Pickle juice has become the foul-tasting health trend in sports from the AFL and NRL to the Premier League, but it turns out plenty of people are consuming in the wrong way – as two leading footy analysts found out on Thursday.
The Hawthorn took on the Gold Coast Suns in Darwin while the second match of the Women’s State of Origin was held at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.
During both matches, the pickle juice was brought out to assist cramping players.
Drinking a small shot of the awful-tasting juice can calm a muscle cramp in under a minute because the sharp taste tells the nerves to relax the muscle.
It has become a major health trend and is used by weekend warriors and international footballers alike.
However, it turns out you’re not actually supposed to drink it.
Channel Seven’s Mitch Cleary was dared to drink pickle juice during the three-quarter time break of the Hawthorn versus Gold Coast match in Darwin
The disgusting liquid is used by athletes around the world, like former Arsenal Premier League star Lucas Terreira (pictured) to ease the impact of cramping
Torreira is pictured using pickle juice the right way – by gargling it and spitting it out
Channel Seven analyst Mitch Cleary learned that the hard way when he knocked back some of the foul stuff for a dare, while giving a live cross in Darwin.
‘The doctor is also running around giving everybody pickle juice out to the trainers running around the ground,’ he said. ‘So Hawthorn are well aware that they might be cramping up late in this quarter.’
That led to a challenge from veteran commentator Brian ‘BT’ Taylor, who told Cleary to ‘knock the top off’ the pickle juice and drink it himself.
It was challenge accepted, as he skolled the foul-tasting liquid.
‘Don’t rush to your local supermarket to get some of that into you, BT,’ he grimaced.
Former Hawthorn champion Luke Hodge quickly educated Cleary on the error of his ways.
‘You’re not supposed to swallow it, you’re supposed to spit it out, mate,’ he said.
Hodge is right – simply swishing the juice around like mouthwash is all that is required to send the required signal to the impacted nerves.
New South Wales winger Jamie Chapman was also pictured using pickle juice and then spitting it out
‘You don’t necessarily need to swallow pickle juice to benefit from its potential cramp-relieving properties,’ one viewer pointed out.
‘Swishing the juice in your mouth for a short time, and then spitting it out, can still trigger the necessary neurological reflex that might help alleviate cramps. Swallowing it, however, can provide an extra electrolyte boost.’
A similar scenario unfolded in the Women’s State of Origin, this time with Bulldogs boss Phil Gould being schooled on the best way to ingest pickle juice.
‘There’s a few starting to go down,’ he said.
‘The field is very heavy, having some pickle juice. She spat it out!
‘Pickle juice can’t help you if you spit it out.’
Co-commentator Peter Psaltis then asked: ‘I’m not a pickle juice expert, are you?’
‘Well I think it’s better if you swallow it, don’t know if it’s any good if you spit it out,’ Gould replied.
But Gould was then proven wrong.
‘One of our producers is saying you do have to spit it out,’ Psaltis said.
Gould was shocked, asking: ‘You’re supposed to spit it out, are you?’
‘Pickle juice. Oh well, there you go. I don’t think I could drink it.’
