re: Dill Pickle Juice Uses

Some athletes sip pickle juice or even commercial drinks that include it as a cramp preventive.

But a July 2023 Washington Post "Ask a Doctor" column suggests that a quick shot of the juice is really how to treat a cramp. It's the reaction of the body to the jolt of the juice on the back of the throat rather than metabolizing it that does the trick.

quote:

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For cramping, athletes have long sworn by pickle juice (strained from jars of dill or kosher pickles) and other acidic substances such as mustard or apple cider vinegar. Experimental data in healthy college-aged men suggests that pickle juice inhibits muscle cramps through a reflex involving a nerve in our throats. It’s why a tablespoon of pickle brine hitting the back of the throat seemed to bring relief within seconds.

Pickle juice may also work for cramps that aren’t induced by exercise. A randomized controlled trial published last year found that a sip of pickle juice reduced muscle cramp intensity in patients with cirrhosis.

Researchers believe this improvement is due to a similar reflex that occurs almost immediately, rather than by how pickle juice is metabolized by the gut.

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It's behind a paywall, but you may be able to access it. Headline: "How to get rid of leg cramps? Try pickle juice."