Exercise-associated muscle cramps are common, involuntary spasms and contractions of muscles that usually occur during or following exercise. For over a century, the leading theory on the cause of cramps is the “electrolyte-depletion and dehydration theory”—where electrolytes, such as sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+), and water are lost through sweating. A traditional remedy is pickle juice, which in small amounts, is claimed to reduce cramps within 30 seconds. A Big Dill? The secret supposedly lies in the...
