The health benefits of pickles and their uses.
Pickles are small cucumbers also known as gherkins which are fermented in salt water
or vinegar.
These have been consumed for thousands of years in India, dating as far back as 2030
BC and have some amazing health benefits.
In today's video we will explore 17 facts and benefits of pickles, and explain how they
affect the human body.
1. Digestive Health Pickles and other fermented foods are rich
in probiotics which are important for gut health. Pickles help to boost friendly bacteria
in the gut to treat problems like diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome and constipation.
2. Nutrient Absorption Eating a side of pickles with your meals helps
your body to absorb more nutrients. The lactic acid found in the pickle juice helps your
stomach to break down foods better so that you can get more nutrients and heal the human
body.
3. Heartburn If you suffer with heartburn or acid reflux
then we highly recommend consuming more pickles, pickle juice and apple cider vinegar. Heartburn
is triggered when the stomach acid Ph. Level is too alkaline. Acidic fermented foods like
pickles and vinegar help to bring the stomach back to its normal acidity and get rid of
the burning sensation.
4. Cramps Pickle juice and pickles are one of the best
things that you can eat to fight muscular cramps and spasms. The combination of vinegar,
salt, magnesium and other trace minerals in pickles helps to relieve muscle spasms in
less than 2 minutes. This is often used by athletes and those who suffer with night cramps
in the legs and toes.
5. Menstrual Pain The same effect of pickles can help to fight
off menstrual cramps for women who suffer with heavy periods or PMS. Always look for
a good quality brand which does not contain preservatives for the healthiest option.
6. Dehydration If you are suffering with a hangover or are
dehydrated the body loses important electrolytes. Pickle juice is a great option to help restore
these important minerals to prevent vomiting and fever. Athletes often use pickle juice
as an alternative to electrolyte drinks when exercising as it works much better.
7. Blood Sugars The vinegar based juice which is used to ferment
pickles is very healthy and can help to control blood sugar levels. We highly recommend consuming
fermented foods at least 3 times per week to help the pancreas control insulin and blood
sugars. Apple Cider Vinegar is also an excellent option with similar benefits.
8. Antioxidants Because pickles are very easy to store, they
are a great option when throwing together a healthy salad. They offer a delicious flavour
and are rich in antioxidants for fighting the effects of free radicals in the body.
This can help to protect against cancer, inflammation, heart disease and many other diseases that
come as a higher risk with age.
9. Blood Clotting Pickles are a wonderful source of vitamin
K which can help to prevent blood clots and also strengthens the bones. People who have
taken a lot of antibiotic drugs may be deficient in Vitamin K so we recommend eating these
often if this is the case.
10. Mental Health Modern studies show a link between the friendly
bacteria (probiotics) that live in our small intestine and our brain. Eating pickles and
other fermented foods has been shown to relieve social anxiety, stress and tension because
the probiotics help your brain to make neurotransmitters. These make you feel good, more relaxed and
less likely to suffer with mental health problems.
11. Hiccups One of the best remedies for hiccups is drinking
1-2 oz. of pickle juice. This strong spicy flavour helps to send a shock to the vagus
nerve which helps to relieve hiccups and spasms in the diaphragm.
12. Bloating Some people suffer with bloating when they
consume healthy vegetables like salad leaves or broccoli. If this is the case, we highly
recommend switching to fermented foods like pickles, sauerkraut and kimchi. These are
much easier to digest and will help to reduce bloating, stomach pain and gas.
13. Immunity Eating fermented foods like pickles and kimchi
helps to strengthen the immune system and microbiome. The probiotics they supply are
an important part of the immune system and help to protect the body against harmful viruses
and other pathogens. They protect the lining of the intestines and act as a firewall against
invaders.
14. Skin Health Many skin conditions are linked to an overgrowth
of harmful bacteria in the gut. Eating fermented pickles and vinegar helps to fight off these
harmful microbes and restore the right balance to your intestinal flora. This can help to
improve dry flaky skin and conditions like dermatitis and acne.
15. Colorectal Cancer Colon cancer is the second leading cause of
cancer deaths in the U.S. Consuming a diet rich in healthy probiotics from foods like
pickles helps to prevent this type of cancer. More scientific research however is currently
required, yet there is more evidence being generated that healthy gut flora helps to
prevent cancer.
16. Nutrients Pickles are a great source of fibre (prebiotic),
Vitamin K, Copper, and Beta Carotene. They are also loaded with trace minerals and sodium.
17. Varieties There are many different varieties of pickles
available. Look for a brand which contains a brine made of salt and water, as this is
what creates the beneficial bacteria in the body. You can make these yourself at home
and can add different herbs and spices to make your own unique pickles.
As you can see pickles have some fantastic health benefits for the human body, especially
when it comes to digestive health.
In our other videos we discuss the benefits of many other super foods, herbs and fermented
foods.
To learn more about nutrition and herbal medicines, please see our other videos.
Thank you very much for listening, a like
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I wish you great health, wealth and happiness.