Whether you’re aiming to lose weight or incorporate healthier habits in your life, vinegar, especially that of apple cider, makes for one of the healthiest additions to your diet. In fact, it’s produced by fermented apple juice and has a wide range of applications – from being a popular folk remedy for a variety of conditions, to being used as a powerful disinfectant and natural preservative. Here are a couple of the most important benefits you can reap by consuming this natural vinegar.
Weight Loss
If you’re looking for a way to tackle those couple of extra kilograms, don’t wait to visit your favourite supplement store or buy apple cider vitamins and vinegar online. In fact, research has shown that taking a dose of this vinegar before or with a meal can significantly reduce your appetite, make you feel full faster and therefore, help you lose weight.
On top of that, it’s also been shown to help lose visceral fat, the fat around the organs in your abdomen which is one of the main risks for heart diseases. And this can also be easily achieved by taking supplements instead of raw vinegar.
Reducing Heart Disease Risk
This natural vinegar has been shown to lower the levels of blood lipids such as triglycerides, LDL (bad) cholesterol and other fatty substances that can cause cardiovascular diseases. In fact, research has proved that consuming organic apple cider vinegar increases the levels of HDL (good) cholesterol even when eating a high cholesterol diet.
At this point, it’s essential to mention that this study was focused on animals, and there still aren’t any effects concluded on humans. However, current research implies that vinegar can actually be beneficial and it doesn’t outweigh the risks.
Reducing Blood Pressure
A small study in animals has confirmed that the range of apple cider vitamins may lower blood pressure. This is due to this vinegar being rich in acetic acid, responsible for reducing the levels of renin – an enzyme that is involved in increasing blood pressure. Some research even links these effects of this vinegar with its properties that aid weight loss – lowering blood pressure levels being an indirect effect of weight loss.
Managing Diabetes
One of the most significant benefits of apple cider vinegar supplements is that many advocates claim that it can help in managing diabetes. In fact, they’ve been shown to have an anti-glycaemic effect and therefore, help improve glycaemic control in patients suffering from diabetes.
On the other hand, an analysis in 2017 has proved that consuming this type of vinegar at mealtimes can help lower post-meal blood glucose and insulin levels, and therefore, lower the risk of type II diabetes in healthy adults. When it comes to people suffering from this condition, this vinegar has been shown to improve haemoglobin A1C values (blood sugar levels in red blood cells), but only when consumed on a regular basis.
Soothing Sore Throat
The beneficial apple cider vinegar has been used as a remedy for sore throat by many cultures. And there’s a wide variety of methods and recipes for doing so. For instance, one of the most basic recipes is made of a teaspoon of this vinegar, honey and a pinch of cayenne pepper – all of this stirred in a cup of warm water.
However, keep in mind that vinegar can do more harm than good to your sore throat if not properly consumed. In fact, if not mixed with enough water, it can damage the tissues in the throat, worsen your pain and make it even harder to swallow. So, make sure you consult with your doctor before taking measures on your own.
Antimicrobial Properties
As mentioned above, apple cider vinegars are considered a very powerful natural remedy for curing a plethora of different conditions. This is due to this vinegar’s strong and powerful antibacterial and antifungal properties, which have additionally been scientifically proven as very effective.
Research has shown that apple cider concentrations of 25% have a strong therapeutic activity on E.coli, staph infections and yeast infections. Some studies also imply that it can be used for treating vaginal yeast infections that did not respond to other forms of medical treatments. However, make sure you consult with your doctor before taking any treatments on your own.
Curing Skin Conditions
Even when wearing proper sunscreen, it’s not uncommon for people to suffer from sunburns. And as much as many of them may treat sunburns with cool water compress, different aloe gels and moisturizers, others swear by vinegar for soothing sunburn.
This is due to apple cider vinegar’s strong germ-fighting properties, which may relieve sunburn pain and prevent skin infections caused by sunburn. However, apple vinegar shouldn’t be applied directly to the skin in a concentrated form, and it shouldn’t be used for more serious sunburns.
Except for soothing sunburns, this vinegar may also help in treating acne. In fact, many people claim that dabbing a solution of it in water helped them dry out acne. However, keep in mind that applying fully concentrated cider vinegar to your skin can damage it even more and worsen your condition.
Side Effects of Apple Cider Vinegar
Just like any other supplement, apple cider vitamins and vinegar can have side effects. Since apple cider vinegar is an acid, consuming it into its raw version and in high doses may harm your throat, cause stomach discomfort, and erode your tooth enamel.
However, remember that most of the evidence of these side effects comes from individual case reports, rather than clinical evidence. This is why doctors can’t recommend a dose to reap most of the benefits, and it’s best to start with a low dose and monitor any side effects. Now that you know about the benefits and side effects, it’s time to visit your favourite supplement store and start consuming this multipurpose vinegar.
