Food for thought might just have a whole new meaning to it and in a more literal sense. We all hold a widely held conception that fish helps our brains develop and this study shows exactly that, but there might be a new super brain food on the block that could help your brain work better and it is readily accessible everywhere – Pickles.
So many people love pickles, not only because of the tangy taste they add to your meal, but because they’re an easy way to get some healthy food into your body. Depending on what part of the country you live in, you may put pickles on your hamburgers, or hot dogs, or just as a spear on the side of your plate to accompany your sandwich order.
However, not all pickles can have such a positive impact on the brain. A study done by the College of William and Mary in Virginia revealed that naturally fermented foods such as dilled pickles can provide you with a huge boost of serotonin which is a chemical responsible for managing our moods.
For people who have had an experience with depression or anxiety disorder, pickles could be just the thing to boost serotonin levels in your body like what most pharmaceutical antidepressants aim to do.
More details from AWM:
Pickles are fermented food. That means microorganisms have interacted with the food to make it the way it is. While you might find it weird to eat living microorganisms, it’s actually wonderous for your health.
When these living creatures, which are so small, you’d need a microscope to see them, enter your digestive system, they find another habitat that they can thrive in. Once there, they replenish existing bacteria that help you stay healthy. These bacterial allies, also known as probiotics, help keep your immune system strong and robust as well as your digestive system running strong and smooth.
Pickles are loaded with probiotics. You can achieve digestive wellness and get all the other benefits from them simply by having at least one pickle every day. That means that the popular side to your sandwich can do great things to your health – even help strengthen your immune system, so you’re less likely to get sick or catch an infection.
Pickles are not the only foods that are loaded with probiotics. If you’re averse to these tangy, vinegar-loaded sides, there are other options that can help you get your daily dose of probiotics. If you’re not a fan of any of those foods, then you could take probiotic supplements.
If you worry that you may get exposed to germs or bad bacterial, enjoy a crunchy pickle could help you protect your body from harmless contaminants. Not only are pickles good for your health, can improve your immune system, but they’re also a delicious snack that satisfies almost every salt craving. What an awesome snack that is so underrated!
Other than dilled pickles, there are also alternatives to look out for to get those good bacteria into your gut so that you keep your mind stable as well. Foods that you can consider are Yogurt, Sauerkraut, Dark chocolate, miso soup, Tempeh, and Kimchi.
On top of the digestive benefits of eating fermented products, there are a few things to take note of when eating these foods that are also pretty high in sodium. Eating pickles as a snack is good and having just one is fine. Researchers from Turkey actually found out that people with gastric cancer ate more pickles than cancer-free participants in the survey. So it’s best not to eat too much of a good thing and have it in moderation.
Watch the video below for more details:
Source: AWM