When you finish jars of savory, sweet, or spicy pickles, you might wonder what to do with the remaining juice. If you exercise frequently or play sports, drinking it may provide you with benefits that improve your performance and overall health. Here's a look at why athletes should consume more pickle juice. 

Why Is Pickle Juice Good for Athletes?

1. Replenish Lost Fluids & Electrolytes 

Rigorous physical activity causes the body to lose fluids via sweating, which may lead to dehydration. Pickle juice contains sodium, which can help the body replenish lost fluids and rehydrate more quickly after strenuous workouts, games, and marathons. Pickle juice also contains electrolytes like potassium and magnesium, which balance body fluid levels to ensure proper hydration. 

2. Increase Energy Levels 

Vinegar contains acids that preserve the pickles by decelerating the decaying process. Acetic acid assists with the Krebs' cycle, which is a metabolic process that provides energy to cells and assists with aerobic respiration. This means drinking pickle juice can give athletes more energy and increase stamina during workouts and games.

3. Ease Cramps

Athletes often experience muscle cramps during training sessions or games, possibly as a result of dehydration, electrolyte loss, or improper form. Drinking pickle juice can reduce the duration of cramps by 49 seconds compared to drinking water. Though medical experts don't know exactly why pickle juice has this effect, it's possible that the fluids, sodium, or vinegar may send messages to the muscles that stop contractions and promote relaxation. 

4. Lower Body Temperature

Ingesting pickle juice combined with water can increase plasma volume in the blood, which slows down the amount of time it takes for the body's core temperature to rise during strenuous physical activities. This can prevent you from overheating and allow you to exercise for longer amounts of time before you need to stop and cool down. 

Enjoy the health benefits of pickle juice by purchasing products from Pops' Pepper Patch, Inc. Located in Louisville, KY, they provide spicy pickles, including juice sold separately by the gallon, along with artisanal condiments to clients throughout the U.S. Call (502) 523-6154 to place an order for small-batch gourmet products and visit the website to browse their inventory of spicy pickles, hot sauces, and chutneys.