Now and then, sports medicine and performance analysis throws a real curve ball. A bolt from the blue that even the mere mention of, would have most people advising you to visit your local physician at the earliest given opportunity.
But in the ever-more crowding market of sports fluids, one unlikely thirst quencher has rocketed itself straight to the top of the elite athlete's wishlist.
After some handy product placement from Lucas Torreira and French tennis starlet Frances Tiafoe during the past week, everyone is talking about the surprising benefits attributed to the previously humble, swig of pickle juice.
Yes, pickle juice!
Is PICKLE JUICE the next wellness craze? Stars and sportsmen are drinking vinegars to curb cravings and boost digestion https://t.co/R3CXDAHhFV
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) January 25, 2019
So where does it all this wisdom come from?
Well, in a recent study by medical journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise the white coats were able to conclude that the salty brine worked more efficiently to stave off the effects of muscle cramp than water. Cramps occur for many different, but the most common include dehydration and muscle fatigue.
Tied up in the whole dehydration debacle is the depletion of sodium from the body - salts for the lay person - and one of our key electrolytes, alongside potassium.
That's where your friendly bottle of pickle juice comes in, working to restore the sodium balance lost in the body during strenuous exercise, and with a bit of potassium thrown in for good measure, it sets you on your way on that end too. But that's not all.
The acidic vinegar supplements pain relief, contains antioxidant qualities, and keeps blood sugar levels in check.
Added bonus alert! It's fat-free, it's cheap and it kills off bacteria that causes bad breath - very important when scoring on field at 4, and in the club at 8!
A word of warning however, keep consumption to a minimum. Given the salt content, anymore than a 1/3 of a cup may quickly get you into problems.
It's been one of sports best kept secrets, but expect to see pickle juice on a field near you soon!
