You may know apple cider vinegar is a natural product that you can use to enhance the flavors of your daily meals, but did you know that this vinegar actually has health benefits? Around 5,000 B.C. Babylonians used fruit of the date palm to make wine and vinegar. The Babylonians also used apple cider vinegar as an additive for food and as a preserving and pickling agent.
Residues of apple cider vinegar were found in ancient Egyptain urns around 3,000 B.C. and texts of this vinegar’s use were documented in China back around 1,200 B.C. In biblical times apple cider vinegar was used to flavor foods while also being used as strong drinks and medicine. In 1775 10% of all New England farms owned and operated cider milling and pressing machinery to produce this vinegar. Here are some of its health benefits:
Antifungal Properties
Apple cider vinegar, when used in moderation, is actually good for your teeth as it has a protective effect. It is considered to be a therapeutic alternative for patients with denture stomatitis. After 30 minutes of exposure, there was found to be a fungicidal effect in apple cider vinegar. It is also believed that apple cider vinegar serves as a great home remedy for treating finger and toenail fungus. This is made possible because ACV restores proper pH balance of the skin and nail. With ACV a fungal infection can no longer penetrate the body as well as it did before. Apply a few drops of ACV directly onto the infected area for a few minutes and let it seep into the nail.
Your Stomach Will Feel Full Longer
A study conducted in Sweden involved vinegar with three levels of acetic acid being tested. Vinegar served on white bread was used as breakfast in randomized order after participants fasted overnight, and blood samples were taken during a 120 minute period after ingestion. The results showed that a significant dose-response relation at 30 minutes for blood glucose and serum insulin responses. The higher the levels were in acetic acid, the lower the metabolic responses. Test subjects felt more satisfied 90 minutes after consuming the white bread that had apple cider vinegar.
Better Cholesterol Levels
There is also a protective effect in ACV against erythocyte, kidney, and liver oxidative injury. One study showed that serum lipid levels can be lowered, and that oxidative stress scavenging effects can be produced from apple cider vinegar consumption. Another study found that ACV can lower serum glucose levels, decrease plasma levels of total cholesterol, including LDL-c and VLDL while increasing HDL-c. This study concludes that ACV has a satiating effect for the body and that the risk of atherogenesis can be prevented with enough ACV consumption.
Powerful Health Benefit: Weight Loss
Apple cider vinegar actually helps make a weight loss program more effective. Published in the journal titled The Bioscience, Bictechnology and Biochemistry in 2009, 3 months of regular ACV consumption led to a significant decrease in body weight, abdominal fat, waist circumference and triglycerides. There are various methods of using apple cider vinegar. One method is to mix 2 teaspoons of ACV along with 8 ounces of water in a glass. A person should consume this drink through a straw to protect enamel damage, and this drink can be consumed before and after meals. Preferably an organic version of ACV should be consumed in this drink mixture 2 or 3 times a day. The late Dr. D.C. Jarvis of Vermont suggested that 2 tablespoons of ACV mixed with water and honey before each meal should be consumed several times daily.
Prevents Heartburn
A study conducted by Arizona State University student Zoe Yeh had the efficacy of organic apple cider vinegar on the heartburn symptom related to Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) thoroughly tested. 4 trial arms were tested which were chili (placebo), antacid after chili, vinegar in chili, and diluted vinegar in chili. 20 grams of vinegar were added to one chili meal. The ingestion of this organic vinegar appeared to alleviate heartburn symptoms for some of the people who were tested, which were 3 men and 8 women. The positive effects of ACV consumption became clear around 60 to 75 minutes after consumption.
Effective Treatment for Tremors
A tremor is an involuntary muscle contraction and relaxation involving twitching movements of one or more body parts. Tremors are associated with Parkinson’s Disease. Sarah DeMeo has worked alongside her strength and conditioning coach Dr. Travis Illian for USA Gymnastics, and this Alabama University student documents in her blog dedicated to apple cider vinegar studies that ACV effectively treats tremors. Ashley Priess, who competed on the USA Gymnastics team, visited several doctors, including 3 neurologists. Her family had no past in having tremors or Parkinson’s Disease, and it was determined that she was having tremors due to an allergic reaction to an influenza vaccine.
Originally taking ACV for detoxifying purposes, Ashley states that by taking 1 tablespoon of ACV 3 times a day led to gradual improvement of her condition. 1 and ½ years later after experiencing tremors again Ashley went back to taking ACV and 2 weeks after regular consumption, her involuntary shaking stopped again.
An Awesome Skin Care Ingredient
If you happen to have warts on your skin, then apple cider vinegar would be a great secret weapon to have. It is suggested by Sarah DeMeo that a person soaks his or her warts in apple cider vinegar for 20 minutes, and then gently scrape the dead skin off by using a pumice stone. Next dip a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar and place it directly on the wart. It is even recommended that one sleep overnight with the cotton ball still on. After 3 weeks of treatment the warts will turn black and you can then scrape them off for good.
Apple cider vinegar isn’t only helpful for warts, but also for a bad case of acne. ACV is a natural anti-inflammatory product as it is rich in Alpha Hydroxy acids, and can also dissolve fatty deposits on the skin, such as flakes and dry patches. ACV maintains the pH balance of the skin, as mentioned before. ACV can also lighten sun burn spots and aging spots on the skin. Applying a mixture of 1 part ACV and 3 parts water on the face 2 or 3 times a day and letting that mixture rest for 20 minutes reportedly helps the skin.
A good base for a skin cream can include apple cider vinegar, wheat germ oil, marula oil and jojoba oil which are all known to help treat skin conditions.
Produces Energy for Your Muscles
According to one study acetic acids such as apple cider vinegar can inhibit glycolysis by suppression of phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK1). Acetic acid helps the muscles turn carbohydrates into energy to fuel intense exercises, which explains why endurance athletes sometimes drink diluted vinegar before loading on carbs the day before competing.
