Can Drinking Pickle Juice Actually Relieve Muscle Cramps, or Is That a Myth?
When it comes to strange home remedies, drinking pickle juice might just top the list. Some athletes swear by it. Others cringe at the thought. But the real question is: can drinking pickle juice actually relieve muscle cramps, or is it just another fitness myth?
Let’s separate fact from fiction—and maybe discover why your favorite tangy brine might be more than just a sandwich sidekick.
Where Did This Idea Come From?
Pickle juice has been part of the sports world for decades. It first gained major attention in the early 2000s when football players were seen downing it during hot games to combat cramps and dehydration.
The logic seemed simple: muscle cramps = dehydration and electrolyte loss, and since pickle juice is salty and contains vinegar, it must help… right?
Well, yes—and no.
The Science: What Does Research Say?
Several studies have looked into this, and the results are actually surprisingly positive—but not for the reasons you might think.
✔️ It’s Not (Just) About Electrolytes
While pickle juice does contain sodium and small amounts of potassium, it’s not nearly enough to fully replenish electrolytes after a workout. So why does it work?
👉 It may act neurologically, not nutritionally.
A 2010 study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that pickle juice relieved muscle cramps 40% faster than drinking nothing—and significantly faster than just water. But the interesting part? It worked before the fluid had time to be absorbed into the bloodstream.
That suggests the relief might come from a neurological reaction: the vinegar or briny flavor stimulates receptors in the mouth and throat, which then send signals to the nervous system that help stop the cramping.
In short: it may “trick” your nerves into relaxing the muscle.
So… Is It a Myth or Miracle?
For Complete Cooking STEPS Please Head On Over To Next Page Or Open button (>) and don’t forget to SHARE with your Facebook friends
ADVERTISEMENT
