The name Kevin Millar, PhD is no new name to us at Pickle Juice Australia. His studies on the efficacy of Pickle Juice and muscle cramps has been cited on our website before and we’ve been blessed with some more insight from the professor at University of Central Michigan, USA. We’ve seen over the past decade a real shift in professional sports towards Pickle Juice for stopping muscle cramps.

This podcast delves deep into the science of why we cramp and cites the importance of using Pickle Juice in treatment of cramps. In this episode we have a number of:

1. What are exercise associated muscle cramps and what is the most probable cause for them to happen

2. The problem with the dehydration–electrolyte imbalance theory

3. The most probable causes and contributing factors for muscle cramping during exercise

4. The uselessness of Magnesium supplementation in the treatment/prevention fo muscle cramping

5. Pickle juice research and functional mechanisms

6. Pickle juice supplementation protocol and available sources

7. Posible effects of pickle juice on gastric emptying and gut discomfort

8. Rationale for preventing and treating muscle cramping in cyclists

9. Future lines of research

A big shout out to the team at Fuel the Pedal podcast for getting this great podcast up. Have a listen and give them a follow because this content really is great at brining more understanding as to why cramps occur and how some treatments work and importantly don’t work.

The Pickle Juice Workout: What Happened When I Used Pickle Juice To Fight Muscle Cramps For 10 Days

The following article was published in Medical Daily by Justin Caba

From consuming human breastmilk to taking creatine supplements with “meth-like” ingredients, some gym rats will cut every corner available in the pursuit of a perfect beach bod. Unfortunately, cutting some of those corners could mean jeopardizing their health. Luckily, there are some natural products available for the supplement-shy, including pickle juice. With the help of The Pickle Juice Company, I decided to test the effectiveness of this briny beverage on my exercise recovery.

Muscle Cramps

If you’ve ever dealt with muscles cramps, then you know they’re awful. Every athlete has dealt with a sudden and involuntary contraction of their muscles. I know I still shudder at the term, “Charley Horse.” It can happen after a workout, in the middle of the night, or even in the middle of your workout. Muscle cramps are generally harmless, but don’t expect to be using the affected muscle group at your next workout.  

Muscle cramps tend to be the result of long periods of exercise or physical labor, especially when performed in hot weather. The majority of muscle cramps develop in our leg muscles, making running a nearly impossible feat. This brings us to where pickle juice popularity all started: The Philadelphia Eagles opening game of the 2000 season against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Pickle Juice Game

Dallas is well known for its scorching temperatures and dry heat. Teams that go to play in Texas and places with similar temperatures are advised to make sure they are well hydrated before kickoff. In the preseason build-up to this meeting against their divisional rival, the Eagles training staff had begun experimenting with a new supplement that they thought could stop muscle cramps in their tracks. The players were understandably skeptical, but with temperatures reaching 109 degrees at kickoff, they decided to give it a shot.

So, how did the Eagles’ secret weapon work out in the end? The game ended in a 41-14 rout in favor of the Eagles. In what would be considered the hottest game in NFL history at the time, the Eagles offense held the ball for 39 minutes and 30 seconds while taking up nearly two-thirds of the game clock. Eagles running back Duce Staley earned 201 rushing yards on top of 61 receiving yards. Not one player was forced to sit out for even a single play due to muscle cramps.

Pennsylvania Governor at the time Edward G. Rendell likened the effectiveness of this new pickle juice supplements to a placebo effect. Little did he know there was actual science to back up pickle juice’s physiological effect on muscle cramps.

My Muscle Cramp Conundrum

 Believe it or not, I was a college athlete for a time, (lacrosse), and muscle cramps on a daily basis were all too real. Let me set the scene: You just get out of a two hour-long practice that consisted of mainly running. You’re sitting on your couch trying to decompress and watch SportsCenter when BAM! One of your legs seizes up and you go crashing to the floor with a muscle that feels like it’s being choked to death. After 10 minutes of keeping your leg as straight as possible, the cramp finally subsides, but you're left feeling like someone just gave you a dead leg.

I thought my muscle cramp days were over after I graduated college, but I was wrong. With no organized sports to keep my body in check, I turned to weightlifting and cardio to stay fit. A few muscle cramps after especially long and tiresome workouts have turned into something that hinder my exercise routine on a weekly basis. I’ve always been good about staying hydrated, and at the age of 25, I thought I had a couple more years before my body started to fail me.  

Aside from dehydration, muscle cramps can be caused by a variety of different factors, including overuse of muscles, muscle strain, holding a position for too long, or an underlying medical condition. Although these are all causes for muscle cramps, scientists are still trying to figure out the exact physiological cause of cramping. Dehydration and the depletion of minerals, such as  potassium and calcium, are seen as the biggest contributors to muscle cramps so I figured, besides drinking water, there’s nothing I can do to remedy this little predicament.

My Pickle Juice Plan

I was content with ignoring the pain, drinking a lot of water, and dealing with muscle cramps as they presented themselves. Then one day I got an email from The Pickle Juice Company asking me if I would like to try a supplement I had never even considered, but was sitting in my own refrigerator. With the promise of no artificial ingredients and 10 times more electrolytes than your average sports drink, I decided to give it a shot. After all, I’ve done some outlandish stuff in the past in the name of fitness, and this had a lot of scientific backing.

One study conducted by researchers from the Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Science at North Dakota State University asked a group of male college students to bike until the point of mild dehydration which induced toe cramps that lasted an average of two minutes and 30 seconds. Participants who were given the brine at the bottom of a pickle jar had their cramps alleviated within 85 seconds of consumption. This was 37 percent faster than participants given water and 45 percent faster than participants who didn’t drink anything.

Following a little bit of research and taste testing to see if I could stomach the briny juice (I could), I decided to go 10 days of using 100% Natural Pickle Juice Sport either before or during my workouts and 10 days without any pickle juice. Full disclosure: I expected to use pickle juice for 10 days and maybe see some changes toward the end. No one was more surprised than me when it actually started working on the very first workout.  

The Results

After my first cramp-less day, I looked at the nutritional labelling to find out what this magical elixir was made of. Ingredients: Purified Water, Vinegar, Natural Flavor, Potassium, Zinc, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E. Nothing out of the ordinary, so what was the groundbreaking ingredient they included? Muscle cramps are fundamentally the result of sodium and potassium levels becoming out of whack, so potassium as a main ingredient made sense. But what about vinegar? That’s when I did some more digging and found that, in addition to hydration, pickle juice was actually tricking my body into not cramping. The vinegar in pickle juice can actually block the neurological signal that triggers muscle cramps.

Even though I used the 100% Natural Pickle Juice Sport product and swear by its benefits, there’s good news for people who shy away from buying workout supplements, or are skeptical of their safety. If you want to give pickle juice a try as a workout supplement because water and Gatorade just aren’t cutting it, try buying a jar of pickles, eating them all, draining out the brine, and drinking it. You can also tailor your workout to prevent cramps by starting off light and adding in the tough exercises toward the end. You may still cramp up and need pickle juice to prevent the dreaded post-workout Charley Horse, but cramps won’t ruin your workout. 

Endurance Athletes Turning to Pickle Juice to Fight Cramps

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN Forbes DAILY BY Blake Williams

Don’t treat the symptom, treat the cause.

A basic principal of the medical community, that thought process is what stuck out to Filip Keuppens when he was introduced to a product designed to combat and prevent muscle cramping.

“To find a product that really addressed muscle cramping at the root, neurological cause rather than the physiological symptom – which is how we’ve been treating cramps since the beginning of time – I thought was really cool,” he said.

That’s the claim made by The Pickle Juice Company, a drink designed to help endurance athletes recover, and one that tastes exactly how you would imagine, for which Keuppens is now the Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing.

In simplest terms, the contention is that a property of the vinegar in the juice (which Keuppens is quick to point out is far more than just the left over brine from the jar of pickles sitting in your fridge) engages the same neurological receptors in the brain that cause muscle cramps and thus prevents those neurons from firing. Other sports drinks, Keuppens said, don't treat cramps in the same way.

When the product was developed in 2001 the company was confident their product worked, but was unsure as to why. A 2010 study led by Kevin C. Miller, a Ph. D in the North Dakota State University department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences shed some light on the products efficacy.

Miller’s study concluded that ingesting pickle juice (used generally here and not in reference to the trade name that employs Keppenf) can result in cramp alleviation.

“It is unknown which ingredient in pickle juice may initiate this inhibitory reflex,” Miller writes in the study. “We propose that it is the acetic acid (vinegar) in pickle juice, not the electrolyte content, which triggers this reflex.”

Regardless of why it works, The Pickle Juice Company is confident that it eliminates muscle cramps, so much so that the company’s entire marketing strategy is about product discovery – letting it prove its worth.

It’s done so with distance biker Danielle Girdano, who is training for a bike ride from Chicago to Los Angeles along historic Route 66 to raise money for childhood obesity and the Highway for Health. Girdano, who is not affiliated with The Pickle Juice Company, said she discovered the product in 2009 and wouldn’t train without it.

“Anytime I’m training for a major event it’s just been a part of my routine,” she said. “It’s just been calculated into my plans.

“One time when it did come to play, we were in Minnesota and I was actually on a mountain bike and we were going through rough terrain and very high altitude and my leg just seized. Right away we went to the cooler and I popped one and probably a couple minutes I was good. Then I got back on the bike and kept chugging along. It’s days like that can really kill you, if you get 80 to 90 miles behind schedule that’s hard to make up.

That’s all well and good, but most of us aren’t biking 80 or 90 miles in a week, let alone a day. What about for your more recreational athlete?

The Pickle Juice Company sent me some samples so I could give it a whirl. Now, I am far from an endurance athlete, but I thought I would try it after an average run. After running three miles on a particularly hot day I had some mild cramping and drank the juice. I had been somewhat skeptical, but the cramps rapidly dissipated and I felt fully recovered from the run quicker than I normally would.

I only had one problem with the drink and apparently it’s not uncommon.

“The only negatives we get are subjective based on flavor,” Keuppens said. “We kind of joke if you don’t like the flavor, what do you hate more, cramps or pickle juice? I think I’ve had one person tell me they’d rather suffer through cramps.”

I didn’t love the taste – and neither did my girlfriend, who felt one sip was all she could handle after a morning workout – but the effects were noticeable.

While you may not be hankering for pickle juice after a long workout, if you’re cramping it just might treat your symptom.

The Benefits of Pickle Juice

The following article was published on Natural News by Dianne Wiley

Pickles are a great snack on the side of sandwiches or directly on a great burger whether they be veggie or beef, but have you ever looked into the benefits of the very juice they swim in? Pickle juice can have many advantageous effects on the body.

Many athletes will drink pickle juice before and after working out because of the high electrolyte content due to sodium. It helps relieve muscle cramps and fatigue. It is also being used in many emergency rooms around the country to aid those with cardiac difficulties as it will help balance sodium levels. Pickle juice can become effective at relieving muscle cramps in less than a minute and a half, not only because of the sodium but how quickly it can be absorbed by the body. The absorption is helped along by the calcium chloride and vinegar.

The body needs sodium to maintain healthy fluid levels in and around the cells. As we sweat, as with athletics and heavy workouts, we lose that sodium along with the necessary electrolyte potassium. Dehydration can cause many severe issues, especially in those who sweat heavily through exercise or working under the hot sun regularly. By ingesting pickle juice, the necessary nutrients are returned to the body quickly, restoring a healthy pH balance and maintaining the body’s natural chemistry.

While not officially proven, there has been substantial evidence to suggest that drinking an ounce or two of pickle juice at night before bed can also help alleviate restless leg syndrome. RLS affects between five and 15 percent of the general population, with nearly 3 million people looking for relief yearly. This is not to discount the nearly 15 million people that suffer from nightly leg cramps, commonly called a “charley horse.” By increasing your sodium and potassium levels, these can also be a thing of the past.

It has also been found that drinking pickle juice can help relieve indigestion, heartburn, and upset stomach. Because of these effects, it is widely used to overcome hangovers after a night of over-indulging in alcohol. The electrolytes that pickle juice has is just an added bonus. A “pickleback” is a shot of pickle juice used as a chaser for liquor and is becoming more common in bars everywhere as people learn that it can not only help after the fact, but also keep electrolytes in balance while drinking.

Because of the high acidic content due to the vinegar in pickle juice, the body is able to absorb it easier than many solid foods and vitamins. The bonus to this is the fact that pickle juice is high in vitamin C, calcium, as well as the aforementioned electrolytes. Pickle juice is an excellent way to boost the immune system and overall health.

While many people swear by drinking pickle juice by itself, there are those that cannot tolerate the taste. The good news is that there are other ways to get it into your system while avoiding the vinegar flavor. It can be diluted in water, added to your favorite workout shake, and added to foods that you would normally eat with pickle slices. My personal favorite is making “pickle pops” by freezing leftover pickle juice into ice trays and adding toothpicks. They are a great treat after being outside on a hot summer day.

The best pickle juice will always be the most natural that you can find, so my recommendation is looking for a nearby farmer’s market or even better yet, making some yourself and enjoying fresh pickles and the benefits that come with them!

Think the power of some sports drinks is all in your head? Well, you’re exactly right.

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED In Adventure Pro Magazine by Terrance Siemon.

We love a good pickle, but that’s beside the point. Someone handed us a bottle of Pickle Juice Sport in the middle of winter and six months later we found it in our car’s center console while foraging around for grub after a grueling mountain run in the middle of a certified bonk laced with muscle cramps and dehydration. The label said “Extra Strength, Stops Muscle Cramps,” but really we would have devoured anything in front of us, no matter what the label said.  A few minutes after gulping down our one and only 2.5 ounce bottle, we were sold.

Turns out that the Pickle people are on to something. Research finds that pickle brine (a salt solution) triggers a nerve reaction that has been shown to reduce cramps nearly 37 percent faster than leading sports drinks.

Next time you’re crashing hard, just dill with it.

Pickle Juice – is this the new superfood for athletes?

The following article was published by Nutrition Strategies.

Many athletes are trying a new “juice”. It is green, smells funny and is acidic with a vinegary dill like taste. Could it be the new superfood for athletes with exercise associated muscle cramps (EAMC)?

As we all know EAMC are common in athletes and can stop an athlete from performing at their best and even finishing their event. Unfortunately the cause of EAMC is not well known although there are many theories. A study by Kevin Miller et al 2008, found that 25% of athletic trainers used a “juice” to treat EAMC and the “juice” was Pickle Juice. 

Furthermore Miller et al 2010 in a cross over design electrically stimulated the muscle, flexor hallucis brevis (FHB) (a muscle located in the sole of the foot) to cramp in 10 hypohydrated healthy male collegiate volunteers and provided subjects with water or pickle juice (1ml/kg BM), 2 seconds after the cramp was initiated. They found that cramps were alleviated ~45% faster with the pickle juice compared to water.

Pickle juice is not new, people have been using it to treat muscle cramps for many years but it is only recently that its knowledge and popularity has become more widespread. There has been concern with the use of pickle juice because it was thought that it could influence hypertonicity and cause hyperkalemia however a study by Miller et al 2010 found no difference in sodium concentration, plasma potassium, plasma molality or change in plasma volume up to 2 hours following ingestion.

Pickle juice when consumed in <150ml should not aggravate gastrointestinal symptoms. However consuming large doses such as >550ml can do. A benefit of pickle juice is that it is not sweet which can be useful in endurance events such as ultra distance trail running where flavour fatigue is common.

Muscle cramps can bring even the strongest athlete to his or her knees

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED in Active.com by Kelli Jennings

Muscle cramps can bring even the strongest athlete to his or her knees. And while, there are a number of theories as to what causes cramps—including hydration, bike fit, form and electrolytes—they seem to happen more in races than in training. 

Despite the lack of answers as to why cramps occur, a number of remedies have cropped up in recent years. Some of them are probably already in your pantry.

The Research

Research, as far back as several decades ago and as recently as 2013, suggests pickle juice relieves cramps. In the 2013 study, cramps lasted about 49 seconds less when participants drank pickle juice rather than water.

The first assumption is that fluids and sodium are anti-cramping agents.  However, other studies have concluded that the plasma volume and plasma concentrations of sodium remain unchanged after pickle juice consumption, leading researchers to believe something else is causing the cessation of the cramps.

Most experts think it's the vinegar.

It is believed that the vinegar triggers a reflex that alerts our brains to tell our muscles to stop contracting and relax, and the muscle cramping is reduced as soon as the vinegar touches receptors in the mouth.

Bring a small amount of pickle juice with you on your next training session (2 ounces is usually enough) or try the Pickle Juice Sports Drink.

Mustard contains vinegar in smaller, but potentially effective amounts as well. However, it has not been as well studied as pickle juice. Packets of yellow and honey mustard are portable on the trail or road, and often easier to consume than pickle juice. Mustard has up to 100 milligrams of sodium per packet and also contains turmeric, which is helpful for muscle soreness and inflammation.

Beyond the cramps, pickle juice and mustard provide other benefits for athletes:

Sodium

Adequate intake can improve hydration and reduce cramping, at least in practice. Just 1 tablespoon of mustard has 200 milligrams sodium and 2 ounces pickle juice has more than 400 milligrams sodium. Just 2 ounces of the pickle juice sports drink has about 225 milligrams sodium.

Glycogen Replenishment

Vinegar, which is chemically known as acetic acid, can provide the acetyl group. This is a fundamental building block for the Krebs Cycle and helps to metabolize carbohydrates and fat to produce energy and ATP for cells. 

If you're prone to cramps bring a bottle of pickle juice or packet of mustard to your next training session or race. Consume them at the first sign of cramps and you might be able to keep training or racing and full speed.

The Reasons May Surprise You

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN CUREJOY.COM

Dumping that old pickle juice jar down the drain? Here's why you need to rethink. A good source of essential nutrients required for the body, pickle juice has several health benefits. It soothes muscle cramps, controls restless leg syndrome, regulates diabetes, helps with weight loss, and treats upset stomachs! It is, hence, a good idea to include the pickle juice in your diet, instead of throwing it away!

If there is a healthy drink that has often been under-rated and ignored, it has to be pickle juice. A popular drink among athletes and other sportspersons, pickle juice is a good source of energy. Packed with calcium, antioxidants, electrolytes, and high amounts of vitamin C, pickle juice offers numerous health benefits.

Here are 7 reasons why you should include pickle juice in your diet.

1. Soothes Muscle Cramps

Popularly used after workouts and sports, pickle juice contains vinegar that is believed to provide rapid pain relief. The vinegar might also decrease the nerve activity that causes cramps in tired muscles. The magnesium and sodium content in pickle juice is also helpful in soothing the muscle cramps. According to studies, consuming pickle juice relieves cramps faster than drinking the same amount of water.

2. Helps Control Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless leg syndrome (RSL) is a chronic condition that does not have a permanent cure. Consumption of a quarter-cup of pickle juice in the evening, or before going to bed, is shown to greatly relieve the symptoms of RLS, including jerks, twitches, and leg cramps.

3. Cures Hangovers

Pickle juice is commonly used as a remedy for hangovers. The headache, nausea, and raging thirst can be reduced by the juice. The sodium present in pickle juice replenishes your sodium levels and balances the electrolytes. The dill and vinegar present in pickle juice have an antimicrobial property which masks the odor of alcohol and gives a fresh breath.

4. Controls Blood Sugar Levels

Pickle juice can help people suffering from diabetes. Studies show that the consumption of a small serving of vinegar, a major component of pickle juice, before a meal, can regulate blood sugar levels in individuals with type-2 diabetes.

5. Aids Weight Loss

For those aiming at weight loss, or obesity management, pickle juice might prove helpful. Consuming small amounts of vinegar every day might aid weight loss. In a study, the participants who had consumed either about half an ounce or one ounce of vinegar had significantly lost more weight in relation to the ones who had not consumed it.

6. Has Antioxidant Properties

Pickle juice is composed of vitamin C and E, which are two primary antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the body from free radicals, which are damaging molecules that everybody is exposed to. The antioxidants also play a major role in preventing cell damage of any kind and in improving the immune system, ensuring that you do not fall prey to diseases.

7. Treats Upset Stomachs

Pickle juice is a common home remedy used to treat an upset stomach. While there is no scientific proof that it can kill harmful bacteria in the stomach, pickle juice contains rich amounts of sodium, potassium, and vinegar, whose antimicrobial properties relieve symptoms of stomach illnesses.

How To Consume Pickle Juice

While pickle juice can be consumed in its raw state, the taste might be a concern. Here are a few other delicious alternate ways to drink pickle juice:

• Drink pickle juice in combination with water or your preferred energy drink.

• Pickle juice can be used in salads as a substitute to pickles. It can also be used as salad dressing.

• Mix pickle juice with yogurt, for a delicious and healthy snack.

• Use pickle juice as a marinade, or in place of marinade.

However, if you are on a low-sodium diet or suffer from gout, drinking pickle juice might not be the best idea. If you are on any medication, it is best to check with your doctor before consuming pickle juice on a regular basis.

Pickle juice is a natural, safe alternative to energy drinks, and is a great way to boost your immunity and health!

Dozens of teams use it

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN CBSSPORTS.COM by Cody Benjamin

WHEN NEW JERSEY DEVILS CENTRE BLAKE COLEMAN WAS SPOTTED DOWNING PICKLE JUICE AS HE STOOD IN THE PENALTY BOX AT A RECENT NHL GAME, THE SIGHT WASN'T SHOCKING SAVE FOR THE FACT HE WAS GULPING IT STRAIGHT FROM A PICKLE JAR.

PICKLE BRINE, OR THE JUICE BOASTING A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF SODIUM, HAS LONG HAD ITS PLACE ON THE ICE, FIELD AND COURT. COLEMAN, FOR ONE, HAS BEEN TOUTING THE SIMPLE CONCOCTION AS "THE ONE THING THAT REALLY WORKS" IN PREVENTING CRAMPS -- A SENTIMENT THAT HAS BEEN SHARED BY ATHLETES FOR YEARS. MARATHONERS HAVE COME TO QUENCH THEIR THIRST WITH IT. AND THE HISTORY BOOKS WILL FOREVER DEEM A 2000 NFL PLAYOFF GAME BETWEEN THE DALLAS COWBOYS AND PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AS THE "PICKLE JUICE GAME," IN WHICH THE EAGLES CLAIMED TO COMBAT RECORD TEMPERATURES BY DRINKING -- YOU GUESSED IT -- PICKLE JUICE. SOME PLAYERS EVEN WENT ON TO SAY THEY WOULD CELEBRATE A POTENTIAL SUPER BOWL WIN WITH PICKLE JARS RATHER THAN CHAMPAGNE BOTTLES.

BUT HOW, SCIENTIFICALLY AND THROUGH THE LENS OF THE TEAMS THAT EMPLOY, TRAIN AND TREAT THESE PICKLE-AFFECTED ATHLETES, IS THE PHENOMENON VIEWED TODAY? DO PROFESSIONAL TRAINERS ACTUALLY ADVOCATE FOR BRINE AS A CRAMP-TREATING PRODUCT, AND IF SO, DO THEY DO SO WITH EVIDENCE?

A DECADE AFTER THE PICKLE JUICE GAME, A BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY GROUP CONDUCTED AN EXERCISE STUDY AND CONCLUDED THAT PICKLE JUICE HAD "RELIEVED A CRAMP 37 PERCENT FASTER THAN WATER." THEY SUSPECTED THAT, CONTRARY TO THE COMMON BELIEF THAT PICKLE JUICE'S HIGH SALT CONTENT WORKS AS A RELIEVER BECAUSE IT REPLENISHES "LOST FLUIDS AND SALT IN THE AFFECTED MUSCLES," THE JUICE ACTUALLY TOOK ACTION BECAUSE OF ITS ACIDITY, PERHAPS PROMPTING "NERVE SIGNALS THAT SOMEHOW DISRUPT THE REFLEX MELEE IN THE MUSCLES."

A SEPARATE STUDY, PUBLISHED IN 2015 IN THE JOURNAL OF ATHLETIC TRAINING VIA NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY, CEMENTED THE NOTION THAT PICKLE JUICE IS NOT A PROVEN REMEDY FOR ELECTROLYTE LOSS, EVEN IF IT CAN BE A CURE FOR CRAMPS.

IN OTHER WORDS, THE JUICE MIGHT HAVE BEEN WORKING NOT BECAUSE ITS SALTINESS REHYDRATED MUSCLES BUT BECAUSE IT TRIGGERED SOMETHING IN THE NERVES.

AND THAT'S A THEORY TO WHICH TEAMS IN AND WELL BEYOND THE NHL STILL SUBSCRIBE.

SINCE 2001, WITH INSPIRATION FROM THE BYU STUDY FINDINGS, THE PICKLE JUICE COMPANYHAS BEEN MARKETING A DRINK CHARACTERISTIC OF JARRED BRINE -- ONE THAT EMPHASIZES "A PROPRIETARY GRAIN OF VINEGAR" TO "COMBAT MUSCLE CRAMPS AT THE NEUROLOGICAL SOURCE." AND ONE, THE COMPANY TOLD CBSSPORTS.COM, THAT BOTH INDIVIDUAL NHL PLAYERS AND TEAMS CURRENTLY USE FOR TREATMENT.

IT IS, ESSENTIALLY, A PARTNERSHIP THAT BOTH ENDORSES AND ENHANCES THE EFFECTS OF PICKLE JUICE AS A NEUROLOGICAL TREATMENT. AND IT'S ONE THAT, ACROSS PROFESSIONAL SPORTS, HAS SPAWNED THE USE OF SIMILAR ALTERNATIVES.

LIKE THAT OF HOTSHOT, A SUBSTANCE DESIGNED TO DIRECTLY STIMULATE "SENSORY NEURONS IN THE MOUTH, ESOPHAGUS AND STOMACH" AND THEREFORE "STOP REPETITIVE SIGNALS" THAT RESULT IN CRAMPING. IT'S A PRODUCT, THE COMPANY SAYS, THAT IS ACTIVELY IN USE BY "MORE THAN A DOZEN NHL TEAMS" AND MORE THAN 20 PRO FOOTBALL TEAMS, NOT TO MENTION IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND BY ATHLETES AT THE OLYMPICS.

TEAM "TRAINING AND NUTRITION SECRETS" PREVENT SUPPLIERS LIKE THE PICKLE JUICE COMPANY AND HOTSHOT FROM IDENTIFYING EXACTLY WHICH FRANCHISES WORK WITH THEIR PRODUCTS, BUT THE SHARED CONSENSUS IS THAT, AT ITS CORE, PICKLE JUICE HAS OPENED -- AND IS STILL OPENING -- DOORS FOR NERVE-RELATED TREATMENT.

HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL PROFESSOR BRUCE BEAN, PH.D., CO-FOUNDED HOTSHOT AND SAYS THE AGENTS IN HIS PRODUCT, PERHAPS MUCH LIKE THE VINEGAR ADDITION IN THE PICKLE JUICE COMPANY DRINK, MAXIMIZE THE NEUROLOGICAL POWER OF TREATMENT -- THEY PRODUCE "LONG-LASTING ACTIVATION OF THE MOLECULAR TARGETS." BUT HE ADMITTED THAT OLD-FASHIONED PICKLE JUICE, LIKE THE KIND COLEMAN ENJOYED IN THE PENALTY BOX, STILL SERVES AS A STARTING-POINT REMEDY.

"THE ACETIC ACID IN PICKLE JUICE ACTIVATES TRP CHANNELS [RECEPTORS LOCATED ON SENSORY NERVES] TO SOME EXTENT," HE SAID.

IT'S WHY GUYS LIKE COLEMAN AREN'T AFRAID TO CHUG FROM THE JAR ON THE BENCH. IT'S WHY, YEARS AGO, ENTIRE FOOTBALL TEAMS RELIED ON THE LIQUID'S SHOCK WAVE OF SODIUM TO OVERCOME THE HEAT. AND, EVEN AS TIME GOES ON AND ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS FIGURE TO STEM FROM ITS POWER, IT'S WHY SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS PICKLE JUICE HAS A HOME IN SPORTS.