Pickle Juice Is Good For Your Body And, Apparently, Your Car!

Is there anything pickle juice can't do? We've known for some time that it can be used to alleviate all sorts of health problems. Now I hear that we should be keeping it on hand to help get our cars going on these cold winter mornings. I'm thinking of asking my financial advisor to buy some stock in Vlasic!

Pickle juice has been a home remedy for sore throats for a while and now science is starting to back that up. According to Today, the juice can soothe your sore throat because of its key ingredients. The salt and vinegar help calm inflammation and go after bacteria.

The Cleveland Clinic says that pickle juice offers several other health benefits, including antioxidants to help fight infection. It also has probiotic properties to keep your gut bacteria in balance and can prevent blood sugar spikes. Years ago, I began hearing about NFL players drinking pickle juice for hydration during their training camp workouts in often very hot weather. The juice contains electrolytes, which boost athletes' recovery. Think of it as salty Gatorade.

Yet another use for pickle juice is perfect for this time of year, but it's not for your body. It's for your car. Did you know you can use it to de-ice your windshield? According to National Geographic, the brine can melt ice at very low temperatures. Carver County Public Works in the frigid state of Minnesota has even experimented with putting pickle juice extract on roads. National Geographic reports that the salt-laden juice "prevents snow and ice from bonding with pavement, making the ice easier to chip off and remove." It's also better for the environment than the sodium chloride, a.k.a. rock salt, that's usually used on streets and sidewalks before winter storms.

If you struggle with anxiety, exercising regularly, consistently getting eight hours of sleep a night, and cutting out caffeine can help. But if you’ve tried all of those and still don’t feel relief, you may want to make some dietary adjustments.

According to the Daily Mail, research shows that the gut and anxiety are closely linked. Anxiety is also linked to inflammation in the body, but certain foods can help counteract this. Adding these seven so-called superfoods to your diet may help to ease your anxiety:

This superfood is known to have some amazing powers. Blueberries can reverse cognitive decline, stave off dementia and lower your risk of heart disease. They're also loaded with vitamin C, which can help lower levels of cortisol - the stress hormone - and that may help ease anxiety.

Eating this tasty treat comes with lots of benefits, including lowering blood pressure, enhancing alertness, and even improving your sex life. And some research finds that dark chocolate could reduce anxiety because it’s linked to comfort.

They truly are incredible! In addition to being a good source of protein, eggs are high in vitamin D, which the body uses to produce and release serotonin, which can help boost your mood.

The popular dip made from chickpeas is a good source of tryptophan that the body uses to make melatonin and serotonin. Melatonin can help with sleep, which in turn can lower anxiety. More serotonin can help lift your mood, as well as ease anxiety.

Peppermint tea is made from mint plants so it has no caffeine. It's also a rich source of polyphenols, which may help reduce inflammation and ease anxiety.

Studies suggest the omega-3 fatty acids in salmon can reduce inflammation in the body and lower anxiety as well. Plus, omega-3s also lower the risk of heart disease or stroke, and help with symptoms of eczema and arthritis as well. I try to eat it at least once a week.

Yogurt is packed with good bacteria that can help build and maintain a healthy gut microbiome. A recent study finds that eating probiotic yogurt once a day for six weeks is linked to lower levels of anxiety.