Surprisingly, there is some truth to the idea that pickle juice can help with muscle cramps. In a controlled study, people who drank a small amount of pickle juice after an experimentally induced cramp recovered faster than when they drank water. The cramps ended roughly 49 seconds sooner on average.

What’s interesting is that the effect probably isn’t because pickle juice quickly replaces salt or electrolytes. Researchers found that the small amounts used didn’t significantly change blood sodium, potassium, hydration, or other electrolyte levels. Instead, scientists think the strong acidic taste—mainly from vinegar—may stimulate nerves in the mouth and throat that send a signal to the nervous system, helping interrupt the cramp.

That said, pickle juice isn’t a guaranteed cure. Much of the research involves electrically induced cramps or specific medical populations, so evidence for ordinary exercise-related cramps is still limited. A recent review also noted that evidence for pickle juice remains relatively modest compared with better-established sports nutrition strategies.

It’s also very salty and acidic, so drinking large quantities isn’t a good idea, particularly for people who need to limit sodium or who have sensitive stomachs.

So this one isn’t just an old wives’ tale. A small amount of pickle juice may help shorten a cramp, but it works more like a rapid nerve-triggering trick than an instant electrolyte replacement.