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Pickle juice isn’t the first thing in people’s minds when thinking about health benefits, but it is easy to be a part of your diet as a source of many antioxidants, electrolytes and nutrients.
Remember that the next time you buy a jar of pickles, it’s not just about the pickles. Helping your body’s ability to restore itself naturally, is one of the things that the pickle juice contributes to.
Benefits of Drinking Pickle Juice
1. It Can Relieve RLS
People suffering from RLS or Restless Leg Syndrome have found that their condition improves when going to bed after drinking a few ounces of pickle juice. It is yet to be officially and scientifically studied, but there is evidence and claims that it might be worth a shot.
2. It’s Better than Sports Drinks
While for a long time, many athletes and football players have been drinking pickle juice to restore electrolytes thanks to its sodium levels, official scientific studies now confirm it. In many emergency rooms it is used for helping those with cardiac difficulties.
In just over a minute, pickle juice can begin to restore balance and relieve cramps. It’s not so much the high levels of sodium, but the fact that the pickle juice can deliver it throughout your body much faster than other sources due to the vinegar and calcium chloride.
3. Pickle Juice Contains Antioxidants and Nutrients
Being low in calories, high values of calcium and Vitamin C, packed with electrolytes, the pickle juice is an excellent and tasty way to manage weight and maintain a healthy body. Even better, due to the acidic properties of the pickle juice, your body can easily absorb the nutrients and antioxidants carried with the pickle juice.
4. It helps During Muscle Cramps
As mentioned before, the vinegar and calcium chloride in the pickle juice can help your body absorb sodium and potassium that much faster. Athletes drink it before and after activity to help treat or prevent muscle cramps.
5. Preventing Hangovers and Cover Alcohol Odor
Thanks to the many electrolytes it contains, it is a decent choice for avoiding or recovering from a hangover. Also, especially popular in underage users, pickle juice can help mask the alcohol odor on the breath.
6. It Soothes Upset Stomachs
During heartburn or an upset stomach, pickle juice isn’t the first thing on your mind if you want to calm your pain, but people are swearing that it can relieve them of the symptoms. The other choice is honey and vinegar, but you wouldn’t want to try that, now would you?
Recommended Ways to Drink Pickle Juice
These benefits sound awesome, but you picture yourself drinking pickle juice straight from the jar. That way, the taste isn’t as pleasant as it should be, so, in the following text, we will tell you how to add pickle juice to your diet without any unpleasantness.
- Drinking yogurt is great, but it can be excellent if you add several tablespoons of pickle juice. The plus side is that you won’t have much difference in the taste.
- Adding it to any marinade, or use it in combination with meat, fish or poultry.
- Mixing it with a few ounces of water after a workout. You can even make a recovery shake if you want to.
- Using it as a salad dressing is a nice idea. The salt and vinegar of the pickle juice can be an ideal dressing.
- Lastly, anywhere you think you add pickles, add the juice as well. Tuna salad, egg salad, or any other place in general where you add pickles, add the juice too.
Any Side Effects of Pickle Juice?
Just like any change in your diet, talk to your doctor first. While no serious side effects are present, depending on your situation there are some preexisting conditions you might want to look out for.
- If you or your family has a history of gout, you might cause a build-up of uric acid if you start drinking the pickle juice.
- Avoid drinking pickle juice if you are on a low sodium diet.
- Check with your pharmacist just in case for any medications you might be taking. Your doctor might give you the green light to drink pickle juice, but you might need to wait a certain amount of time after taking your medication. The medication and acidity of the pickle juice might not be a good mix.
Except these few considerations, pickle juice is a safe way to boost your health.
It is recommended to avoid pickle juice that contains preservatives and additives, such as chloride, seasonings, polysorbate 80, as these are ideal for consumption.
Other Uses for Pickle Juice
- Plants that love shade prefer acidic soil. Give them some pickle juice too. Mix two tablespoons of pickle juice with 2 and a half cups of water, add them to a spray bottle and apply it on the soil, but avoid the plant itself.
- Dipping a clean washcloth or a cotton ball in pickle juice and applying it to an irritated skin can soothe your itchy skin.