Health Benefits Of Apple Cider Vinegar
The bottom line
Apple cider vinegar is made by fermenting apple juice into alcohol and then into acetic acid. Some people believe that the "mother" is responsible for most of the health benefits, although there are currently no studies to support this. It is very important not to replace medical treatment for diabetes with an unproven health product or practice.
This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.
Key takeaways
- Vinegar is acidic: natural vinegars normally contain in excess of 4 grams of acetic acid per 100 mL.
- Healthy weight loss includes healthy eating patterns, regular physical activity, enough sleep, and stress management.
- People with diabetes should follow the eating plan recommended by their health care team.
- For most people with high blood pressure, a treatment plan may include heart-healthy lifestyle changes alone or with medicines.
- Steps that help prevent osteoporosis include weight-bearing exercise such as walking and a nutritious diet rich in calcium and vitamin D.
This article is published as part of Nutri Inspector’s scholarship application by Cassidy Oliveira who studies at the Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Apple Cider Vinegar is a cider made from apples, when it is organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar also contains “mother,” which is strands of proteins, enzymes and friendly bacteria. Some people believe that the “mother” is responsible for most of the health benefits, although there are currently no studies to support this. With it having friendly bacteria, which is essential for life in humans because not all bacteria is bad, it is a probiotic. The first step exposes crushed apples (or apple cider) to yeast, which ferment the sugars and turn them into alcohol. In the second step, bacteria are added to the alcohol solution, which further ferment the alcohol and turn it into acetic acid… the main active compound in vinegar. Apple Cider Vinegar being a probiotic assists in having healthy gastrointestinal health because of the immune system having a great sum of their healthy bacteria there. I have always heard about the miracles of Apple Cider Vinegar. It ranging to curing MRSA to the weight loss benefits. I always use Apple Cider Vinegar for multiple things for home remedies. Although a few years ago it was considered natural medicine, it it now the biggest trend. Doctor Oz has written articles and talked about it on his show. This meaning it when from a non-popular product to the biggest craze. I will discuss the benefits Apple Cider Vinegar has towards our health in our diet, organ health, and preventative methods or cosmetic healing.
One of the biggest trends I have been seeing all over social media has been the use of Apple Cider Vinegar. On Twitter, everyone was talking about this drink consisting of: Apple Cider Vinegar, warm water, cinnamon, raw honey, cayenne pepper, and lemon juice. This drink benefits our bodies because each ingredient is beneficial to our bodies. The Apple Cider Vinegar is full of enzymes and friendly bacteria, because we do need bacteria in our body so drinking this could be introducing friendly bacteria to your body. Cinnamon is one of the best antioxidants on the planet. It is unclear whether cinnamon supplementation is helpful for diabetes or weight loss. Lastly, raw honey has a world of it’s own benefits. A 2015 review concluded that there was no compelling research to support the use of detox diets for weight management or eliminating toxins from the body. Some people chose to incorporate this in their everyday life and drink it before every meal. Dr.Oz has mentioned that there has been a study and those who ingest Apple Cider Vinegar have an increase of the enzyme, AMPK present in their bodies, which increases fat burning and decreases fat and sugar production in the liver. There has been a study that those in the group whose drank the Apple Cider Vinegar before eating that they were said to be more full and consume less than those who didn’t consume Apple Cider Vinegar (Connealy, 2017). With the Apple Cider Vinegar being apart of someone’s diet, making them feel full wouldn’t be the only thing that would help with weight loss. This leads to weight loss because you are decreasing your calorie intake by feeling full from Apple Cider Vinegar which is 5 calories per teaspoon. Over time this lessening of calories would lead to weight loss. Some researchers believe Apple Cider Vinegar works differently, “The researchers suggest that vinegar may turn on certain genes involved in breaking down fats.” (WebMD). This may be true because Apple Cider Vinegar stimulates the some of the same digestive juices and it helps break down food. This would be aiding ingestion, so if it is weight loss the user is looking for Apple Cider Vinegar could help, but it could also be beneficial to people who have digestion problems. If they are lacking certain digestive acids then the Apple Cider Vinegar could be the fix to their problem. There has been studies that show that Apple Cider Vinegar reduces body fat, it was tested on both animals and humans. Healthy weight loss includes a lifestyle with healthy eating patterns, regular physical activity, enough sleep, and stress management. Others have said that there are effects on the genes that have to do with fat storage or how the fat is burned. There has been many studies done to show the effects on Apple Cider Vinegar and how it stimulate the process of weight loss. There are many theories on how it works but there has been apparent effects on how it can promote weight loss.
There are more benefits than just weight loss, having Apple Cider Vinegar a stable element in your diet is beneficial on other aspects of your health, which will ultimately lead to a better lifestyle. If having Apple Cider Vinegar in your daily nutrition then has effects of your body’s blood sugar levels. With these aspects at health levels you are more likely to lose weight. Dr.Oz has said that one of the key things to lose weight and keep the weight off it to have stable blood sugar levels. With your blood sugar constantly and rapidly changing it effects your weight. It is very important not to replace medical treatment for diabetes with an unproven health product or practice. If you have diabetes or even pre-diabetes, adding apple cider vinegar to your diet may help improve insulin sensitivity and reduce a blood sugar spike. People with diabetes should follow the eating plan recommended by their health care team. Numerous of studies, in both rats and humans, show that vinegar can increase insulin sensitivity and significantly lower blood sugar responses during meals. This means apple cider vinegar can help reduce the effects of sugar or carb-rich meals, along with post-meal cravings and hunger. Having lowered insulin encourages the breakdown of fat, which can then be used as an energy source. Insulin causes the body to store up excess fat, and glucagon signals the body to release the fat and use it as fuel.Blood pressure is a big issue with middle aged people or the elderly. For most people with high blood pressure, a healthcare provider will develop a treatment plan that may include heart-healthy lifestyle changes alone or with medicines. Apple Cider Vinegar increase HDL, or “good” cholesterol, according to a 2006 study reported in Medscape General Medicine.It was also discovered that Apple Cider Vinegar can help control triglycerides. Apple Cider Vinegar is also believed to contain the antioxidant chlorogenic acid, which has been scientifically shown to protect LDL cholesterol particles from becoming oxidized, a key step in the process of heart disease. As the acid-alkaline balance is essential. The body is constantly striving to achieve a state of equilibrium. Just a small change in pH can have a profound effect on body functioning. Many enzymes and chemical reactions in the body work best at a particular pH. Apple Cider Vinegar is acidic: natural vinegars normally contain in excess of 4 grams of acetic acid per 100 mL. Lastly, on detoxing: there have been only a small number of studies on detoxification programs in people, and the studies themselves have been of low quality. Apple Cider Vinegar has many benefits to the whole body.
Besides of the cider having current health benefits, there are preventative and cosmetic benefits. Osteoporosis is a bone disease that develops when bone mineral density and bone mass decreases. This awful disease affects millions of women when they get older. These women lose density of their bones. You can take steps to help prevent the disease by staying physically active with weight-bearing exercises such as walking and by eating a nutritious diet rich in calcium and vitamin D. Apple Cider Vinegar also has a lot of benefits with skin. Personally, when I was in high school, I suffered from really bad acne and I chose not to go with the modern medicine. The current acne medication has extreme side effects and I did not believe it was worth getting rid of my acne. So I read something online that said that Apple Cider Vinegar had results on helping acne. Someone with acne would put the Apple Cider Vinegar on a cotton pad/ball and rub it on their face. The apple cider vinegar because it returns the acidity to our skin and restores that acid mantle. It also kills bacteria, removes excess dirt, oil and makeup and dissolves dead skin cells. It works to get rid of the things that cause acne, while also working as an exfoliator getting rid of the dead skin cells on your face or where ever the acne is located on the body. Although, since the vinegar is acidic it might dry out your skin. Apple cider vinegar’s natural alpha-hydroxy acids and acetic acid will stimulate circulation, as well as minimize pores. Another benefit it has is with slow the aging, doing treatments on your skin helps prevent the sagging and wrinkling of the skin. Which is bound to happen when you get older.The antioxidant properties in vinegar can help prevent premature aging and even aid in slowing down the aging process. It is also used for health and beauty, ranging from bug bites, bruise healer, sunburn relief, to getting rid of dandruff and being a razor bump remedy. The anti-inflammatory properties of apple cider vinegar soothe irritated skin, and acetic acid softens skin to help ingrown hairs grow out more easily.
Apple Cider Vinegar has so many uses and is so beneficial to our health. From weight loss, to getting rid of acne. Apple Cider Vinegar goes from a household item to the solution of the decade. Although since it is so new to daily use in our bodies, we don’t know the long term effects it might have on our body. It is truly amazing how many uses and benefits it has. In my biased opinion, every person should have a bottle of Apple Cider Vinegar for whatever health problems they have.
