Are pickles good for you?

We all know that Pickling is an ancient food preservation technique. People can make pickles from almost any food. People preserve some pickles in fermented brine that contains beneficial bacteria, which means they can be a good addition to a healthful diet. Fermented pickles offer more health benefits than other. Even unfermented pickles are rich in vitamins such as vitamin K and vitamin A.

 

Pickles are fat-free and low in calories, except sodium they are low in other nutrients. People with high BP or cardiovascular health issues may want to avoid pickles.

The main benefit of pickles is that some pickles contain beneficial bacteria. People use brine to make pickles. Brine is water mixed with salt or vinegar which is an acid. Fermented brine contains good bacteria that may benefit for health. Fermented pickles acts like probiotics, they are protecting the body's microbiome and supporting the growth of healthful bacteria in the gut.

 

The stomach contains millions of bacteria that help the body digest and absorb food items. These bacteria may prevent yeast infections, help with constipation and diarrhea and potentially aid the treatment of chronic stomach health issues, like Crohn's disease. Fermented pickles are probiotic-rich, so they may prevent minor stomach issues and improves digestion.

Some limited research suggests that probiotics may offer other health benefits, like:

Reducing symptoms of anxiety & depression  

Reducing urinary tract infections

Managing diabetes

Preventing allergicDiseases

Treating gingivitis & cavities

Lowering the risk of some cancers, i:e; Colon Cancer

 Benefits of pickles
In addition to fermented pickles containing probiotics, pickles may offer these other health benefits:

1. Restoring electrolyte balance

Electrolytes are those salts that the body needs for healthy functioning. When a person experiences dehydration, they also lose electrolytes from body. Pickles are high in sodium so they are also high in electrolytes. Theoretically, this suggests that pickle juice might be an option for restoring electrolytes to people who are dehydrated or having illness like fever or vomiting.

2. Treating muscle cramps

Previous researches suggest that pickles may help with muscle cramps. Researchers electrically induced muscle cramps in well-hydrated men once and then again a week later. They found that participants who drank pickle juice rapidly gained relief from their cramps. They get to know that deionized water did not offer the same benefits, which means that electrolytes and hydration status alone did not explain the result. This suggests that somethingelse about pickles may help them with muscle cramps.  

 

3. Controlling blood sugar 

Pickles that consist of vinegar-based brine may help control blood glucose level. Stable blood glucose levels can help prevent intense hunger. Preventing blood glucose spikes is also critical to the health of a diabetic patient. However, people who are interested in a relatively easy way to help control blood sugar could consider eating pickles or other vinegar-rich food with meals.

 

4. Providing antioxidants

Similarly Vegetable and fruit pickles contain antioxidants. Studies in research have shown that antioxidants can counteract the effects of free radicals. Free radicals are chemicals in the body that might play a role in the development of a wide variety of health issues. These may include inflammation, cancer, heart disease and various chronic diseases. Free radicals many also contribute to the aging.