Do pickles offer any health benefits?

Do pickles offer any health benefits?

In India, an Indian Summer is simply not complete without the tangy and spicy taste of "aam-ka-achaar," or mango pickle. Pickling is considered a culinary art in India, with an array of seasonal produce pickled, from mangoes, lemons, and gooseberries to jackfruit and lotus stem. This practice requires years of experience and is traditionally carried out by the older women of the house, who are responsible for slicing, sun drying, and preparing the magical masala mix for pickles. Each pickle is a reminiscence of childhood and the rich Indian food tradition, and a lesson in preserving seasonal produce all year round. So recently, Tifola, the best tiffin service in gomti nagar Lucknow, has included pickles in their tiffins diet.

Pickling is a process that dates back to 2030 BC and was initially necessary to ensure food availability during months of shortage, such as winter or for sailors and warriors in need of easy-to-store food. Each country has its own version of pickles, with the most common methods being salt-water brine or vinegar-brine. The health benefits of pickles come from the pickling process, where lactic microbial organisms develop and turn naturally occurring sugar in the vegetables and fruits into lactic acid, which prevents bacterial growth and preserves the food. The lactic acid in pickle juice can help improve gut health, aid digestion, and treat dehydration.

In addition to India's traditional spices and oils, other countries have their own unique pickling traditions. For example, Koreans have kimchi, Eastern Europeans have sauerkraut, and Middle Eastern and Italian cultures pickle olives and peppers. Consuming pickles in moderation can help improve overall gut health and digestion.

What are the health benefits of pickles?

If pickles are not already a part of your diet, you may be interested in the health benefits they offer. Fermentation is a form of predigestion that breaks down complex nutrients into simpler ones. Though the fresh aspects of an ingredient may decline during natural pickling and fermentation, it transforms into an enhanced version with different qualities than the fresh version, although one is not a replacement for the other. Here are some of the positive effects of eating pickles daily:

• Fermented and pickled foods are a good source of probiotics. We need both prebiotics, which are fibers, and probiotics for gut microbes to flourish. Studies suggest that emotional, digestive, and mental health are interrelated. The probiotics in pickled foods improve the good bacteria in our bodies and also make the environment challenging for harmful bacteria to flourish. This process enhances immunity and suppresses inflammatory issues.
• The pickling process restores and preserves the antioxidative capacity of ingredients. The acidic content of pickle juice helps the body absorb nutrients better. Some studies have shown that pickles contain antioxidants that can counteract the effects of free radicals. Pickles are also considered a good hangover remedy. Pickle juice balances electrolytes and helps restore sodium levels while masking bad odor.
• Athletes claim that pickle juice helps with muscle cramps and serves as a low-cost post-workout drink with electrolytes to help the body restore all the sodium lost as sweat through a workout. However, due to its acidity with vinegar, it's recommended to consume in moderation to avoid stomach issues and get the benefits of pickles the right way.
• For women suffering from Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), pickles can help ease symptoms and, in some cases, help regulate hormones and alleviate cramps.
• One of the many benefits of eating pickles is that it helps control the symptoms of diabetes. Pickles are rich in fiber. Including fiber and probiotic-rich pickles in your diet lowers the risk of diabetes. Additionally, vinegar, which is also a part of pickling, is found to control blood glucose levels.
• Pickles are a good source of vitamin A, K, potassium, phosphorus, and folate. Dill pickles or the popular cucumber pickles are packed with beta-carotene, an antioxidant that reduces the risk of many chronic diseases.
• Studies suggest that pickles could possibly aid weight loss. Vinegar in pickles helps lower the rate at which the digestive system absorbs carbohydrates. This controls the insulin drop that triggers hunger while keeping energy levels stable. Another reason could be that pickles like cucumber have a high water content that helps you feel full for longer.

Tifola has added pickles to its menu plan not only because of the taste aspects, but also because of the health benefits it'll bring to the consumers. Tifola, the best tiffin service in gomti nagar Lucknow, cares for its consumers. Pickles can boost your intake of antioxidants. The natural antioxidants found in all fruits and vegetables help in the fight against free radicals. Free radicals are unstable chemicals that form naturally in the body and are linked to problems such as heart disease and cancer. Thus there are many benefits iof having pickle as a part of your diet.