Pickles are not really known as the most nutritionally dense food. They contain virtually no protein, no fat, no fiber, and no carbs. They do have a little bit of vitamins A, C, and K, plus some magnesium and potassium. But the only nutrient they have in abundance is sodium, (from the salt).
So you may be surprised that I’m going to tell you that pickles are a superfood.
But not all pickles.
The pickles you buy in supermarkets aren’t real pickles. They are cucumbers that have been cooked, tossed with salt and sugar, and thrown into vinegar. (A few brands even contain Yellow Dye 5, which can cause problems in sensitive people.)
The result is a salty snack with no nutritional value. That’s not a pickle.
True pickles are not cooked. Instead, the cucumbers are put in saltwater, where they are allowed to ferment for three to four weeks. The fermentation process results in a tasty, crispy, treat that is loaded with probiotics.
You get billions of healthy bacteria to help with your gut health. And, as you probably already know, a healthy gut helps keep your brain, your heart, and your whole body healthy.
What you may not know is that probiotics from fermented foods actually create the vitamins B9 (folate) and B12. These two vitamins work hand-in-hand to boost your immune system and protect your nerves against damage. They also help with blood-sugar regulation.
Since your body can’t produce B12 and only produces B9 in small quantities, this fact alone puts fermented pickles into the superfood category!
But here’s the problem: You probably won’t find fermented pickles in your supermarket or grocery store. You can sometimes find them at Whole Foods, Sprouts, Trader Joes, and health food stores. Or you can order them online.