Apple cider vinegar balances blood sugar and this can reduce cravings for sweets. If you are craving sugar, drink 240 milliliters of water (one cup) with 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and your craving will disappear.
As the name implies, apple cider vinegar is made from apples: cores, peels, pulp, and everything. To turn apples into vinegar, they must be combined with yeast, which starts the fermentation process.
Here’s a fun fact: vinegar is believed to have been discovered by accident. This as a result of letting the wine settle for too long. And that’s where its name comes from: vinaigre, which is French for „sour wine.“
Making apple cider vinegar is a two-step process. First, the yeast breaks down the fructose (sugar) in apples and turns it into alcohol, which is called fermentation. The bacteria produced during the fermentation process then further break down the alcohol into a compound called acetic acid.
Acetic acid is the active ingredient found in all types of vinegar, and it is what gives vinegar its characteristic sour taste and smell. Studies suggest that acetic acid is one of the reasons apple cider vinegar is said to have so many natural health benefits.
This is because acetic acid has mycobactericidal activity, which means that it can prevent certain types of harmful bacteria from growing and multiplying. Especially those that lead to tuberculosis. For this reason, acetic acid is commonly used in hospitals and added to prescription drugs. The uses of apple cider vinegar in natural medicine date back more than 6,000 years, when it was used to treat the plague.
Why is apple cider vinegar so good?
But here’s the million-dollar question: If every type of vinegar contains acetic acid, what makes apple cider vinegar so special?
For starters, apples are a healthy food. So naturally, you would assume that the vinegar made from these bad boys would be just as nutritious. While it is true that vinegar made from apples can provide more antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals than vinegar made from distilled grains. An important factor that differentiates this from other types of vinegar is that it contains something called „the mother.“
Have you ever picked up a bottle of raw or unfiltered apple cider vinegar? If so, you may have noticed a sticky substance, like cobweb, floating near the bottom of the bottle. This is called „the mother.“
The mother is essentially a ball of acetic acid, cellulose (fiber), enzymes, and bacteria. In other words, it’s where all the „good stuff“ is concentrated. The mother is what gives apple cider vinegar its cloudy appearance.
Raw, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar is the only type of vinegar that is sold with the mother. So many people believe that apple cider vinegar is more nutritious than the other varieties.
Health benefits of apple cider vinegar (backed by science)
Some grocery stores sell apple cider vinegar that has been pasteurized, which means that it does not contain the mother. Therefore, if you want to get the maximum benefits from apple cider vinegar, you will want to make your own product at home, or choose a brand that says „unprocessed“ or „unpasteurized“ on the label.
1. Powerful antibacterial properties
Acetic acid is powerful enough to kill the mycobacteria that can cause tuberculosis. And mycobacteria are one of the most difficult types of bacteria to destroy. They are often referred to as the bacteria most resistant to disinfectants.
Based on these findings, studies suggest that acetic acid is powerful enough to kill other types of bacteria, making it useful as a non-toxic disinfectant for products, as well as a good household cleaning agent for disinfecting toilets and other surfaces.
2. Promotes natural weight loss
One of the biggest benefits over consuming apple cider vinegar is that it is a weight loss tonic that speeds up your metabolism.
Unfortunately, the weight loss myth about apple cider vinegar is largely just a myth. However, the acetic acid in apple cider vinegar can help balance high blood sugar. Which can promote slow and gradual weight loss.
One study showed that acetic acid could help reduce the body’s insulin response to refined carbohydrates, which is a primary mechanism that triggers fat storage. People who participated in this particular study also said they felt more satisfied after meals when they consumed vinegar with white bread, compared to those who ate bread alone.
This may also explain why vinegar tea is one of the oldest folk remedies for managing diabetes, as insulin resistance is considered a precursor to type 2 diabetes.
3. Reduce sugar cravings
One of the reasons we have intense sugar cravings is due to blood sugar spikes and crashes. Those crashes are often the result of eating refined carbohydrates, which cause a rapid fluctuation in blood sugar levels. Because the acetic acid in apple cider vinegar helps balance blood sugar levels, taking apple cider vinegar with or before meals can help prevent cravings during the day.
4. Helps with nutrient absorption
Leaving vegetables in apple cider vinegar or sprinkling it over vegetables can help you absorb the essential vitamins and minerals from those foods more easily. Acetic acid is said to help improve the absorption of nutrients, especially iron. This is an important health benefit for those on a vegetarian or vegan diet, as iron from plants (non-heme iron) is more difficult for the body to absorb than heme iron, which comes from animal products.
5. Increases immunity
Some research shows that apple cider vinegar has antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties, making it a good natural remedy during cold and flu season, both as a preventative measure and as a food to eat when you are sick or have a sore throat.
6. Acts as a natural food preservative
If you are looking for an effective way to make your food last longer, adding apple cider vinegar can go a long way. One study found that acetic acid was effective in preventing the growth of foodborne pathogenic bacteria, such as E. coli and salmonella.
Apple cider vinegar precautions
We have a tip when it comes to apple cider vinegar: If you plan to drink it directly or add it to your juice recipes, always use a straw or sorbet. The acid in undiluted apple cider vinegar is extremely strong and can weaken tooth enamel, making it more prone to cavities.
