Although pickle juice does a lot more than just add flavor to your side dishes, many people still don't use it that often. They always ask, "Is pickle juice good for you?" The history of cucumber is quite old and actually goes back to 2030B.C. The juice may not be that great in the past when there was little knowledge about preserving cucumber. Things have changed today. The good thing is that pickle juice offers numerous benefits; in fact, some transcripts show that Cleopatra claimed pickles really helped her maintain her beauty.

What's in Pickle Juice?

Made from cucumbers, dill pickles are the most popular types available around the world. You have to soak whole cucumbers in brine made up of salt and water for a specific period to prepare dill pickles. The juice of pickles will offer certain health benefits because it is loaded with all those electrolytes that your body needs, as well as sodium. It also contains the probiotics produced due to the lactic acid fermentation process of pickles.

Is Pickle Juice Good for You?

You may however still be wondering about the exact benefits you get by using pickle juice. Here's more about it.

1.   Hangover Cure

Have you drunk more than you could handle in the party last night? That's no problem. Just drink some pickle juice, which will help hydrate your body by replenishing your sodium levels.

2.   Post-Workout Cure

As mentioned already, pickle juice is a perfect source of electrolytes that you often lose by pumping iron in the gym. The juice also contains vinegar and sodium that you need after you sweat heavily. Not only is it beneficial after workout, it improves your performance when enjoyed before a workout session.

3.   PMS Remedy

It has sodium and magnesium, so it really works amazingly well to hydrate your body and reduce cramping. It will also keep the salt cravings in check when women are menstruating.

4.   Heartburn Relief

It is quite interesting to see how vinegar becomes so effective when in pickle juice. Normally, vinegar triggers heartburn for many people, but it actually soothes it when it's in pickle juice.

5.   Others

The combination of vinegar and salt also makes pickle juice great for eliminating bacteria from your system. It helps treat bacterial infections in your stomach. It also has several antioxidants, so it plays a role in reducing your risk of cancer and heart disease.

Some Questions About Drinking Pickle Juice

You may have gathered the idea that the answer to the question, "Is pickle juice good for you?" is in "Yes!" but what about the following questions?

Can you drink it during pregnancy?

Yes, you can. You just need to balance it out with water. It means that if you're drinking half cup of pickle juice, you should make sure you're drinking 8oz glass of water. This will help settle the sodium and not change your blood flow. Not drinking enough water may lead to swelling in your ankles.

Are there any side effects with drinking pickle juice?

There aren't any real issues reported for drinking pickle juice, but you may want to avoid it if you have a history of gout because too much of pickle juice can lead to the accumulation of uric acid in your joints. Consuming too much may also lead to certain side effects. For instance:

• Digestive Upset: Consuming too much pickle juice may upset your digestive tract, causing diarrhea, flatulence, and abdominal discomfort.
• Bloating: Water retention and bloating are other common side effects of drinking too much of pickle juice. Dill pickles are more harmful in this case because they contain high amounts of sodium. The high sodium intake will make your body to retain water, which will cause noticeable swelling.
• Hypertension: Excessive use of pickle juice may lead to hypertension or cause a temporary spike in your blood pressure. You may want to limit the use of pickle juice if you already have a family history of hypertension.
• Increased Kidney Workload: Consuming too much of pickle juice may increase the workload on your kidneys because your kidneys will have to work more to get rid of excess salt.

More Ways to Have Pickle Juice

You may have found the answer to the question, "Is pickle juice good for you?" you may want to know different ways to have pickle juice without experiencing any side effects at all. Here is more about what you can do.

• Mix it to egg salad, sweet potato salad, bean salad, etc.
• Mix it into yogurt (sheep, goat, or vegan sesame) to prepare delicious veggie dip
• Add to marinades for chicken, fish, etc.
• Use it in place of vinegar in your salad dressings