Have you ever tossed pickles into your cart, thinking they’re a healthy snack? Well, not all pickles are as beneficial as you might believe. Researchers have dug deep to separate the true health perks of pickles from the myths. They’re here to guide us on picking the healthiest pickles, understanding their real benefits, and figuring out how much we should eat daily.
Pick the best pickle
At most grocery stores, you’ll find two types of pickles: “quick pickles” and fermented pickles. Quick pickles get their sour taste from a short soak in vinegar-based liquid and are sometimes heated to kill germs and last longer on the shelf. However, the pickles you want to aim for are the fermented ones.
Fermented pickles undergo a different journey. They chill in a saltwater solution for several weeks, letting healthy bacteria on their surface turn sugars into lactic acid. This not only gives them their unique tangy taste but also gets rid of bad bacteria. Plus, eating these fermented goodies might give your gut health a boost, thanks to the live microbes they contain.
So, how do you spot these super-healthy pickles? Check the refrigerated section for jars labeled “fermented” and make sure vinegar isn’t in the ingredients list. Opening a jar of fermented pickles might even greet you with tiny bubbles – a good sign you’ve picked the right one, according to experts like microbiologist Robert Hutkins and nutritionist Frances Largeman-Roth.
Want to learn more about picking the best pickles for your health? Read the full article here.
