Pickles are loved by each and every person because of their tangy and juicy taste. But do you think there are various significant health benefits of pickles? One of the most important factors about pickles is that they are fat-free and contain low calories but still contain high nutritional and mineral value.
An average serving of pickles has a high sodium content, which is around 457 milligrams per 100 grams. This is 20% of the required sodium intake. Moreover, pickles contain various health bacteria that play an essential role in digital and gut health. In this blog post, we will understand various significant health benefits of pickles and the benefits of pickles during pregnancy.
Nutritional Profile of Pickles
Pickles, like most vegetables, are primarily water with minimal fat and protein content. They are rich in vitamins, as the salty brine draws water from the cucumbers, concentrating their nutrients.
The nutritional value of pickles varies by type. For instance, a whole dill pickle offers:
- Vitamin K provides around 20% of the daily recommended intake, supporting blood clotting and bone health.
- Calcium contains about 6% of the daily value, which is essential for strong bones, teeth, and healthy nerves.
- Potassium offers roughly 2% of the daily requirement, aiding in proper nerve function.
- Vitamin C supplies 3%–4% of the daily value, acting as an antioxidant to protect cells from damage.
- Vitamin A contributes 1% of the daily value, important for vision, immune health, and a healthy pregnancy.
- Additionally, pickles contain phosphorus and folate. Cucumber pickles are a particularly good source of beta-carotene, an antioxidant linked to a reduced risk of chronic conditions like age-related macular degeneration and type 2 diabetes.
If you prefer a smaller serving, a 1/2 cup of sliced sweet bread and butter pickles provides:
- Over 3% of the daily value of Vitamin A
- Around 33% of the daily requirement of Vitamin K
- Approximately 4% of the daily calcium needs
- About 2% of the daily potassium requirement
Here you can read more about The Nutritional Advantages of Organic Pickles.
Health Benefits of Pickles
Here are some main health benefits of pickles, which are discussed below:
Healthy Digestion
Pickles have good bacteria, which enhance your gut health and help to break down complexes like carbohydrates, proteins, etc. Probiotics are responsible for preventing overgrowth of harmful bacteria and microbes. Read of the article on How Organic Pickles Improve Digestion?
Prevent Diseases
Cucumber pickle is rich in beta-carotene, which is an effective antioxidant that gets transformed into vitamin A. This process reduces the risk of various chronic diseases like stroke, cancer, and heart disease, as Vitamin A is essential for robusting your immune system. Involving cucumber pickles in your diet will enhance both taste and nutritional value.
Remedy of Muscle Cramps
Pickle juice is getting attention for being a potential remedy for muscle cramps. The reason behind this is that it can rapidly restock electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium, which play a vital role in the functioning of muscles. A small study also concluded that this pickle juice is better than water for relieving muscle cramps. However, evidence for this conclusion is limited.
Maintain Sugar Level
Vinegar is an essential component of every pickle, which is known for its sugar-maintaining effects. According to food research, vinegar slows down the absorption process of glucose in our body. This property of vinegar could be particularly beneficial for individuals who are at risk of developing diabetes. By helping to curb sugar spikes, vinegar may improve insulin sensitivity and overall metabolic health.
Keep you Hydrated
Various essential minerals are present in pickles, like sodium and potassium, which are responsible for balancing electrolytes. This combination of minerals will help to keep you hydrated and maintain water content in your body.
Benefits of Pickles During Pregnancy
Pickles are not only used to satisfy cravings during pregnancy but also have potential health benefits. These are some key benefits of pickles during pregnancy:
Balance Electrolytes
During pregnancy, women require more electrolytes than usual. Pickles have a significant quality of salt and minerals like potassium and sodium, which can satisfy body requirements.
Healthy Digestion
During pregnancy, women become choosy towards food. Pickles help to digest complex food components and enhance healthy digestion by producing healthy bacteria.
Fight free Radicals
Unlike cooked foods, various food components are preserved. Pregnancy makes the woman’s body more sensitive, which attracts various free radicals. These various antioxidants present in pickles make the body strong and help the immune system fight any free radicals.
Robust Immunity
There is a huge variety of pickles of different fruits and vegetables, such as Mango Pickles and more. pickles can provide minerals like calcium, iron, and potassium, which are important for various body systems like the immune system, digestive system, etc. The most suitable example for this is Amla pickles, which are known to be high in Vitamin C.
How to Include Pickles in Your Diet
Each pickle has its own unique taste and unique components. Different types of vegetables and fruits are available in the form of pickles. So, try to mix different types of pickles with different types of food.
Par your basic food with different types of pickles; for example, serve mango pickle with khichdi and paranthas; try placing green chilli pickle with salad, etc.
Choosing diversity and having different types of probiotics in your diet can enhance your immunity and overall gut health.
Conclusion
There are many health benefits of pickles and therefore you should consider involving different types of pickles in your diet. Pickles are not only used for taste but also contain nutritional value for multiple health problems. For pregnant women, pickles can provide essential electrolytes, help in digestion, and boost immunity. The antioxidants in pickles can help protect against harmful free radicals; on the other hand, the vitamins and minerals can support the health of both mother and baby.
Consider Hitkram authentic 100% vegetarian traditional pickles. These pickles are purely handmade and made with traditional recipes—no artificial colours and flavours.
