I have been Turned-On to Cider Vinegar for quite some time… it is truly a most wonderous Wellness Enhancer!

Along with my Cultic Green Tea Consumption, Cider Vinegar has another one of my daily go-toes.

Its antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal properties makes Cider Vinegar a multi-purpose detox agent that freshen breath, cures dandruff, dries up pimples or boils on the outside but what it does internally is even more …Simply Amazing!!

ACETIC ACID – Biochemical Properties

The vinegar is made with a two-step process.

First, bacteria and yeast are added to the apple cider. The sugars in the apples turns into alcohol. It is then further fermented. The alcohol turns into acetic acid.

Acetic Acid is a major component of ACV. The acid is often used for medical purposes. Pharmaceutical versions of acetic acid is used to ear canal conditions and others.

Some researchers suggest it helps control blood pressure and unclog arteries.

Researchers looked at the effects of acetic acid and dietary vinegar on rats with hypertension (high blood pressure). Both were able to significantly reduce blood sugar. The researchers concluded that acetic acid is the reason for the effect by vinegar.

In another research, it was found that acetic acid increased blood flow in the colon. Other acids (butyric and propionic) did not alter blood flow. Those acids even prevents oxygen uptake!

Blood Sugar- Diabetes Inhibitor

Type 2 diabetes is a condition that affects millions worldwide. Diabetics are either unable to produce insulin, or they experience insulin resistant. This means cells don’t respond to insulin the way they should.
Insulin plays a major role in lower blood sugar.

Vinegar was found to improve insulin sensitivity in those with insulin resistance. Even after a high-carb meal, the participants experienced a more significant decrease in blood sugar.

It was able to reduce blood sugar when consumed in the form of salad dressing too. Another study found that just 2 tablespoons of ACV can reduce fasting blood sugar by 4 percent.

This is why many list cider vinegar in diabetic diets.

But if you have type 2 diabetes, remember to check with your doctor first! Make sure there won’t be any complications with your medication!

Some Weight Loss Benefits

ACV is often touted as a dieting miracle. Unfortunately, this claim is riddled with both myths and facts.

The acetic acid in vinegar works against enzymes in your stomach that digests starch. This may stop you from absorbing the calories from the carbs. And this can probably help with weight loss. A handful of studies support this claim.

But no one knows yet how effective ACV is because there have not been enough research done.

However, there is evidence that ACV can make you feel fuller.

It increases satiety, which means you might eat less. In one study, white bread was served with 3 levels of vinegar. The higher the level of acetic acid in the vinegar, the more full the participants felt. They also had lower blood glucose and insulin levels.

The bottom line is, apple cider vinegar can definitely help you. There’s no harm in sipping some before each meal (if you stay within limits). But it will not work any magic by itself. The most effective way of losing weight is still eating healthy and exercise regularly.

Healthier Heart

Cardiovascular disease includes heart disease and stroke. It is currently the leading cause of death.

There are multiple factors that can lead to cardiovascular disease. Some are genetic or environmentally-induced. Some biological factors though, may be decreased with the help of ACV.

In one study, rats were fed a high cholesterol diet. The group that also had acetic acid in their diet had much lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Triglycerides are a type of fat in your blood that can increase risk for heart disease.

In addition to acetic acid, ACV may also contain chlorogenic acid. This antioxidant has effects similar to caffeine. It stops LDL cholesterol particles from oxidizing, shown by various studies. The oxidation of LDL particles crucial in developing heart disease.

Add this to the fact that acetic acid can lower blood pressure, it sounds pretty good! However, most experiments were done on lab rats.

The evidence is promising, but not concrete as of yet. Although, it might be beneficial to add some vinegar salad dressing!

Enhanced Nutrient Absorption

Your stomach is usually at a pH level of 1.0 to 2.0. And now, that is really acidic. To put things into perspective, white distilled vinegar is a 2.4. Battery acid is around 1. Thankfully this acid stays in your stomach (unless there are problems such as acid reflux).

This uber acidic environment is what sterilizes the digestive tract and kills the microbes. When the acid level falls, unfriendly bacteria may start to multiply. On the light side, this can lead to bloating and indigestion. And decreased absorption of vitamins and minerals.

In more extreme cases, it can lead to cancer.

It seems logical to try to up the acid level by ingesting some vinegar. It was also shown that dietary vinegar enhanced calcium absorption in the intestines. Again, this was experimented on our good friend, the rat. But the researchers concluded that this may even help prevent osteoporosis. So it’s still good news!

But, of course, make sure you dilute the apple cider vinegar first. Don’t drink too much acid. Now let’s expand the aforementioned alkalizing effect.

Vinegars, by definition, are pretty acidic. In fact, in the USA, you’re not allowed to label something as vinegar unless the acidity level is at least 4 percent. But unlike others, apple cider vinegar is the one with an alkalizing effect.

Though acidic, ACV promotes an alkaline environment inside your body. This is due to how ACV is broken down and digested. Many viruses and bacteria are unable to live in an alkaline environment.

When you don’t have enough alkaline, your body takes calcium in an attempt to become alkaline. This leeching of calcium can lead to loss of bone density and osteoporosis.

Amazing Probiotic

You’ve probably heard all about probiotics. They are live microorganisms that help with digestion and destroy harmful bacteria. We know them from yogurt and other products, such as skin creams.

There are five types of probiotics in apple cider vinegar. They may or may not still be alive when you drink your cup of vinegar though.

Fortunately, there’s another part of the “mother” of ACV (that gunk at the bottom of the bottle): prebiotics.

Prebiotics, as opposed to probiotics, are a special form of fiber. They nourish the friendly bacteria (probiotics) that are already in laying in your gut.

Pectin, the prebiotic, is also what slows absorption of glucose. There have been studies that show pectin binds to cholesterol, causing less of it to be absorbed.

Most benefits from ACV are thanks to prebiotics. So make sure you shake your bottle of ACV well and scoop out the gunk at the bottom!

Increased Muscular Energy

Athletes drink all sorts of concoctions for optimal performance.

One of them is pickle juice. A group of young men who were electronically stimulated to cramp were able to stop cramping faster if they drank pickle juice. The hero is the vinegar that’s part of the pickle juice.

This is probably because vinegar contains potassium. This is one of the seven essential minerals for your body. It is responsible for giving you an energy boost. It also helps fine tune muscle control and sense of touch. Without enough potassium, you get muscle twitches and cramps.

Athletes are also drinking apple cider vinegar. In another research on rats, acetic acid boosts glycogen repletion in skeletal muscles. This means the acid helps your muscles turn carbs into energy. And this will definitely give you more fuel for your exercises.

Cancer Protector

We all know the dangerous implications of cancer. It is one of the leading causes of death in modern day society.

The disease is characterized by an uncontrollable growth of cells. There are many causes and factors for cancer. There are just as many home remedies that can apparently help prevent it.

Experts suggest ACV has beneficial systemic effects, with historical records. But still need to be “rediscovered” by modern science. In a 2004 study, vinegar was found to have an antitumor effect. (The researchers note that rice vinegar had a larger effect than wine and apple vinegars though).

The fermentation process of ACV formed a neutral alpha-glycan content. This was able to decrease cancerous tumors in mice. Again, it might have a different effect on actual humans. But it’s still a good start!

Give It a Try ???

I often hear that Cider Vinegar tastes nasty and has a medicinal quality. It’s quite amusing that the same people say the same thing about drinking tea. Our diet that is so extensively favored with sugars and fat makes it difficult for most people to get used to the astringent quality of both Cider Vinegar and Green Tea.

For those folks that feel that way …No Pain – No Gain…

So Drink Up….the impact on your Wellness will Simply Amaze You.