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Worried? Put your anxieties in a pickle!

Worried? Put your anxieties in a pickle!

No, really - a recent study concluded that desi achaars contain probiotics and bioactive peptides that alleviate anxiety
03 Dec, 2015

We have all experienced ‘butterflies in our stomach’ when faced by any unexpected, irregular or high-pressure situation. Be it meeting new people or answering probing questions, sitting for an exam or giving a job interview, even the most extroverted among us feel anxious.

Not to worry – because scientists have discovered a method to “potentially help people overcome social anxiety”. A recent study of over 700 college students’ lifestyle, exercise and dietary habits, published in Psychiatry Research, concluded that pickles (including pickled cucumbers and our desi achaars) contain probiotics and bioactive peptides that help alleviate anxiety.

So, how do pickles help you de-stress? Research has established a close link between anxiety and our gastro-intestinal system. The probiotics found in pickles and other fermented foods (including Greek yoghurt, kefir and kimchi) reduce gut inflammation, a known trigger of stress-inducing hormones in the body.

Now the million dollar question is: can overcoming anxiety be as simple as eating pickles? Probably not, says Reid Wilson, author of Don’t Panic: Taking Control of Anxiety Attacks. Fermented foods can help people experiencing anxiety only to a certain extent, but when these symptoms become chronic, a visit to a psychologist becomes mandatory.

Another researcher, Matthew Hilimire, points out that eating fermented food can reduce but not eliminate anxiety altogether. As for how much fermented foods should people be eating, he advises that for now, “more is better”.

And that is good news for all of us. A Pakistani dastarkhwan is not considered complete without an assortment of achars, chutneys and raita. In the process of writing this piece, I ended up eating pickles everyday and my moods showed a definite turn for the better.

Therefore, the next time you get goosebumps or feel your heart race, take a deep breath and reach out for a jar of pickles.

- Originally published in the Dawn Advertiser on November 26, 2015

Comments

Waheed Zafar Dec 03, 2015 10:04am
I now use Pickles Made in Olive oil by chatkhaar. they taste great!
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syed shahzad bukhari Dec 03, 2015 10:15am
No doubt pickles (especially our desi ones) made the taste of food awesome now there is another advantage is added to alleviate the anxiety which is good.
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Dr Jamil Dec 03, 2015 11:05am
A systemic review of many studies in 2012 showed that 50% higher risk of stomach cancer was associated with intake of pickled vegetables/foods. Here is link to the study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22499775
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Dr Jamil Dec 03, 2015 11:11am
And double the risk of Esophageal cancers: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19862003
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Qasim Rajput Dec 03, 2015 11:18am
How much anxiety level is reduced by eating picke I don't know but one thing is sure that desi pickle (achar) causes sore throat and stomach burning instantly in many individuals. These types of researches on food items are just promos. After few years a new research will tell you something opposite.
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k k tiwari Dec 03, 2015 02:56pm
My food without Achars, & Dahi is incomplete, Most tasty achhar is in Sarson /Mustard oil
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Parveen Sadiq Dec 04, 2015 05:03am
Achar brings that aroma,which activates the taste buds and gives comfort. Dr.jamil,let people enjoy the taste of achar for a while.Every thing we like has something bad and harmful in it.Within limits nothing delicious is harmful.We have been eating achar since childhood.My grandma used to make aam pickles of at least, ten varieties in the summer.The jars were lined up and put in the sun.The top of the big jars were covered with cloth.This achar used to last the whole year,because they were distributed under her supervision.Those were good old days.
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