Achaar (pickles) are ubiquitous in India and other South Asian countries. The spicy and tangy flavour of pickles is a beneficial addition to a meal. As with any condiment, pickles are often paired with bland foods like rice or roti (flatbread). But did you know that there are also health benefits to eating achaar?
Adding it to your diet may be helpful not just for the taste but also because of the good bacteria and nutrients in this delicious snack! Let’s take a closer look at some scientific reasons why pickles can benefit.
Pickles can help improve the taste of bland dishes.
The other advantage of pickles offers their ability to bring out the flavour of bland dishes. If you’re making a dish on the bland side, pickles can be a great addition that makes it taste more flavorful. This is because different pickles have different flavours and textures, which can enhance any dish.
For example:
- Dried mango powder or amchur (dried mango) is often used in North Indian cuisine to add flavour to soups and stews made with lentils, like dal makhani or sambar.
- Tamarind pulp has a tart flavour that works well with meats and seafood; it also pairs well with coconut milk-based curries such as Thai curry paste!
Pickles have good bacteria from fermentation.
If you’re looking for a good source of probiotics, look no further than your pickles. Pickling is a fermentation process that uses salt and sometimes sugar to produce lactic acid. This lactic acid creates the perfect environment for good bacteria to thrive, which means pickles are packed with probiotics!
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that help keep your digestive system running smoothly with pickles (and they can also improve your immune system). In addition, people who regularly consume probiotics have been shown to have lower levels of depression and anxiety compared to those who don’t eat foods containing probiotics regularly.
One study has even found that people who eat fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi may experience weight loss over time because these foods contain fibre—fibre helps us feel full longer, so we don’t overeat later on down the road!
Pickles can be a source of valuable vitamins and minerals.
Pickles are a good source of Vitamin C and Vitamin K. The most critical factor in the effect of these vitamins on your health is their antioxidant activity. Antioxidants protect your body from damage caused by free radicals, which can lead to various types of cancer, heart disease and other serious illnesses.
Vitamin C promotes wound healing and helps fight infections. It also improves blood flow through the blood vessels by widening them slightly, thus lowering blood pressure and improving circulation. In addition to this benefit, it increases iron absorption from food sources by up to three times its standard rate – an excellent way to increase your intake without resorting to supplements!
Vitamin K supports bone health by helping regulate calcium levels in the body. While maintaining proper blood clotting function (it plays a vital role in preventing excessive bleeding during childbirth). Together with vitamin D3 and magnesium sulfate (another mineral), it helps prevent osteoporosis (a condition where bones become brittle over time).
You may consider adding pickles to your diet for flavour, fibre, and nutritional value.
Pickles can be a good source of fibre, vitamins, and minerals.
When it comes to pickles, you may want to consider adding them to your diet for flavour, fibre and nutritional value. Pickles are often a good source of vitamins A & C, calcium, and iron. They are also a beneficial to get probiotics into your system!
You may find that pickles can help improve the taste of bland dishes or even provide an extra kick when added to other foods such as sandwiches or burgers!
Conclusion
In conclusion, achaar is not just an acquired taste; it’s a healthy addition to any diet. It can help improve the flavour of bland dishes and act as a source of beneficial bacteria and vitamins. There are many more reasons pickles are beneficial for you, so give it some thought next time you’re at your local grocery store or Indian restaurant.
