Health Benefits of Pickles

Are you a pickle lover or a pickle hater? There are two groups of people in this world – those who pull the pickles out of their burgers before eating them, and those who love them!

But, other than texture and taste, what is the point of eating pickles? Are there any health and nutritional benefits of eating pickles? Let’s find out!

For many people, pickles are a tasty treat. They are often used as a crunchy and tangy ingredient in sandwiches and burgers. Pickles, especially pickled cucumbers, have tons of vitamins and minerals.

People have been pickling vegetables such as cucumbers for 4000 years. Pickling is a great way to preserve and extend the shelf life of all sorts of vegetables, especially during transport. You might find plenty of pickle varieties in your grocery store, utilising various vegetables.

But for excellent pickles, make sure you choose a pickle supplier that offers top-quality, a range of choices, and optimum flavour.

Do pickles undergo fermentation?

One method of pickling is fermentation but not every pickle is fermented.

When you pickle vegetables and fruits, it breaks down the sugars. It gives fermented pickles a sour taste. The pickles will sit in the saltwater and ferment over a period of time.

Fermentation is a reason why lactose-intolerant people can eat yogurt. The beneficial bacteria in yogurt breaks down lactose sugars. These bacteria, otherwise known as probiotics, preserve the foods. It offers many health benefits for your body.

When you use the fermentation process, vinegar gives pickles a flavorful tang. Vinegar is also produced through a fermentation process. But the vinegar that is raw and unpasteurised retains the mother culture and provides beneficial bacteria. A good example is raw apple cider vinegar.

A majority of pickles on grocery store shelves are unfermented. In this case, the cucumbers are processed to steep in vinegar and spices. Add delicious pickles to your pantry and purchase from a high-quality pickle supplier. Choose from a wide range of pickled fruits and vegetables.

Health benefits

Adding fermented foods to your diet helps with numerous health issues – from reducing insulin resistance to lowering inflammation in your body. Sauerkraut, a well-known fermented food all over the world, has been known to protect against cancer. 

Pickles that undergo a fermentation process deliver the health benefits of vinegar and spices. Some even drink pickle juice for its health benefits. It can mitigate muscle cramps, aid in weight loss, and protect against diabetes.

• Pickle juice is an excellent addition to individuals following a ketogenic diet. They need additional sodium to balance electrolytes.
• Pickles can enhance your antioxidant intake. Natural antioxidants in all fruits and vegetables help protect against free radicals. Free radicals are unstable compounds that form naturally in the body. It is linked to health issues such as heart disease and cancer.
• Fermented pickles have plenty of beneficial bacteria called probiotics, which are crucial in maintaining the gut biome.
• Pickled cucumbers are exceptionally high in beta-carotene, which is a type of antioxidant. Your body turns beta carotene into vitamin A. It is a potent compound that can mitigate your risk of developing heart disease, stroke, cancer, and respiratory diseases.
• Many athletes swear that pickle juice replaces lost electrolytes. They claim that pickle juice works better than water to ease muscle cramps.
• Pickle juice may also curb sugar spikes. Juice from pickles, especially if it contains vinegar, can help balance your blood sugar levels. It benefits people who are at high risk for diabetes.

Nutritional Profile of pickles

• Pickles contain 23% of the daily recommended vitamin K. This vitamin helps in blood clotting and bone strength.
• It is crucial to get 21% to 24% of vitamin A. This vitamin helps improve vision, the immune system, and healthy pregnancy.
• Pickles also contain 7% of calcium, much needed for teeth and bone strength and maintain healthy nerves.
• Pickles can provide 5% of your daily requirement of potassium. It helps your nerves work optimally.
• You can get 3% to 4% of your daily requirement of vitamin C from pickles. This vitamin is an antioxidant that protects your cells from damage.

It should be noted that heat from cooking can damage sensitive nutrients in food such as antioxidants. But pickling raw vegetables and fruits help retain their antioxidant power.

Conclusion

Add pickles to your daily diet and benefit from healthy vitamins and minerals. Pickles are a delicious treat that can enhance any dish. Add sour and tangy pickles to kick the flavours up.

Author Bio:

Steffy Alen is a copywriter and content strategist. She helps businesses stop playing around with content marketing and start seeing the tangible ROI. She loves writing as much as she loves the cake.