.
The well known companies that produce kosher dill pickles are – Eskal, Bubbies, Kvuzat Yavne, and Bnei Darom. Always look on the nutritional label with any food to see how much salt is added as they can vary from company to company.
Are kosher dill pickles sweet?
There are two type of dill pickles sweet and salty.
For the sweet variety sugar or honey is added to the pickling process. The sweetness of these pickles can vary depending on the recipe, but they are generally sweeter than sour dill pickles.
By far the best are the ones you cook yourself if you are a diabetic looking to have more control over your diet.
Cooking dill pickles at home is quite often the safest way to consume this delicious snack food as in that way you can regulate how much salt and sugar is added to the recipe.
But if convenience and kosher is what you are after then always look on the back of the container to see how much sugar and salt the pickles contain to be on the safe side.
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Are kosher pickles fermented?
Kosher dill pickles are fermented cucumbers that have been soaked in brine (water, vinegar, and salt) mixed with spices. The fermentation process occurs when the cucumbers are placed in a jar with the brine and spices and left to sit at room temperature for 2-3 weeks. During this time, the cucumbers will release water and the brine will become more concentrated. The fermentation process is complete when the cucumbers have shrunk in size and the brine is cloudy.
For more cooking information on Kosher Dill Pickles see https://kosherlikeme.com/our-favorite-pickles-where-to-find-them/
