Health Benefits of Indian Pickles (Achar) in Your Regular Diet

One of the things that several people find intimidating about the delicious Indian pickles is the vast range of ingredients used in it. These ingredients which could be both whole and ground, are used as per the traditions of various Indian families. Most of them have their own unique and secret recipes for the pickle that are passed over through the generations.

A pickle is preserved food having chopped vegetables or fruits with vinegar and spices. These spices enhance the nutritional value of the pickle and add plenty of flavor to it says Avni Kaul.

India’s top dietician and nutritionist Avni Kaul share some of the health benefits that you can avail by eating Indian pickles.

Indian pickles have antioxidant properties

Antioxidants are micronutrients that protect the living body against the attack of free radicals. These free radicals are dangerous as they mix with the DNA and change its configuration. As our Indian pickles have raw and unripe ingredients, they are a good source of antioxidants.

Rich source of vital vitamins and minerals

Besides the unripe vegetables, Indian pickles also have a number of leafy vegetables such as coriander, curry leaves, fenugreek, and mint. These leafy vegetables pack a number of essential vitamins such as Vitamins C, A, and K, and minerals such as iron, calcium, and potassium which are not provided in our normal diet, adequately. Hence, consuming Indian pickles can suffice the requirement of these vitamins and minerals in your body.

Indian pickles enhance your immunity

When Indian pickles are prepared, lot of turmeric powder is added to them. This turmeric powder has a chemical called Curcumin. This chemical contains anti-inflammatory properties which help your body counter the attack of several bacteria and viruses.

It also boosts the count of a growth hormone in your brain known as a brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The increase of BDNF in your body could help it combat various brain-related diseases, specifically, Alzheimer’s disease and depression. Hence, spices in pickles play a major role in boosting your immunity.

Improves the procedure of digestion in your body

India is a huge country wherein the culture, tradition, and even food habits alter every 200 km but in spite of this kind of diversity, one thing remains common which is the consumption of pickles in a regular diet. One of the reasons that they are served with most of the meals in India is that these pickles boost the process of digestion in your body.

Our digestive system forms a number of probiotic bacteria in the body which usually help us to digest food. But with our increased use of a number of antibiotics and our degrading food habits, these bacteria are being damaged. This can further result in several digestive disorders. Thus, in an effort to combat this deficiency, our naturally fermented Indian pickles have the power to encourage the growth of these bacteria which will help you to restore your digestive health.