The Power of Pickle Juice

I can clearly envision my mother’s cellar.  Mason jars line the wooden shelves where the smell of damp earth lingers in the atmosphere.  In the spring, we add red strawberry jam to the stockpile. Then comes yellow tomato salsa lining up in rows. My mom prefers yellow tomatoes because they are lower acidic than red.  Later in the summer, she would make grape jelly – the purple, gooey staple of my youth. But my mother claimed the dill pickles were her secret favorite. Growing up I liked the red, yellow and even the purple jars, but not the green.  I needed to learn to like the green, as I would come to find out.

Some of you might know that Joe Barton’s father had an acid reflux problem that launched Barton Publishing and the Acid Reflux Remedy Report.   Finding natural cures for acid reflux, GERD and heartburn has become a passion of ours.  One remedy for acid reflux involves the green juice I shrugged my nose at as a kid: pickle juice.

I remember my Dad drinking the green pickle juice, straight from the jar – maybe even with a little excitement.  But, as I’ve grown older and become a grandparent myself, I am finally able to decipher why my Dad drank green juice with such enthusiasm. Because it turns out that there are actually a surprising amount of things you can do with your pickle juice!

Pickle Juice is A Health Drink

Pickle juice contains salt.  Essentially, pickle juice can replenish electrolytes (a term popular these days).  Or, it can make a weary farmer who has been out in the fields all day feeling fresh again.

Pickle Juice is a Vinegar Replacement

Pickle juice also contains vinegar.  Consider it equivalent to apple cider vinegar for treating an ailing stomach or acid reflux. My Mom told me that when she was young, grandmother would give her vinegar and honey when she had an upset stomach, which is basically pickle juice with a sweetener.

Pickle Juice Eases Digestion

Pickle juice also contains dill, which promotes good digestion and sleep. It can also help reduce flatulence or nausea.

Pickle Juice Lowers Cholesterol

A study published in the journal Cholesterol found that dill could not only tame indigestion, stomach cramps, gas, and other digestive ailments, but it could lower blood fats in hamsters.

I guess those old natural home remedies are better than you could imagine, and they have been around for a very long time. If you are in need of relief from acid reflux and there is nothing else you can do, try the green juice – pickle juice– for immediate relief.

So, don’t throw away that pickle juice!  All you need is a little sip, up to ½ cup to cure your acid reflux. Try it right before eating – any kind of pickle juice should do the trick – and you can be acid free in a few minutes!

Plus, the green juice can be used in marinades, salads, dips and soups.  My Dad not only drank the pickle juice when he got home, he also used it in this dill pickle potato salad recipe, which I hope you like!  Pickle juice and mustard make all the difference!

Dad’s Dill Pickle Potato Salad Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 – 4 mid sized Russet potatoes
• 4 Tbsp juice from dill pickles
• 3 Tbsp finely chopped dill pickles
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• 1/2 cup chopped red onion
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 or 2 chopped scallions, including the greens
• 1-2 hard boiled eggs, chopped (optional)
• 1 medium carrot, finely chopped (optional)
• 1/2 red bell pepper, raw or roasted, chopped (optional)
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Bring a pot of water to boil. Add the potatoes (skins on). Simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from pot. Let cool enough to handle, but still warm. Remove skins. Cut potatoes into inch sized cubes.
2. Put potatoes in to a large bowl. Add the juice from the dill pickles. Add the finely chopped pickles themselves. Add parsley, onions, celery, scallions and (if using) the hard-boiled egg, carrots, and red bell pepper.
3. In a separate small bowl, mix mayonnaise with mustard. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix in the dressing with the potato mixture. Again, salt and pepper to taste.

The good news is I’m not afraid of the green jars anymore! Drink pickle juice to your health!