I can't even tell you how many of my friends are obsessed with drinking pickle juice when they finish a jar of those crunchy bad boys. TBH, I've never personally seen the appeal of the sour liquid, and I'm mildly nauseous by the very thought of it. However, when I found out that pickle juice after a workout is a thing, I figured maybe it might actually be worth a shot (literally).
I really can't stress this enough though: Nothing sounds less appealing to me than chasing my HIIT circuit with (*gag*) pickle juice. But there's actually a lot of surprising benefits to it — so many, in fact, that I decided to suck it up and give it a go myself.
Drinking pickle juice after my workout wasn't quite as awful as I thought it would be (though my now seemingly permanently puckered mouth said otherwise), but if you're even more repulsed by the moss-tinted liquid than I am, there are so many ways you can incorporate the juice into your food for a pickle-packed, post-workout treat.
So, whether you're sneakily adding pickle juice to your tub of hummus, or you're literally taking shots to the face, here are six reasons why this unusual liquid should be making an appearance in your post-workout routine.
Apple cider vinegar is basically the holy grail of life. Need a pre-workout drink? Apple cider vinegar. Got a pimple? Apple cider vinegar. But I digress.
Anyway, pickle juice has many of the same properties as your trusty ACV, so if you're sick and tired of your usual vinegar quick fix, grab a jar of pickles instead and start chugging.
Getting a foot or leg cramp can literally immobilize you, not to mention it can ruin what would have been a killer workout.
But a 2010 study published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise revealed that pickle juice is the GOAT, as it can cure even your worst and most annoying muscle cramps. In the study, some participants were given a couple ounces of pickle juice to toss back, while others were given just water to relieve exercise-related or electronically stimulated cramps. The results showed that those who chugged the pickle juice saw relief from their cramps almost instantly, while those who only drank water had to wait longer for the pain to subside.
Seriously, drink up, fam.
If you find yourself feeling unbearably tired after exercising, chasing your workout with a shot of pickle juice can replenish the glycogen you lost while making those #gains. That basically means that the pickle juice helps to metabolize carbohydrates and fat in your body, and produces energy for your hard-working cells.
I know what you're probably thinking: "Um, I'll just stick to f*cking water to hydrate me, thank you very much."
Yes, usually, some quality H2O is where it's at to get all the hydration you need after your sweat sesh. However, if you're doing something aggressively dehydrating, like hot yoga, for example, the electrolytes in pickle juice are key to helping your body recover as quickly as possible.
Pickle juice is rich in vitamins E, C, potassium, and magnesium, which can all help to boost your immune system (you know, so you're less likely to get sick after touching those free weights that a dude just sneezed all over). Honestly, who knew that this super sour liquid could nourish your body in the best way possible?
Also, in case you didn't know, your body can lose loads of potassium when you're sweating it out, so pickle juice will help you replenish your potassium levels ASAP.
Post-workout recovery drinks are often overpriced AF. And I don't know about you, but my wallet is super pissed at me when I give in and actually buy them.
So, instead of hurting your budget, take a peek into your refrigerator and peep that pickle juice jar staring right back at you, because it just so happens to be your new post-workout BFF.
