How Drinking Pickle Juice Benefits Health

Reduces Muscle Cramps

Muscle cramps often occur during or after exercise as a result muscle straining and overuse. While fluid and hydration have an effect on the ability of the muscle to contract and relax, the nervous system plays an even stronger role in it. Alpha motor neurons present in the spinal cord and brain stem are responsible for communicating the messages of when to contract and relax to the muscle. Muscle fatigue during or after exercise causes the activity levels of the alpha motor neurons, resulting in a sustained state of contraction, otherwise known as muscle cramping.

Pickle juice reduces muscle cramps because it contains a good concentration of vinegar, which contains acetic acid and pickle juice its noxious taste. This is important because this taste has shown in research to stimulate a specific type of reflex that happens in the back of the throat. This certain type of reflex is effective at reducing the activity in the hyperactive alpha motor neurons. Because the cramping occurs from the alpha motor neurons being too active, the relaxation of the muscles will occur with a decrease in activity of the alpha motor neurons.