After Kieran Trippier went down injured in England's opening game of the Euros, the defender stretched his leg out and necked a sachet of… pickle juice.
The latest wellness trend "might sound disgusting", said the BBC, but Gareth Southgate's Three Lions are using it to "combat cramp in players" this summer – and they are not alone.
What is pickle juice? The "unpalatable-sounding" drink is "similar to the liquid inside your jar of pickled onions or gherkins", said The Times. But the "tart tipple" has many benefits "if you can stomach it".Â
It can be more than "leftover brine", said Florence Cherruaultis, founder of The Pickle House. Her signature Original Pickle Juice is brewed for 18 weeks with sliced cucumbers and spices, and promises to be "both sweet and savoury".
Due to pickle juice's high salt content, it's recommended to drink no more than around 80ml, said the Daily Mail, but the "strong flavour" works well mixed with fruit juices and bitters for a mocktail.
How does it work? The biggest benefit for athletes is that pickle juice has been found to stop cramping 40% faster than drinking water.Â
Although the juice contains sodium, potassium and vinegar, which could replace the salts athletes have lost, it is "actually something different which makes it effective", said the BBC. When drunk, pickle juice "triggers a reflex in the mouth which sends a signal to stop muscles from cramping".Â
So although the "salty potion" might "sound a bit bonkers", said the Daily Mail, there is a "method to the madness".
It is also low in calories and contains vitamin C and potassium. The "other thing it provides is a dose of probiotics, the healthy bacteria that can improve gut health", sports nutritionist Rob Hobson told The Times. All of this is making pickle juice popular in sport and beyond.
Who uses it? It has been used in tennis for some time, with Wimbledon men's champion Carlos Alcaraz knocking it back during his five-set victory over Novak Djokovic last summer. And the BBC said as far back as 2019 that athletes were "turning to an unusual drink" to "boost performance". |