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The Surprising Health Benefits of Pickle Juice
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Research suggests there might potentially be perks to sipping this salty beverage. Here are a few.
1.Pickle Juice May Aid in Exercise Performance
Pickle juice is rich in sodium, an electrolyte (a mineral that carries an electric charge) thatS key for maintaining the body’s fluid levels. Since sodium is lost through sweat, you should replace it during exercise – especially if your workout is longer than 60 minutes or takes place in a hot, humid habitat.
“Some experts believe pickle juice may help endurance athletes who need extra sodium without added sugar during exercise,” says EA Stewart, RDN a registered dietitian-nutritionist and the founder of Spicy RD Nutrition in San Diego.
On the othre hand, research hasn’t found that pickle juice is particularly effective in improving exercise performance.
Pickle Juice May Ease Muscle Cramps
Pickle juice may reduce muscle cramping (a sudden tightening of a muscle). This effect is ofen credited to the juice’s sodium content, since sodium is an electrolyte. But there seems to be more going on here. Pickle juice also contains acetic acid, which may stimulate a receptor in the throat that triggers nerves to “release” cramps, per a study.
Not all research agrees with this finding.One review concluded that both pickle juice and water can be effective for relieving exercise-induced muscle cramps.
2. Pickle Juice May Contain Antioxidants
Research finds that the juice portion of pickles themselves contain compounds like phenolic acids, which have antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.