Made my own Pickle Juice to alleviate cramping

[slice bh compliment]

Originally Posted by Bud

Errr. no. You take it every match when you feel a muscle twinge / cramp ...

I know, Bud. We were jus' joshin'.

My mom's a tennis player, too. She's been making this purple cabbage/carrot salad for about 30 years. We all love it. She's so heavy-handed with the vinegar, mustard seeds, honey, salt and pepper that we joke it's basically pickled.

Now thanks to this thread Bud, instead of seeing it as a side of raw veggies, I will see it as a sportsfood.

[Fugazi]

What kind of pickles should I buy to get the pickle juice? The sweet variety or the regular?

[Fugazi]

Originally Posted by spacediver

You might find this interesting:

http://sweatscience.com/pickle-juice...muscle-cramps/

also check out the stuff on baking soda:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/...rticle1776361/

One problem I have with these articles: they make it seem like not drinking at all can be a pretty good solution, and imply that cramping is only the result of low sodium. Now I'm pretty sure that not drinking will dehydrate you and lead to quick fatigue and eventually cramps...

[Bud]

Originally Posted by Fugazi

What kind of pickles should I buy to get the pickle juice? The sweet variety or the regular?

Either, depending on which you prefer. The kosher pickle juice (uses kosher salt) tastes the best, IMO.

- - -

I've been using PJ for 4+ months now and have not cramped up even one time, during or after playing. I currently play 10-12 hours (over 3-4 days) per week and use 2-3 ounces every session.

[Bud]

This stuff is like magic for any type of cramping (sports related or other).

Sometimes, I'll awaken when my feet and legs start cramping. I'll go to the fridge and take a swig of pickle juice. Within a minute the cramping is completely gone.

[Power Player]

Mustard packs too! They have saved me many times when I felt a twinge of a cramp coming.

[Bud]

^^ Yes, vinegar is the key! It just amazes me how quickly it alleviates cramping.

Sometimes, I go through periods where I'm just prone to cramping. Recently, I've been cramping right when I start playing (even during the warmup). There is no logical explanation for this, IMO as I'm not tired, dehydrated, etc. I take a swig of the pickle juice and it's gone. Then, I'll sip the pickle juice throughout the session and the cramps will stay away.

This stuff has been a blessing for me.

- - -

BTW, where can you buy mustard packets? Restaurant supply store? I've looked for them in places like Walmart or the supermarket and can't seem to find any. I'll grab a handful the next time I see them at a restaurant.

[Larrysümmers]

im a freak, sometime i drink it just to drink it

[Bud]

Originally Posted by Larrysümmers

im a freak, sometime i drink it just to drink it

Straight vinegar? or pickle juice??

Straight vinegar burns like hell going down

[volleygirl]

Originally Posted by Bud

Straight vinegar? or pickle juice??

Straight vinegar burns like hell going down

Pickle juice works and isnt as disgusting as I think vinegar would be.

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by Bud

^^ Yes, vinegar is the key! It just amazes me how quickly it alleviates cramping.

Sometimes, I go through periods where I'm just prone to cramping. Recently, I've been cramping right when I start playing (even during the warmup). There is no logical explanation for this, IMO as I'm not tired, dehydrated, etc. I take a swig of the pickle juice and it's gone. Then, I'll sip the pickle juice throughout the session and the cramps will stay away.

This stuff has been a blessing for me.

- - -

BTW, where can you buy mustard packets? Restaurant supply store? I've looked for them in places like Walmart or the supermarket and can't seem to find any. I'll grab a handful the next time I see them at a restaurant.

I go to my grocery store's deli and they have a whole bin of them so I just grab 20-25 and im set for months.

[user92626]

Sorry if my question is dumb.

When you guys mention pickle juice, I'm thinking of pickle cucumber in a jar that you put on hotdog, burger and stuffs. Is that the pickle and juice you guys are talking about? That stuff seems pretty hard to drink!

[volleygirl]

Originally Posted by user92626

Sorry if my question is dumb.

When you guys mention pickle juice, I'm thinking of pickle cucumber in a jar that you put on hotdog, burger and stuffs. Is that the pickle and juice you guys are talking about? That stuff seems pretty hard to drink!

Yep thats it and if it prevents cramps, downing 5-8 ounces is worth it.

[user92626]

Originally Posted by volleygirl

Yep thats it and if it prevents cramps, downing 5-8 ounces is worth it.

Hmm..no thanks.

I seem to be able to manage my physical pretty well that I do not get cramps on court.

[Bud]

Originally Posted by user92626

Hmm..no thanks.

I seem to be able to manage my physical pretty well that I do not get cramps on court.

Some of us aren't as fortunate

I only drink 2-3 oz. max, per session.

[RobFL]

Hey Bud, i tested this today. But i forgot the water and didn't boil it. Did an ounce of PJ with an ounce of apple cider vinegar and some splenda.
Question is, i'm not going to have the patience to boil, do you think the mix will still be effective without boiling?

[slice bh compliment]

Originally Posted by user92626

Sorry if my question is dumb.

When you guys mention pickle juice, I'm thinking of pickle cucumber in a jar that you put on hotdog, burger and stuffs. Is that the pickle and juice you guys are talking about? That stuff seems pretty hard to drink!

I think that is relish.
Pickle juice usually is the liquid left behind in a jar of whole pickles.

[Bud]

Originally Posted by RobFL

Hey Bud, i tested this today. But i forgot the water and didn't boil it. Did an ounce of PJ with an ounce of apple cider vinegar and some splenda.
Question is, i'm not going to have the patience to boil, do you think the mix will still be effective without boiling?

Did it work for you? The key is the vinegar. The reason for boiling is to dissolve the sugar and salt

[Vlad_C]

Originally Posted by Bud

^^ Yes, vinegar is the key! It just amazes me how quickly it alleviates cramping.

Sometimes, I go through periods where I'm just prone to cramping. Recently, I've been cramping right when I start playing (even during the warmup). There is no logical explanation for this, IMO as I'm not tired, dehydrated, etc. I take a swig of the pickle juice and it's gone. Then, I'll sip the pickle juice throughout the session and the cramps will stay away.

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

[Tennis_Hands]

Originally Posted by jmverdugo

This is funny, I have never in my life had cramp problems, in fact I can't remember a single time that I actually had a full cramp, sometimes - very few and usually after a couple of hours after I am done playing tennis - I feel the starting of a cramp and then change position or do something to avoid it. The funny thing is that I love to eat things with vinegar and all kind of species, since I was very little I would get home and instead of having a bowl of cereal I would make a salad with lots of vinegar on it or just stop at the grocery store and buy a jar of those canned vegetables that are preserved in vinegar and eat the whole thing watching TV, never thought the vinegar could be the reason of my cramp less life until i read here about the pickle juice. Even these days I could eat a whole jar of pickles watching TV and drink the whole juice as it was a soda or something, actually I have 2 pickle jars at the fridge, I already ate the pickles, just saving the juice

You are a frightening man.

Pickle juice is great, and what you are doing is essentially making your own fresh (pickle) juice. Sometimes, before I leave for the court, I make a salad with chopped broccoli and carrots, that I mix with some Sunflower oil, salt and A LOT of vinegar. After I am back it has been in the fridge for 3-4 hours already, so the vegetables are half marinated. It has very good effect.

Magnezium tablets (magnezium rich drinks) plus a couple of bananas during practice should do the trick, if you are not into cooking your own salads or do not have pickle juice.