4 Surprising Health Benefits of Drinking Pickle Juice

In order to perform at your prime, start pumping your body with juice. No we don’t mean steroids, or even your kale and spinach blend — we’re talking about pickle juice! You’ve probably never considered that the juice you generally discard (except those rare occasions when you get persuaded to take a ‘pickleback’ shot) could actually be beneficial to your health. However, this juice boasts many functions besides a chaser to your whiskey. Read the surprising ways this green juice can keep you from getting into a pickle with your health.

1. Pre-workout enhancer 

While pickle juice may not be the obvious choice for a go-to fitness beverage, many athletes swear by its performance-enhancing effects. According to the The National Institute of Health, ingesting high-sodium drinks like pickle juice can enhance thermoregulation and athletic performance. To avoid any possible stomach irritation, make sure you drink this a few hours before your workout, and balance it with plenty of water.

2. Post-workout recovery 

Trainers and athletes have long relied on this post-exercise pick-me-up. Since pickle juice is packed with sodium, potassium, and magnesium, it’s a better option for replenishing electrolytes than any sports drink on the shelves, reports The Huffington Post. Not only is it the ideal way to refuel after a tough workout, but it can alsoreduce muscle cramping. One study published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise found that men who downed pickle juice were able to stop their muscle cramps 37% faster than drinking water, and 45% quicker than with no liquid at all. Some scientists believe the secret lies with the vinegar, which could potentially signal nerve reflexes that stop the cramping. Whatever the reason, it couldn’t hurt to add some extra green juice to your diet.

3. Heartburn relief

While this one may seem counter-intuitive considering vinegar can actually cause heartburn for some people, pickle juice can also be a great way to relieve acid reflux, according to the People’s Pharmacy. While this folk remedy isn’t backed by any major scientific research, vinegar has been shown to help reduce the negative effects of heartburn. So if you’re looking for an at-home fix, give dill juice a shot.

4. Hangover cure 

You know the feeling. Those morning when you wake up seriously regretting all of those extra drinks your buddies convinced you to chug. Head pounding, stomach churning, the works. The hangover feeling is generally caused by serious dehydration that results from over-doing the alcohol. To remedy the post-booze blues, your body needs a ton of liquids and a way to retain them. That’s where your new friend Mr. Dill steps in. Downing some pickle juice after a night of downing drinks will help your body replenish its reduced sodium levels. Combining this with water will help you get hydrated quicker and get on with your day sooner.