When Carlos Alcaraz resorted to pickle juice in the middle of a match to combat vomiting and cramps, many interpreted it as yet another eccentricity of elite sport. However, far from being an improvised remedy or mere superstition, this practice has an increasingly solid scientific basis.
This is explained by Dr. Antelm Pujol, a specialist in endocrinology and nutrition and professor of the Real Madrid’s Master’s Degree in Sports Medicine, who recalls that our understanding of muscle cramps has changed significantly in recent years. For a long time it was believed that cramps were caused almost exclusively by dehydration or lack of mineral salts.
Today we know that the problem is much more complex and that the nervous system, both central and peripheral, plays a key role in the regulation of muscle contraction and relaxation, as the expert mentions.
Beyond hydration and mineral salts
The first effect of pickle juice is the most obvious, as it provides electrolytes and mineral salts, essential elements to maintain the body’s water balance and proper muscle function. In high-intensity, long-duration sports such as professional tennis, sodium and other electrolyte losses through sweat can be very high, especially in hot conditions. Replenishing them helps prevent imbalances that promote cramping.
However, as Dr. Antrim Pujol points out, this is not the most important factor. If cramps depended only on hydration, it would be enough to drink water or isotonic drinks to solve them and, in reality, this does not always work. The key is to understand that the muscle does not act in isolation, but under the constant control of the nervous system, which regulates how much contraction and relaxation occur at any given time, and this is where this liquid becomes important.
The role of acetic acid in the nervous system
The key component of pickle juice is acetic acid, which is also present in vinegar. According to Antelm Pujol, this compound does not act directly on the muscle, but sends a signal to the central nervous system. This signal helps to regulate neuromuscular excitability and helps to curb the over-contraction that triggers the cramp.
The most striking thing is the speed of the effect. Various studies have observed that relief can occur within seconds, too short a time for electrolytes to be absorbed and used by the muscle. This reinforces the idea that the main mechanism is neurological and not purely metabolic or hydration. In other words, acetic acid acts as a switch that helps balance communication between the nervous system and the muscle, according to the specialist.
Read the full article here
