i don't know, but: my great grandmother who lived to be 102 made her own pickles from the cucumbers in her garden and drank the brine like they were cocktails. every night.

that alone makes me want to take up a pickle juice habit.

No only is it rich in beneficial bacteria, it tastes like the pickles that fermented in it, and it is really good for your skin(applied topically)! A friend of mine who owns a sauerkraut business locally sells the brine in pint jars for nearly as much as the veggies, so drink up! In my experience though, it's good to go slowly at first, especially if you are not used to a lot of fermented foods. One can easily overdo it and cause some intestinal distress. Build slowly up to drinking a whole glass.

In my culture pickle juice is used as a remedy for hangovers. Most guys drink it for breakfast "the morning after". They would kill you if you threw any of it away - it is like priceless.

Also, you can add it to soups - it makes the flavor more acidic.

Yes, it holds much of the microbes that fermented your cucumbers. The juice is a terrific tonic. Enjoy. Don't cook it unless your just adding it to a dish for flavor :)

Pickle juice cures muscle cramps and is used by many athletes due to its restoration of electrolytes lost during work outs.

I been ashamed that I do this, so glad to know I'm not alone!