Eagle-eyed football fans spotted England players drinking from a particular bottle during the opening game against Serbia, sparking doping allegations on social media. Television replays showed Kieran Trippier drinking from a bottle of juice provided by England’s backroom staff after he collapsed with convulsions, before the full-back returned to the pitch minutes later.
So what was in that jar? In fact, it was pickle juice. Yes, you heard it right. Pickle juice. But why?
What is Pickle Juice?
Pickle juice is widely used for sports cramp relief, with many anecdotal reports showing it can relieve muscle cramps within 35 seconds of ingestion. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise In investigating these effects, researchers found that pickle juice significantly reduced the duration of muscle cramps in subjects with mild dehydration.
The exact reasons for these results are still unknown, but the researchers hypothesize that pickle juice may trigger a reflex that relieves muscle spasms.
A recent study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that pickle juice can be highly effective in treating muscle cramps. The study suggested that the acetic acid in pickle juice may play a key role in reducing muscle cramps.
How to make homemade pickle juice
The ingredients in branded pickle juice are:
- Double filtered water
- Organic Vinegar
- salt
- Organic Dill Oil
- Organic Tapioca Starch
- Organic Rosemary Extract
- potassium
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- zinc
With TikTok influencers joining the pickle frenzy, does this mean pickle juice could become the next wellness trend? We wonder. Unless you regularly play sports or do strenuous exercise that gives you leg cramps, pickles are likely to replace the Big Mac.
Kate is a fitness writer. Men’s Health UK There she contributes regular workouts, training tips, and nutrition guides. She has a Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Performance Nutrition and prior to joining Men’s Health, she spent over 5,000 hours on the gym floor as a nutritionist, fitness writer, and personal trainer. Kate has a strong interest in volunteering at animal shelters, and when she’s not lifting weights in the yard, she can be found walking rescue dogs.
