Image By Madeleine Steinbach
Can apple cider vinegar improve your health? Many people swear by apple cider vinegar for a whole range of health benefits. While more research is needed to investigate some of these claims, there are a few that show promise.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Before we dive into the potential benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar, or ACV, let’s talk about what exactly this magical elixir is. Basically, apple cider vinegar is the product of fermented apple juice. It all comes together with three main components: apples, sugar, and yeast. Natural yeast eats away at the sugars in the apples, therefore turning apple juice into cider. Now if you love apple cider, you may just stop the process here. However, if you keep the process going, growing bacteria colonies will begin turning the cider into acetic acid, at which point it becomes vinegar.
Research
ACV may help improve insulin resistance in prediabetic individuals and increase satiety after a meal. During trials, test subjects ingested vinegar before a meal. 30 minutes after eating, measurements of blood glucose and insulin sensitivity were taken. Those subjects with type 2 diabetes did not see a huge decrease in blood sugar, however, there was an improvement in insulin sensitivity following the meal. The best results were observed in healthy individuals and those with insulin resistance (high risk for developing type 2 diabetes). Insulin-resistant individuals experienced a 64% reduction in blood sugar and a 34% improvement in insulin sensitivity following their meal when compared to the placebo group. Healthy individuals also experienced significant results. Because of these outcomes, some experts maintain that acetic acid may one day be used to help and slow or even prevent the development of type 2 diabetes in high-risk individuals.
Satiety following a meal also showed a linear connection to vinegar. Participants in multiple studies reported feeling fuller and more satisfied following a meal with vinegar. Total calories consumed during the day were subsequentially reduced because of this.
Further evidence, collected in trials on rats, suggests that ACV may slow the growth of tumors and improve blood pressure. However, further investigation via human trials will be necessary to determine if it provides these same benefits in people.
Consumption
A quick search online will produce many easy recipes to help you incorporate ACV into your diet. Take a look at some of the common uses below:
- Salad dressings and marinades with ACV are both delicious and easy to throw together.
- The easiest way to consume ACV is to mix it into water and drink it. You should not consume it straight out of the bottle as the acidity can damage your teeth and oral tissues. Dilute it with water and stir together thoroughly before drinking. Adding citrus juices to the mix may help improve the flavor.
- For a more ambitious approach, try using ACV to make your own pickled vegetables.
As with anything, if you are wanting to incorporate ACV into your diet for regular medicinal use, make sure that it is safe. Some medications may be impacted by apple cider vinegar, so be sure to consult with your doctor before starting a regimen.
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