A study in the August issue of Psychiatry Research finds that fermented foods— such as pickles, sauerkraut, and yogurt—eases the eater’s social anxiety and in particular their neuroticism. The culprit: Probiotics or healthy bacteria that ferments the food.

Why do I crave pickles?

A craving for pickles could simply mean you are dehydrated. When your electrolytes are out of whack, the salty nature of pickles and their beautiful green juice they call home can help alleviate this problem and restore the right balance back to your body.

Are pickles addictive?

Pickles are high in sodium (salt is added to the brine in order to preserve them—and make them extra tasty, of course). … “Research shows that salt, just like sugar, can be addictive and hit the areas of the brain that put out signals for cravings,” registered dietician Amy Shapiro of Real Nutrition tells us.