Key Takeaways
Because vinegar affects nerve receptors, pickle juice might stop muscle cramps faster than water. Pickle juice may also help ease menstrual cramps.Pickle juice is high in sodium, so it should not replace water.
Research suggests that pickle juice may stop cramps faster than water due to its vinegar content, but not because it changes hydration or electrolyte levels. One theory is that vinegar stimulates nerve receptors in the mouth, signaling the brain to calm the cramping.
Pickle Juice May Ease Muscle Cramps
Muscle cramps are the result of continuous, involuntary contractions of a muscle group, a single muscle, or specific muscle fibers. They can be brief, lasting a few seconds, or stretch into minutes, but they’re painful and quite common in sports.
“Muscle cramps from physical activity usually happen suddenly, often due to dehydration, overuse, or mineral imbalances like low potassium, sodium, magnesium, or calcium,” Yasi Ansari, MS, RDN, CSSD, a National Media Spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told Verywell.
One study found that pickle juice actually stopped cramps an average of 49 seconds faster than water. However, blood tests showed that neither the pickle juice nor the water had much effect on electrolytes (charged minerals such as sodium and potassium) or hydration levels within five minutes.
“The theory is that it activates nerve receptors in the throat and mouth that send a signal to the brain, helping calm the muscle cramp and release it through a neuromuscular reflex—and it’s thought that it’s specifically the vinegar content in the pickle juice that does this,” said Ansari.
Pickle Juice May Help With Menstrual Cramps
Menstrual cramps are different from muscle cramps. These typically present as recurring lower abdominal pain that can radiate to the lower back.
A hormone-like substance called prostaglandin makes the uterus contract, causing muscle pain and inflammation. Higher levels of prostaglandins are often associated with more severe menstrual cramps. During menstruation, fluid and electrolytes are lost, potentially worsening cramps if they’re not replenished.
Replenishing electrolytes like potassium, magnesium, sodium, and calcium may help reduce some of the cramping, said Mary Adeli Lynn, DO, an associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Loyola University Medical Center.
A loss of sodium, in particular, can lead to uncoordinated muscle contraction and increased pain, said Lynn, so pickle juice could potentially help.
Although different mechanisms in the body cause menstrual cramps and muscle cramps, Ansari added that the vinegar-triggered reflex in the throat may also help reduce menstrual cramps.
Is Drinking Pickle Juice Safe?
Pickle juice has about 70 milligrams (mg) of potassium and 18 mg of vitamin C, but it’s also high in sodium. Eight ounces of pickle juice contains about 35% of the daily value, so it’s not recommended for people on a low-sodium diet, said Ansari.
While it can be useful to stop the occasional cramps, it shouldn’t replace water or carbohydrates.
