If you're the type that can't help sneaking into the kitchen at night and snacking on a
few pickles, we have great news for you! That juice? It's actually really good for
you! Keep watching for why you should take a long gulp of that pickle-flavored goodness.
Green juice made with nutrient-dense spinach, kale, cucumbers, or celery
is all the rage. But pickle juice is another green juice — that requires
no juicing — that you should be drinking every day.
Of course, just the thought of pickle juice can make a mouth pucker. While most people
toss the juice and the jar once the pickles are gone, you might want to reconsider.
Athletes have been drinking pickle juice since before it was hip, using the liquid to help combat
leg cramps. Today, it's gone mainstream, and you can find pickle juice in just about everything.
You can also drink pickle juice in various proprietary blends of sports drinks on supermarket
shelves. It's clear that pickle juice is here to stay, and researchers and consumers alike are
putting the question to the test: What happens to your body when you drink pickle juice every day?
Pickle juice is a pretty simple drink. It's made with three ingredients:
cucumbers, water, and salt. Cucumbers contain a natural probiotic that lives
on the cucumber's skin and aids in the fermentation process.
The pickles you buy at the store are made just a little differently — manufacturers generally
remove this bacteria and replace it with vinegar, creating what is commonly called pickle juice.
That said, pickle juice is a green goddess of a drink. When consumed on a regular basis,
pickle juice is touted for helping to boost your immune system, aiding in digestion,
and combating muscle cramps. It's also known to help with rehydrating after exercising,
control blood sugar, relieve period cramps, help with weight loss, serve as a cure for the common
hangover after a night out with friends, and even sweeten and combat bad breath.
It's worth noting that some of these claims
still require scientific research to back their validity.
Potential imbibers of pickle juice should also be aware that they'll ingest a lot of sodium.
There's a good chance you'll find it's worth it. Drinking pickle juice after a
strenuous workout has long been a natural remedy to guard against muscle cramps,
as well as other aches and pains. It's no wonder we all crave pickles!
"Unable to control their cravings, have evolved and created tools to get at the pickles."
According to a study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise in 2010,
pickle juice works better than water to relieve debilitating muscle cramps. The pickle juice helps
restore the electrolyte imbalance from dehydration and can do so 45% quicker than drinking no liquid.
Speaking of dehydration, have you ever wondered why women crave pickles when they're pregnant?
Turns out, it probably has something to do with experiencing morning sickness and not being
hydrated. Our bodies crave this salty beverage because we need to restore lost electrolytes.
That's why pickle juice is becoming a go-to drink for the masses as well as hardcore athletes in
their efforts to rehydrate and recover. While more research is needed, Stacy Goldberg,
a nutrition consultant who has worked for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons,
told Sports Illustrated in 2019 that just because there isn't a lot of research yet,
that doesn't imply that it's not super effective.
Of course, sports drinks aren't the only beverages that include pickle juice;
there are plenty of cocktails that incorporate the salty mix.
Martinis, Bloody Marys, and picklebacks all use a little brine.
It's worth noting that pickle juice can also be a godsend when you're on the
other side of drinking and nursing the once-in-a-blue-moon hangover. In fact,
according to The Recipes Project, Russians have been using pickle juice to help combat
the effects of drinking too much alcohol for centuries.
They may not have understood the science behind their hangover remedy,
but they certainly knew that it made them feel better,
thanks to the hydrating capabilities from the brine's rich electrolytes.
No matter how you enjoy it,
pickle juice does have health benefits — as long as you can stand the salty taste.
Check out one of our newest videos right here! Plus,
even more Mashed videos about the healthy kitchen hacks are coming soon.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the bell so you don't miss a single one.