New research into the cramp reducing qualities of pickle juice has been commissioned at Central Michigan University.
The research is being supported by a Texas-based pickle company that wants to test its particular pickle brine recipe for cramp reducing qualities.
Kevin Miller is the researcher at Central Michigan University behind the new study. He said he was tapped by the company for his long history of studying the impacts of pickle juice on reducing cramps.
“It does seem to work. We’re trying to figure out why it works. We have some really good evidence that it’s not because of the sodium ingestion.”
Miller said it was once thought that cramping was due to deficits of things like sodium - and that pickle juice was helping replenish the body.
He said his early research has shown that it takes too long for the sodium in pickle juice to replenish the body and make any difference.
It’s possible, Miller said, that the impacts of pickle juice are neurological.
“If the mechanism is occurring in the mouth then you potentially might even be able to swish the pickle juice in your mouth and then just spit it out. But that is untested and needs to be clarified in the future.”
Miller said he will start testing the effects of the pickle company’s specific brand of brine later this month.
Long term, Miller said he hopes to conduct a study that will look into how, exactly, pickle juice is helping to relieve cramps.