Better than a PowerBar?
It’s happened to us all at some point. You’re out for a jog when… Wham! You get bum-rushed by a charlie-horse.
Plenty of theories exist as to the source of this phenomenon. Dehydration. Low sodium or potassium levels. And the solution to all of the theoretical causes has traditionally taken the form of an electrolyte brew.
But a new study suggests that it may be caused by plain old ordinary fatigue. And the cure may be even more ordinary still.
What a Pain
Dr. Kevin Miller is the author of two studies on the subject. In the previously mentioned study, he and his research team initially induced cramps in the big toes of study participants. Participants then proceded to bike until they began to show signs of dehydration. The team then again induced the toe cramp, the working theory behind the experiment being that the dehydrated participants whould cramp more easily than when hydrated. However, the results didn’t bear that out.
In a separate study, the researchers measured the duration of toe cramps caused by electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve. They then re-induced the cramps (noticing a pattern?) but, this time, gave participants either 2.5 ounces of either deionized water or pickle brine. For the participants who were given the brine, symptoms abated after only 85 seconds – approximately a 45% decrease from previous measurements, and 37% faster than those drinking deionized water.
A Dilly of a Pickle
The results from the latter study would seem, at first, to support the traditional view that dehydration and electrolyte depletion cause muscle cramps. However, Dr. Miller noted that the reaction having happened within the first 85 seconds would mean that the fluids wouldn’t have had time to even leave the participants’ stomachs. This, combined with the results of the subsequent study, led Dr. Miller to the conclusion that some component of the pickle brine lead to, “a neurally mediated reflex that… acts to inhibit the firing of alpha motor neurons of the cramping muscle.” And the component most strongly suspected is vinegar.
Vinegar, in addition to its other health benefits, seems to interact the nervous system in such a way as to inhibit the misfirings responsible for muscle cramps. As noted in this article from the New York Times, much of this research is still very preliminary so the conclusions are still speculative.
At the same time, especially for a group like runners who are known for their hyponatremia, the benefits to sitting down with a pickle seem manifold. So the next time you’re craving a snack, reach for a pickle. And stay tuned as I see if I can pry the family recipe out of my Grandmother’s recipe vault to share with you all.
Hungry for more? Check out some other food articles. Or consider reading a random article from TimWoodbury.com.
