Pickles with many varieties such as beetroot, cabbage, beans, cauliflower and garlic are extremely useful, but it is necessary to eat them in the right way!
Pickles are also extremely useful for health when made at home in a glass jar and with favorable conditions. But due to the high content of salt, it should not be eaten every day and in excessive quantities.
Experts say that in healthy people, the consumption of pickles 2 days a week, a maximum of one cup, will suffice. Because consuming more salt or salty foods than the kidneys can handle can raise blood pressure and cause high blood pressure. In addition, kidney damage due to excess salt can develop.
Nutrition and Diet specialists recommend that people with high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney failure and stomach diseases consume pickles in a highly controlled manner because they contain high amounts of salt.
So what are the benefits of pickles on our health when made under favorable conditions and consumed in a controlled manner?
What are the 7 benefits of pickles?
1- Pickles support the immune system
Pickles consisting of vegetables and fruits contain many vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that strengthen the immune system. Nutrition and Dietary experts state that consuming of different vegetables provides more benefits because it increases the antioxidant diversity taken into the body;
“The most important of these is pickled beetroot, which is rich in polyphenols and betalan, and sauerkraut, which is obtained from glycosinolat substance. Due to their high antioxidant variety and capacities, you can create a shield against colds by consuming pickles made from these vegetables.”
2- Pickles keep blood sugar in balance
When fermented foods are consumed together with meals, they provide a more controlled blood sugar by balancing the release of insulin thanks to the vinegar contained in their content. However, if you have diabetes and accompanying blood pressure and kidney disease, consuming pickles can be a risk for you, so you need to be in control of the amount of consumption.
3- Good for muscle cramps
Another important benefit of pickles is that they support the rapid replacement of lost liquids and minerals. It also has a relaxing effect on muscle aches with vinegar. The paper, published in an academic journal called Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise, reported that 1/3 cup of pickle juice was good for muscle cramps in dehydrated male athletes.
4- Helps with weight control
Since pickles contain a high amount of fiber, especially when consumed with food, the time it takes for nutrients to leave the stomach slows down, so the feeling of satiety persists for longer. It is stated that vinegar derived acetic acid in pickles also prevents fat storage in the body, “It also helps those who want to lose weight because it is effective against both low calorie and constipation.”
5- Supports cancer prevention
Each of the vegetables used to make pickles is rich in a separate antioxidant. Antioxidants react with free radicals, preventing them from damaging cells. Pickles also fight against free radicals with their antioxidant effects, thus supporting cancer prevention.
Flavonoids found in pickled garlic, beets and cauliflower have a high antioxidant capacity. Therefore, diversifying instead of consuming a single pickle allows the intake of different vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
But beware!
According to a paper published in the European Journal of Cancer, foods with high sodium content were found to be associated with stomach cancer. Nutrition and Dietary experts remind that the amount is very important in the consumption of pickles, and says, ” People with stomach problems should eat them very carefully.”
6- Protective against cardiovascular diseases
Nutrition and Dietary Experts point out that pickles also have a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases in healthy people thanks to the antioxidants, vitamins and minerals contained in them. Due to the high salt content of pickles, people with blood pressure problems should avoid the consumption of pickles, because blood pressure can increase blood pressure in patients too much, which damages the structure of the vessels.”
7- Important for regular functioning of the intestines
House pickles, which are made only with vinegar and salt, which do not contain preservatives, fermented (which ensures the continuity and growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestinal flora), are also important for the intestines. This is because it contains probiotics, which are intestinal friendly bacteria. This protects the microbiota, in other words, intestinal health. The health of the intestinal flora is extremely important for regular bowel movements.
Pickles made from high fiber vegetables and fruits with these effects; by increasing the volume of feces, it contributes to the more comfortable excretion of metabolic waste from the body, it is also useful in the problem of constipation.