The next time you’re in the canned goods aisle at the supermarket and see a briny jar of Vlasic pickles, you might be looking at the cure to your future aches and pains.
Pickle juice has been gaining popularity in recent years as a drinkable beverage, with companies coming out with bottled products, some of which claim to have healing effects. (You might’ve also seen your favorite bartender serving up a pickleback—usually, a shot of whiskey and one of pickle juice. That’s a far different kind of healing altogether.)
According to at least a few scientific studies—and a fair amount of old wives’ tales—pickle juice does, in fact, have some properties that make you healthier. Per this study, the acid found in pickle juice helps cure post-workout cramps. Some football squads have been taking the findings as the gospel, with coaches having their players chug the lime-green liquid at practice.
On the nonscientific front, which you will obviously want to take with a grain of salt, pickle juice supposedly helps cure hangovers, ease the effects of heartburn, and soothe sore throats. Hell, one story even says that you can kill weeds in your garden with it.
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