Are pickles good for you? Pickles are a good, fermented snack or food and it has been shown through studies to improve inflammation and insulin resistance as well as improve digestive health.

There are natural antioxidants in fruits and vegetables and pickles being in that category can help boost your antioxidant benefits. Antioxidants help with fighting off radicals which helps to reduce the risk of a lot of chronic health diseases.

Are pickles good for you? iStock-photo credit: domnicky

One pickle contains the following nutrients:

  • Calories- 4
  • Carbohydrate- .8 grams
  • Fiber- .3 grams
  • Sodium- 283 mg
  • Protein- 0.2 grams
  • Sugar- .4 grams

One of the negative things about eating pickles is that it is high in sodium. In fact, two small spears contain about 600 mg of sodium which is more than one quarter of the recommended daily limit. A benefit to drinking pickle juice is it can help relieve cramps because it restores electrolytes, and this is based on a 2010 research study.

One of the reasons why it is a great weight loss food is because it is low in calories so you can eat two or three and become full without it making a significant increase in your daily caloric intake.

Fermented pickles are probiotic rich foods that can improve digestion and gut health. Pickles are considered a probiotic snack or food in case you decide to want to rely on food over supplements for your probiotic intake.

The most important thing about eating pickles is to consume it within moderation because of it being high in sodium. People that have high blood pressure or cardiovascular health issues may want to avoid eating pickles.

When a person is dehydrated after a strenuous workout, pickles are a great recovery snack to eat because of the high electrolytes it provides from the salt. Pickle juice is also an option to eat for someone that has vomited because of how much it dehydrates you. It is a great recovery snack if you are dehydrated to help replenish fluids that you have lost.

The Bottom Line is pickles are a healthy snack to eat provided you eat it within moderation. It is high in sodium and that is why you want to consume it with moderation. Some of the benefits are positive gut and digestive health, weight loss, etc.

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References

  • Miller KC, Mack GW, Knight KL, Hopkins JT, Draper DO, Fields PJ, Hunter I. Reflex inhibition of electrically induced muscle cramps in hypohydrated humans. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2010 May;42(5):953-61. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181c0647e. PMID: 19997012.
  • Fang X, Wei J, He X, An P, Wang H, Jiang L, Shao D, Liang H, Li Y, Wang F, Min J. Landscape of dietary factors associated with risk of gastric cancer: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Eur J Cancer. 2015 Dec;51(18):2820-32. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2015.09.010. Epub 2015 Nov 14. PMID: 26589974.
  • Raak C, Ostermann T, Boehm K, Molsberger F. Regular consumption of sauerkraut and its effect on human health: a bibliometric analysis. Glob Adv Health Med. 2014 Nov;3(6):12-8. doi: 10.7453/gahmj.2014.038. PMID: 25568828; PMCID: PMC4268643.