You know pickles, don’t you? Well, pickles, in general, are easy to make, using just a few ingredients. Nonetheless, the way that you make them specifies the kind of pickle you will get. For instance, the fermented pickles, which may be a great choice for fermented foods. This particular pickle is oozing with lots and lots of essential vitamins, which are all good for the health. Not just that, the health benefits of fermented pickles are so many too.
The fermented pickles need a curing process, which may usually take a few days up to weeks. This particular process is actually the time when the fermentation takes place. When the fermentation occurs, it creates a good bacteria that are usually sought after for the probiotics that it possesses.
Moreover, the fermented pickles don’t have the same probiotic benefits as the fresh-pack style pickles. Nonetheless, the others don’t have the benefits of the fermented ones too. This is what makes the fermented pickles the best options for pickles. Read on below to know more about it!
Fermented Pickles: Interesting History
There are some who say that the fermented pickles have a story to tell. Some say that Cleopatra kept her own beauty regimen secret in the jar of pickles. Not just that, the Bible, as well as Shakespeare also make mention the pickles here and there.
As a matter of fact, the pickles have already been around 2030 BC. Actually, the term pickle comes from the German word, pokel and Dutch word pekel. Both means brine or salt. Moreover, pickling has already been considered as one of the best ways of preserving food. It provides satiation for travelers, families, and sailors, especially in cold months.
The fermented or brined pickles usually undergo a certain curing process for days up to weeks. As what I’ve said earlier, this is the stage where the fermentative bacteria produce the acids essential for the preservation process. These bacteria also generate the flavor compounds, which are in association with the fermented pickles. The initial fermentation can be followed by the addition of the acid in order to produce the like products.
Fermented Pickles: Types
In general, the pickles are either lacto-fermented, brined, or fermented. Don’t worry, these are much the same thing. Moreover, there are few different kinds of pickles, and all of which may be made as fermented pickles. Nonetheless, what you make is especially determined by the spices, salt, and the duration of fermentation. Here are some of the most common varieties of the fermented pickles:
- Pickle relish: this is finely chopped pickled cucumbers, which are commonly eaten with hamburgers and hot dogs.
- Bread & Butter pickles: here, sugar is added for a touch of sweetness.
- Polish pickles: this has a lot of spices, including mustard seeds, pepper, and garlic.
- French-style cornichons: these are small pickles that are called gherkins containing tarragon as its main ingredient.
- Half sour pickles: these ferment in brine for a short period of time, thus maintaining its crispness, and bright green color.
- Standard, full sour, kosher dill: usually completely fermented, has no crispness, and has a dark green color.
Fermented Pickles: Nutritional Content
A cup of diced or chopped fermented pickles may contain the following essential nutrients:
| Principles | Amount | % Daily Value |
| Calories | 17.1 | – |
| Carbohydrates | 3.5 grams | – |
| Protein | 0.5 grams | – |
| Fat | 0.3 grams | – |
| Fiber | 1.9 grams | – |
| Vitamin K | 72.8 micrograms | 91% |
| Copper | 0.1 milligrams | 7% |
| Vitamin A | 296 IU | 6% |
| Vitamin C | 1.6 milligrams | 3% |
| Iron | 0.6 milligrams | 3% |
Additionally, the fermented pickles also contains some pantothenic acid, vitamin E, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Moreover, something that you should be aware of also is that a lot of the varieties of pickles are rich in sodium. This is something that you must limit.
Health Benefits of Fermented Pickles
Here are some of the most outstanding health benefits of fermented pickles:
- Aids in anxiety and depression. Studies show that the healthy probiotics in the fermented pickles are essential in reducing the anxiety and depression.
- Helps in treating candida symptoms. The probiotics in the fermented pickles may help in reducing the symptoms of candida. One study also suggests that the fermented pickles may also help in preventing relapses.
- May help in preventing colorectal cancer. This is probably one of the best health benefits of fermented pickles. According to studies, it shows that the consumption of a healthy diet that is rich in probiotics has the potential of helping in the prevention of colorectal cancer.
- May benefit the skin. The skin has an environment for microorganisms, which gives a way to the need for having a good skin health. Cleansing the skin properly is certainly important, however, providing the right environment for the skin to be at its own best is significant too. This is where the fermented pickles may come in as it has a lot of probiotics, which are essential for the skin health.
- Helps support the nervous system. The probiotics present in the fermented pickles are essential in the maintenance of a strong digestive tract. When the gut is healthy, the body then receives the correct signals from the brain.
As you can see, the health benefits of fermented pickles are very astounding and are all for the goodness of the health!
