Made my own Pickle Juice to alleviate cramping

[slice bh compliment]

Pickle Juice...does it have electrolytes? Brawndo has electrolytes.

[Bud]

Originally Posted by Vlad_C

As you probably already know, in a otherwise healthy person cramping is mainly caused by a potassium / sodium / calcium / magnesium deficiency, (rather than a vinegar deficiency).

Vinegar is acid - drinking a lot of that will leave you with no teeth, stomach ulcers, and possibly more serious problems caused by an acidic blood ph.

That said, I love some cold pickles on a hot summer day.

Anyway, if you experience frequent cramps, you might want to check that with a doctor, there might be other, more serious, underlying health issues at work there.

some more info on cramps:
http://www.medicinenet.com/muscle_cramps/page2.htm

I'd suggest you read up on studies involving pickle juice and vinegar as they relate to cramping.

Originally Posted by slice bh compliment

Pickle Juice...does it have electrolytes? Brawndo has electrolytes.

It definitely has sodium

[Wuppy]

Originally Posted by slice bh compliment

Pickle Juice...does it have electrolytes? Brawndo has electrolytes.

Keep in mind that salty drinks don't "have" electrolytes, they ARE an electrolyte. An electrolyte is a substance (usually a solution) that is capable of transmitting electricity. Electricity flows through salt-water (among other things), so the entire thing is an electrolyte.

[slice bh compliment]

Originally Posted by Wuppy

Keep in mind that salty drinks don't "have" electrolytes, they ARE an electrolyte. An electrolyte is a substance (usually a solution) that is capable of transmitting electricity. Electricity flows through salt-water (among other things), so the entire thing is an electrolyte.

Yeah, but Brawndo has what plants crave?
It's got electrolytes?


What are electrolytes?
It's what plants crave. It's what in Brawndo.

(I know. this was a reference to a movie called Idiocracy)

[Wuppy]

Oh, didn't get the reference

[Bud]

I desired a brine that tasted closer to true pickle juice, so I experimented a bit with the existing recipe of vinegar, water, salt and sugar.

Here is the modified recipe

In addition, I now buy baby pickling cucumbers and cut them into quarters (4 whole or 32 quarters). I insert these into the pickle juice and I no longer have to buy pickles The cucumbers mellow the brine mixture further, for those who find it too vinegar-heavy.

^^ Use quart-size Mason or Kerr seal-able glass containers if adding pickling cucumbers.

[charliefedererer]

I'm resurrecting this thread.

Bud took a lot of time to describe the great effect pickle juice had on reducing his cramping.

Power Player apparently also has had great results preventing/relieving cramps with pickle juice.


I would love to hear how many others saddled by cramps have tried it, and what their results were.
(That is, even if it helps only a minority, it would still be a boon to them.
But I also would like to know if it works in "most", or only "some".]

[charliefedererer]

I know for the vast majority of those who suffer from muscle cramps that HOW pickle juice would work is less of a concern that it DOES work.

But for those who do wonder how pickle juice works:

"Reflex inhibition of electrically induced muscle cramps in hypohydrated humans.

Miller KC, Mack GW, Knight KL, Hopkins JT, Draper DO, Fields PJ, Hunter I.
Source
Department of Health, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108-6050, USA. Kevin.C.Miller@ndsu.edu

Abstract
INTRODUCTION:
Anecdotal evidence suggests that ingesting small volumes of pickle juice relieves muscle cramps within 35 s of ingestion. No experimental evidence exists supporting the ingestion of pickle juice as a treatment for skeletal muscle cramps.

METHODS:
On two different days (1 wk apart), muscle cramps were induced in the flexor hallucis brevis (FHB) of hypohydrated male subjects (approximately 3% body weight loss and plasma osmolality approximately 295 mOsm x kg(-1) H2O) via percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation. Thirty minutes later, a second FHB muscle cramp was induced and was followed immediately by the ingestion of 1 mL x kg(-1) body weight of deionized water or pickle juice (73.9 +/- 2.8 mL).

RESULTS:
Cramp duration and FHB EMG activity during the cramp were quantified, as well as the change in plasma constituents. Cramp duration (water = 151.9 +/- 12.9 s and pickle juice = 153.2 +/- 23.7 s) and FHB EMG activity (water = 60% +/- 6% and pickle juice = 68% +/- 9% of maximum voluntary isometric contraction EMG activity) were similar during the initial cramp induction without fluid ingestion (P > 0.05). During FHB muscle cramp induction combined with fluid ingestion, FHB EMG activity was again similar (water = 55% +/- 9% and pickle juice = 66% +/- 9% of maximum voluntary isometric contraction EMG activity, P > 0.05). However, cramp duration was 49.1 +/- 14.6 s shorter after pickle juice ingestion than water (84.6 +/- 18.5 vs 133.7 +/- 15.9 s, respectively, P < 0.05). The ingestion of water or pickle juice had little impact on plasma composition 5 min after ingestion.

CONCLUSIONS:
Pickle juice, and not deionized water, inhibits electrically induced muscle cramps in hypohydrated humans. This effect could not be explained by rapid restoration of body fluids or electrolytes. We suspect that the rapid inhibition of the electrically induced cramps reflects a neurally mediated reflex that originates in the oropharyngeal region and acts to inhibit the firing of alpha motor neurons of the cramping muscle."
= http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19997012

[charliefedererer]

I didn't realize that pickle juice was recommended by so many trainers:

"Approximately 25% (92 of 370) of certified athletic trainers advocate drinking pickle juice, which is an acidic brine, to treat and prevent EAMCs [Exercise Associated Muscle Cramps].9"
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2742453/

[Power Player]

I used pickle juice and I also bring mustard packs to the courts.

The Mustard packs I would use if I felt a cramp coming on.

I have not had to use pickel juice or mustard in a long time (thankfully).

Another thing I do is drink chicken broth. Not all the time. Maybe once a week. But it basically tastes like chicken soup and helps keep me hydrated.

[charliefedererer]

At least trying pickle juice for muscle cramping should not do any harm:

"At these volumes [3 ounces], ingestion of pickle juice and CHO-e drink did not cause substantial changes in plasma electrolyte concentrations, plasma osmolality, or plasma volume in rested, euhydrated men. Concern that ingesting these volumes of pickle juice might exacerbate an athlete's risk of dehydration-induced hypertonicity may be unwarranted."
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2742453/



(Notice the small volume - only 3 ounces - that seemed to relieve the cramp.
Thus, there are not studies that I am aware of that speaks to the "safety" of large volumes of pickle juice.)

[charliefedererer]

Originally Posted by Power Player

I used pickle juice and I also bring mustard packs to the courts.

The Mustard packs I would use if I felt a cramp coming on.

I have not had to use pickel juice or mustard in a long time (thankfully).

Another thing I do is drink chicken broth. Not all the time. Maybe once a week. But it basically tastes like chicken soup and helps keep me hydrated.

Thanks for your update.

There is another currently running thread Is Cramping Genetic http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=454316 that has brought to light that there is a subgroup of athletes who are "salty sweaters".

While that designation may sound disgusting, at least among Florida State football players, 10-15% seem to have a much higher amount of sodium in their sweat and need more sodium replacement.

Interestingly, their first line of prevention in these "salty sweaters" is to increase their use of salt in thier diet - just as you are using chicken broth.

So maybe there are three novel strategies to use for those who cramp to consider:
1. pickle juice to stop the acute cramp
2. pickle juice to prevent cramps
3. more sodium to prevent cramps


After reading the below description, do you think you are a "salty sweater"?

"IDENTIFYING SALTY SWEATERS
How do you know if an athlete is a salty sweater? The most scientific test is to use absorbent patches to collect sweat and employ specialized analyses to determine exact electrolyte losses. This is the method used by researchers. However, for athletic departments, this isn’t very practical. Fortunately, simpler methods are available.

At Florida State, we start by using our pre-participation physical exam. Since salty sweaters appear to get muscle cramps more easily, we use our questionnaire to identify athletes with a history of cramping. We also ask our athletes if they have noticed more salt loss themselves. Two simple questions can be sufficient to help identify athletes potentially at risk:

How often have you experienced muscle cramps during practice or games?
• Never
• Sometimes
• Frequently

When you sweat, does your sweat often sting your eyes or taste salty?
• Tastes Salty
• Stings Eyes
• Neither

Visual assessment can also be helpful. We’re careful to check for salt stains on practice clothing and salt on athletes’ skin during practices. Lastly, we keep records of athletes who experience muscle cramps during practices and contests and note how often they get them. Players who commonly succumb to muscle cramps, especially during two-a-day workouts or intense competitions, are flagged as salty sweaters."
- http://www.training-conditioning.com...eir_sweat.html

[charliefedererer]

"I sweat like crazy..and its salty..totally sucks man. I used to cramp so badly in my calves that I thought I would not be able to play sports at an intense level again.

Wish I could provide an answer, but all I have done is use electrolyte packs in my water and it helped.

I also take magnesium before bed. I was taking 1000 mgs. some people say that is too much. I am not sure. I dropped it to 500 to be safe, but I feel like I lose a lot more electrolytes than most people.

Knock on wood, but the cramping has gone away. I think it boils down to electrolyte management and improved fitness."- Power Player http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showt...=1#post7230216


I see you have already answered in the other thread.

Thanks for your reply and information that should be helpful to other tennis players plagued by cramping.