Which pickles are good for health

As previously mentioned, most pickles are a fermented food, meaning they're high in probiotics and good for your gut. During the fermentation process , the sugars in the vegetable are broken down and turned into lactic acid, which holds the probiotic benefits. By now, you likely know that a happy gut means happy everything: The microbiome is ground zero for not only digestion but also your immune system and even plays a major role in maintaining a healthy weight. The moral here: Adding pickles to your hot dog could just be the best thing you do for your body at a cookout.

If you stare at a computer all day, incorporating pickles into your diet could do you some good. They're high in vitamin A , which is linked to supporting healthy vision. As an added bonus, vitamin A is good for your immune system, too. Besides vitamin A, pickles also contain vitamin K , which has been connected to helping prevent osteoporosis because of its ability to regulate calcium levels. According to one study, athletes who drank pickle juice had shorter muscle cramps than athletes who drank water, due in large part to the salt.

Taking in moderate levels of sodium can help with muscle contractions. If you really want to reap the nutritional benefits of pickles, the key is to buy them refrigerated. Pickles made to be left on store shelves are typically made with vinegar, which kills most of their gut-healthy benefits. Processed pickles often include preservatives and more sodium so they last longer.

By opting for refrigerated ones, however, you'll get all the healthy benefits. Fermented pickles offer more health benefits than other pickles.

Even unfermented pickles, however, are rich in vitamins such as vitamin K and vitamin A. Pickles are fat-free and low in calories , but they are also low in most other nutrients, except for sodium.

Most pickles are high in sodium, so it is important to limit consumption. People with high blood pressure 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 an acid, such as vinegar.

Fermented brine contains good bacteria that may improve health, but only some brines go through the fermentation process. The stomach contains millions of bacteria that help the body digest and absorb food.

Fermented pickles are probiotic-rich, so they may help improve digestion and prevent minor stomach issues. Some limited research suggests that probiotics may offer other health benefits, including:. Research into these benefits is still in the early stages. Researchers have to conduct more, larger trials before there can be any certainty about the long-term health effects of probiotics.

In addition to fermented pickles containing probiotics, pickles may offer these other health benefits:. Electrolytes are salts that the body needs for healthy functioning.

When a person experiences dehydration , they may also lose electrolytes. Pickles are high in sodium, and so they are also high in electrolytes. Theoretically, this suggests that pickle juice might be an option for restoring electrolytes to people who have a fever , are vomiting, or who are dehydrated.

Free radicals are unstable chemicals that form naturally in the body and are linked to problems such as heart disease and cancer. Cooking any food can break down heat sensitive nutrients, including antioxidants. Pickling raw vegetables and fruits preserves their antioxidant power. Preserving any kind of food requires the addition of salt, and salt makes up about 5 percent of most pickling recipes.

Two small spears contain almost mg of sodium, more than one-quarter of the recommended daily limit. In addition to being a concern for most people with high blood pressure, extremely salty pickled foods may put you at greater risk for stomach cancer. A review of the research found that high-salt foods were linked with stomach cancer risk, along with beer and hard liquor. One way to control the amount of sodium in pickles is to make them yourself.

Pickling, by way of fermentation or a saltwater brine, has been used for thousands of years to preserve food beyond the growing season. Usually, pickling recipes call for salt, white vinegar, and seasonings, such as dill and mustard seeds. In parts of Asia, oil is also used.

While cucumbers are most common in North America, around the world all kinds of fruits and vegetables, and even meats, are pickled. You can pickle cucumbers, carrots, cauliflower, beets, cabbage, and more. All you do is pour hot, salted vinegar and water over the top, let cool, cover, and let them soak a couple days in the refrigerator. Homemade pickles are often called quick pickles or refrigerator pickles.

People are even drinking pickle juice. As part of our Men's Health Best Foods for Men series, we tested 22 jars, from the indies to Vlasic and Claussen, and these are the winners.

Nutrition note: Pickles are basically a zero-calorie food. Make these your go-to snacking pickle. Find them at: Whole Foods, Target, or Instacart. These fat disks taste like a mash-up of sushi ginger and bread-and-butter pickles.