Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.
Close Banner
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

The Surprising Post-Workout Snack That Your Sweaty, Dehydrated Self Needs 

Ray Bass, NASM-CPT
Author:
June 22, 2019
Ray Bass, NASM-CPT
mbg Associate Movement & Wellness Editor
By Ray Bass, NASM-CPT
mbg Associate Movement & Wellness Editor

Ray Bass is the associate movement and wellness editor at mindbodygreen and a NASM-Certified Personal Trainer. She holds a degree in creative writing from the University of Pennsylvania, with honors in nonfiction.

Image by Marco Govel / Stocksy
June 22, 2019

While working out can be invigorating, it can also be draining in more ways than one. Besides using up your energy, a strenuous workout (read: a sweaty workout) can leave our bodies depleted of essential nutrients. No good deed goes unpunished, right?

Whenever we sweat, our bodies lose electrolytes—and if those electrolytes aren't replaced, we could experience some unsavory side effects.

So how do we refill our stores? Well, there are plenty of options, but my favorite (doctor-approved!) way to replenish my body after a workout is to eat pickles.

You heard me—pickles. Here's why they're the ultimate post-workout snack (in addition to protein, obviously).

Why you should eat pickles post-workout.

Even though our sweat usually tastes like salt, it's not the only vital nutrient we're sweating out when we...sweat it out.

According to Jaime Schehr, N.D., R.D., "The electrolytes we lose most significantly through sweat are sodium and chloride, but we also lose potassium, magnesium, calcium, and zinc through sweat, just in lesser amounts."

And if you're sitting there wondering if you should make a conscious effort to refill your electrolytes and salts after a workout, Schehr says absolutely.

"If we want to avoid symptoms such as fatigue, muscle cramps, dizziness, possible nausea, and make sure our body isn't out of balance for our next workout, we need to replenish our electrolytes."

That's where pickles come in. Besides being one of the more delicious (and inexpensive) parts of life, pickles are packed with a lot of minerals—sodium, potassium, iron, manganese, and calcium, to name a few. Not to mention, they're salty, crunchy, and oh-so-hydrating.

"Pickles are an excellent post-workout snack," notes Schehr. "Not only are they full of salt and minerals, but cucumbers are a hydration powerhouse. They will help your body recover its electrolyte balance faster than drinking water alone."

If you're not into pickles, that's fine (weird, but fine). For the pickle-passers among us, Schehr recommends taking electrolyte tablets or powders, drinking coconut water, or using liquid mineral drops in your water. She cautions, however, that pickles aren't a meal replacement, nor are they the only food you should be eating post-workout. As she's told us before, protein is the end-all-be-all of post-workout fuel—and it should be consumed within the first hour after your workout.

"Don't forget your protein, though," Schehr told mbg. "It may not be as mineral-laden as pickles—beyond its iron and zinc content—but it's necessary to repair and grow muscle and shouldn't be skimped on post-workout."

Watch Next

Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes

Watch Next

Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes

What Is Meditation?

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Light Watkins

Box Breathing

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar

What Breathwork Can Address

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar

The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?

Yoga | Caley Alyssa

Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips

Yoga | Caley Alyssa

How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance

Nutrition | Rich Roll

What to Eat Before a Workout

Nutrition | Rich Roll

How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life

Nutrition | Sahara Rose

Messages About Love & Relationships

Love & Relationships | Esther Perel

Love Languages

Love & Relationships | Esther Perel

Related Videos (10)

What Is Meditation?

Box Breathing

What Breathwork Can Address

The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?

Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips

How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance

What to Eat Before a Workout

How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life

Messages About Love & Relationships

Love Languages

Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

More On This Topic

more Movement
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.