By Kristen Sasonoff-
So there you are in the middle of a huge game
against Stoughton, and in the middle of the play your calf tightens up and you
go down. It is just a cramp, stretch and
drink more water and hopefully it goes away. But what if it doesn’t? Have you
ever looked into other ways to help prevent dehydration beyond your usual water
and Gatorade?
Dr. Kevin C. Miller, PhD, AT, ATC of Central
Michigan University and Harvard University may have the solution for you.
Pickle Juice. Yes, that green liquid in which pickles come. Muscle cramps occur due to an imbalance of
electrolytes and water in an athlete’s muscles. The particular nutrients that
are lost due to sweat are Sodium and Potassium. This is why when you are
dehydrated Gatorade and PowerAde taste better-they have high levels of these 2
plus sugar to help jolt your system back to normalcy. Eating a banana pre-practice or pre-game can
also help by having extra levels of Potassium ready for use. But what if it that does not seem to help you
out?
As a collegiate athlete and student Athletic Trainer
at Springfield College was the first time I had heard of pickle juice (and even
drank it daily with my teammates during 3-a-days). Since that time there have
been many studies done, but the one of significance was published in the June
2014 edition of the Journal of Athletic Training. Dr. Kevin Miller and his
colleagues induced muscle cramps with an E-Stim machine, and then had the
subjects drink either pickle juice or plain water. Those subjects who drank the
2-3 ounces pickle juice experienced less severe and shorter duration of
cramping.
There are many theories as to why this is the
case. This particular study states the
high level of Sodium (400mg/2ounces) and Vinegar are the ingredients that help
promote less cramping. The vinegar
(Acetic Acid) is vital to metabolize carbs and fat to produce energy for our
cells. The Sodium helps the balance of nutrients at the cellular level so that
the muscles contract and release the way they normally do.
So if you are prone to cramps during the season,
maybe this is the solution for you. All you need is 2-3 ounces of Pickle Juice
pre-practice or competition or during the game if cramps start to occur. Hate pickles?
A more recent study has shown the sodium and vinegar in mustard may be a
substitute. Always make sure to drink
lots of water as well.
www.natajournals.org
(June, 2014)
