Is it even true that they are suitable for you? Here's everything you need to know about this salty snack.
Pickles appear to be a healthy snack to the uninitiated. What could be so bad about a cucumber steeped in vinegar? While pickles aren't as bad for you as, say, a handful of potato chips, they do have a bit of a negative reputation. In the end, it's the salt content that's to blame.
According to dietician Jay Cowin, one pickle has more than 66 percent of the daily salt allowance for people. Anyone who has recently opened a jar of pickles knows that it's nearly impossible to eat just one—which means that if you're eating Dill spears, you're almost certainly overdoing your salt consumption.
Bloating is one of the most common adverse effects of consuming an excessively salty snack.
"Excessive salt in pickles raises the sodium amount in our diet, resulting in negative health effects such as water retention and abdominal bloating," explains Dr. Waqas Ahmad Buttar.
On the other hand, high salt intake might lead to more severe difficulties in the long run. According to Dr. Buttar, Pickle consumption daily can lead to elevated blood pressure and "an increase in the burden for our kidneys."
Hypertension and flatulence may also be adverse effects, according to Dr. Rashmi Byakodi, who also emphasized that it's not only the great flavor of pickles that keeps people coming back for more—it's science.
"Pickles are a lovely and salty meal. Therefore, they enhance energy intake by raising hunger, leading to higher food consumption," Dr. Byakodi explains, citing a study.
Before you throw out that jar of pickles, keep in mind that they will not make you fat. "There are worse items one might eat," said another specialist, dietician John Frigo.
It's important to remember, though, that a pickle is not a substitute for vegetables or other nutritious snacks.
Because of the pickling process, pickles have a low nutritional value, according to Dr. Buttar. "Fruits and vegetables are diced or chopped and then dried in the sunlight during the pickling process. This is to ensure that the fruit or vegetables do not retain any water. The disadvantage of this method is that drying in the sun causes more nutritional loss."