5 Health Benefits Of Vinegar
Helps with type 2 diabetes, prevents heart problems, can be used as a disinfectant … Apple cider vinegar has multiple properties that we can take advantage of for the benefit of our Health.
Vinegar is an ancient folk remedy that has been used to help with all kinds of health problems. There are different types of vinegar within the field of natural health, but surely the most popular is apple cider vinegar.
It is said to have all kinds of beneficial effects, some of which have been proven by science. These include losing weight, maintaining low blood cholesterol levels, and lowering blood pressure.
Remember that, despite its possible beneficial effects on health, vinegar cannot replace the doctor’s diagnosis, nor its indications. Here are five health benefits of this vinegar:
1. It is rich in acetic acid
As stated in the previously cited research by Escobar (2010), apple cider vinegar has a large amount of acetic acid. This liquid is made in a process that consists of two steps:
- The crushed apples (or apple cider) are exposed to yeast, which ferments the sugars and turns them into alcohol.
- Bacteria are added to the solution, further fermenting the alcohol into acetic acid, the main active compound in vinegar.
Unfiltered apple cider vinegar contains protein filaments, enzymes, and bacteria that give the product a cloudy appearance, with some particles called “mother”. Some people believe that the “mother” is responsible for most of the benefits, although there are currently no studies to support this.
Apple cider vinegar contains about 3 calories per tablespoon, which is very low. It doesn’t contain many vitamins (although it does have vitamin A) or minerals, but it does contain a small amount of potassium. Quality apple cider vinegar also contains some amino acids and antioxidants.
2. Vinegar can help kill pathogens, including bacteria
Acetic acid is antimicrobial and can kill some types of bacteria. Traditionally, it has been used for cleaning and disinfecting, treating nail fungus, lice, warts, and ear infections. It is also said in the research cited above that vinegar helps with acne when applied to the skin.
However, many of these applications have not been confirmed by research. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, used vinegar to clean wounds more than two thousand years ago.
Finally, it has also been used as a food preservative, and studies show that it inhibits bacteria (such as E. coli).
3. Lowers blood sugar
The most successful application of vinegar to date is that tested in patients with type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by having elevated blood sugar levels, either in the context of insulin resistance or the inability to produce insulin.
However, high blood sugar levels can also be a problem in people who do not have diabetes, a condition that is believed to be a major cause of aging and several chronic diseases.
The most effective way to alleviate this problem is to avoid carbohydrates and refined sugar, but vinegar can also have a powerful effect:
It has been scientifically proven that:
- Vinegar improves insulin sensitivity during a high carbohydrate meal by 19-34%.
- Significantly lowers blood glucose and increases insulin response.
- Reduces blood sugar by 34% when eating 50 grams of white bread.
- Two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before bed can lower fasting blood glucose by 4%.
Many other studies, both in rats and humans, show that it can increase insulin sensitivity and lead to significantly lower blood sugar levels during meals.
4. It can help with weight loss
Since vinegar lowers blood sugar and insulin levels, it makes sense to think that it might help you lose weight. In addition, as detailed in the first study cited, it has a satiating effect and helps intestinal transit, two other factors that can influence a person’s weight.
It should be added that individual foods or ingredients rarely have a noticeable effect on weight. It is diet in general and lifestyle that really count, so it is necessary to combine several effective methods to see effective results.
5. Benefits for heart health
Because of its action on cholesterol and blood pressure, apple cider vinegar may help improve heart health. However, it is clear that these are not the only factors that influence these problems, so it is not only enough with its intake to be safe; we must also lead a healthy life and exercise.
Precautions:
- Vinegar can interact with medications.
- It can be dangerous for insulin-dependent diabetics.
- It is not recommended for people with stomach ulcers.
- Before including it in a diet, we must consult a doctor.
After seeing all these benefits that apple cider vinegar brings to your health, you should not hesitate to start consuming it and using it. Consult your trusted nutritionist and add it to your recipes.
