With the warm weather here to stay, we still have hydration on the mind! As we were writing about yogurt on Monday, we spoke about electrolytes.
That started a conversation about salty foods and how they may or may not help you. And that sparked a debate about pickles. Some are so salty they can make you want a glass of water. But salt can help you stay hydrated, and cucumbers are filled with water. Before the internet, it would have been a debate without an easy conclusion. Now, learning about how pickles impact hydration is as simple as a Google search.
The straightforward, fast answer was yes. The sodium, potassium and magnesium in pickles aid hydration. And cucumbers are mostly water. What we were surprised to learn about was the benefits of pickle juice.
Many people with blood sugar concerns know that vinegar may help lower the risk of blood sugar fluctuation. The vinegar in pickle juice may also help control appetite and boost the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut.
Remember, a cup of pickle juice can have a third of your daily sodium. If you are on a low-sodium diet, pickle juice might not be a good fit for you. However, the sodium, potassium and magnesium can help you rehydrate after working out! It contains much higher levels of electrolytes than a sports drink. If you are someone who has never liked sports drinks because of their sweet taste clashing with the salt, pickle juice might be a better fit. But you may want to water it down, because you can get too many electrolytes.
One sort of silly, but still useful, benefit is that it may freshen your breath. It sounds counterintuitive, as pickles are sour! Vinegar and dill have antibacterial properties. They can kill the bacteria in the mouth that cause bad breath.
Naturally fermented pickles contain probiotics to add to your microbiome. “Probiotics are helpful bacteria that live in your gut. They help with things like metabolism, overall health, digestion and fighting illness,” said registered dietitian Beth Czerwony. “Probiotics help keep your gut microbiome in balance.”
Because of its high levels of electrolytes, pickle juice is almost like a super sports drink. It’s excellent if you are extremely dehydrated from a hard workout or being out in intense sun. But, for most people, water or milk is probably a better option because of the sodium. You can dilute it with water if you like the taste and want the other health benefits. But you may also want to speak to your doctor before adding it to your routine to be safe.
