There are two schools of thought on pickle juice: you either love it, or you hate it. Personally, I’m not a big fan when there are so many other tasty things to drink instead. However, there is something to be said for its health benefits if you can stomach the taste!
Pickle Juice Health Benefits
Yep, that’s right! Beyond just being something that the bartender serves up to you, or given to you by friends as a prank, pickle juice has many good properties to improve your health. Let’s get into them below.
Bacterial Infections in the Stomach
Know one way to get rid of infectious bacteria in your stomach? Fight it with acids! Pickle juice is highly acidic by nature and is the perfect antidote to combat the bad stuff in your gut. It also has a high vinegar and salt content, both of which are effective in fighting against stomach bacteria (discussed here). Additionally, it is high in fiber, and I don’t have to tell you what that helps with. By moving your bowels more regularly, it helps to push all the nasty infections out of your digestive system and rid your body of these toxins.
Nutrients
Drinking pickle juice is almost like taking a multivitamin, it is so packed with vitamins and minerals that you wouldn’t believe. It is a tremendous source of Vitamin C and Calcium, both of which are great in helping you lose weight. All this and a single serving of pickle juice will only add 90 calories and 0 grams of fat to your diet!
However, it should be cautioned that if you have heart or kidney issues, it may be best to stay away from this remedy, as the high amount of vinegar can exacerbate high blood pressure.
Detoxing
In addition to the nutrient value, pickle juice can also be helpful in ridding your body of toxins (alluded to above with the high fiber content). Beyond just in the gut, however, it can help rid your body of toxins all over in the bloodstream, in your organs, in your skin, etc. It is a great way to help ward off disease by boosting your immune system and has also been linked to preventing various forms of cancer.
Muscle Cramps
Who here hasn’t gone through a muscle cramp in the middle of a workout or when playing a sport? These are most commonly a result of dehydration, which causes an imbalance of sodium and potassium in our bodies when we sweat. Next time you work out, drink a glass of pickle juice before or during. Because of the salt and vinegar content, it is the perfect remedy to solve this imbalance. Call it a pre-workout drink of sorts!
So there you have it – this tasty / not tasty (depending on who you ask) isn’t just a great cure for hangovers, but also provides many health benefits. Regardless of whether you’re an athlete or just a regular Joe, all of us can achieve better health and wellness through this drink.