Vinegar, especially apple cider vinegar, has been used since ancient times as a remedy to alleviate various health problems. We review what researchers say about the possible benefits it can provide for health.
Among the medicinal uses that have been given to vinegar are the reduction of blood sugar, weight loss, reduce cholesterol, heal wounds and as a detoxifier.
Vinegar is a combination of acetic acid and water. It may also contain traces of vitamins, mineral salts, amino acids and polyphenolic compounds. Apple cider vinegar comes from crushed, distilled and then fermented apples.
1. Blood sugar reduction
Dr. Robert H. Shmerling points out through Harvard Health that a series of studies suggest that vinegar could prevent blood sugar spikes blood in people with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes by blocking the absorption of starch.
“Apple cider vinegar will not cure diabetes, but it can moderately reduce blood glucose levels”, notes Dr. Edwin McDonald IV through UChicago Medicine.
Dr. McDonald indicates that vinegar will not replace any diabetes medication, although it may be an addition to a diabetes treatment plan. diabetes, as long as the person consults their doctor and does not have kidney disease.
Shmerling points out that people with diabetes should be especially careful with a diet high in vinegar, since it is a substance that can alter insulin levels.
2. Lose weight
Mayo Clinic notes that studies on the use of apple cider vinegar for weight loss have not always shown significant and sustainable weight loss in various groups of people .
Harvard Health shares that studies in obese rats and mice suggest that acetic acid may prevent fat accumulation and improve metabolism.
A study published in 2018 in the Journal of Functional Foods found that participants who followed a calorie-restricted diet with apple cider vinegar for 12 weeks lost more weight than those who followed a calorie-restricted diet without vinegar. The study was quite small (39 people) and short-term.
3 . Detoxification
Some people use apple cider vinegar for detoxification. However, health experts do not support that detox diets eliminate toxins from the body.
The body is capable of detoxifying itself, the liver is the main organ responsible for this function.
The National Institutes of Health share that a review by 2015 concluded that there was no convincing research to support the use of “detox” diets for weight control or to remove toxins from the body .
4. Heal wounds
The highly diluted acetic acid, an ingredient in vinegar, can kill harmful bacteria or prevent them from multiplying. It is an agent that at very low concentrations can prevent infection and kill bacteria found in burn wounds, according to researchers at the University of Birmingham and the Center for Microbiology and Surgical Reconstruction Research at the National Institute for Health Research. (from UK).
The study, published in PLOS ONE, demonstrated that low concentrations of acetic acid can be used to treat biofilms from colonizing organisms in wounds and to prevent bacterial colonization of wounds. burns.
The The report on the study indicates that the current use of acetic acid in clinical settings has been limited due to concerns about patient tolerability.
5. Lower Cholesterol
Animal studies have found that apple cider vinegar can lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. There are also some studies carried out in humans, but they are very small and short-term.
The aforementioned study published in the Journal of Functional Foods in 2018 found that participants on a restricted diet who took apple cider vinegar not only lost more weight than those who took a placebo, but also had lower triglycerides and total cholesterol.
Further research is required for scientists to have solid conclusions.
6. Precautions when consuming vinegar
Vinegar should be consumed moderately and diluted. Due to its acidity, it can damage teeth, hurt the throat or cause stomach upset.
The recommendations are of the order of 1 to 2 teaspoons of vinegar before or with meals.
Consumption of vinegar can worsen low potassium levels. What should be considered by people who take drugs that can reduce potassium, such as diuretics to treat high blood pressure.
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