Apple cider vinegar has been used as a tonic and a health aid for centuries. Hippocrates (500 B.C), the father of medicine, administered apple cider vinegar with honey as a natural treatment for coughs and other viral infections. This is the first historical record of apple cider vinegar and its role in health. Today, with the resurgence in the use of natural remedies, apple cider vinegar and especially organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar has become a popular best selling natural health product. So what are the health benefits of apple cider vinegar?
Diabetic Health Aid
Apple cider vinegar and its ability to help regulate blood sugar is a health benefit that is founded strongly in scientific evidence. A number of studies have all conclusively shown that taking a tablespoon or two of apple cider vinegar with or just before a meal has beneficial effects for diabetics who suffer with hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia is a condition in which insulin doesn’t effectively move sugar out of the blood and into our cells after a meal. If blood sugar blood levels become too high then there is a risk of coma or even death.
Researchers found that an ingredient in apple cider vinegar called acetic acid has an inhibitory effect upon the enzymes that digest and break down complex carbohydrates into sugars to be released into the blood stream. As a result some of the carbohydrates in a meal just pass straight through undigested and therefore don’t contribute to raising blood sugar levels. Every study so far has reported that in those who eat the same meals at the same time, that the ones who take apple cider vinegar display a smaller raise in blood sugar levels than those who don’t.
Weight Loss Aid
Apple cider vinegar benefits any diet program for two good reasons.
1) Apple cider vinegar inhibits the digestion of some complex carbohydrates when taken with a meal (as explained above). This means that less calories will be digested from a meal.
2) A study found that people who ate a piece of bread with apple cider vinegar felt more full than if they ate a piece of bread alone. It is possible that the slowing down of carbohydrate digestion is the reason for this added feeling of satiety.
Heartburn Remedy
The benefits of apple cider vinegar for helping to combat the symptoms of heartburn is a well documented one. Although it might seem strange at first that using such an acidic substance as apple cider vinegar can help with an acidic condition like heartburn, there are many testimonials to this effect! It is believed that apple cider vinegar benefits heartburn because it is less acidic than excess stomach acid but still acidic enough to help breakdown food, therefore helping to deliver a more optimum digestive PH environment. It is recommended to take two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a small glass of water if you are suffering from an episode of heartburn. Taking two tablespoons everyday has helped some people eliminate heartburn symptoms. Juicing specific fruits and vegetables is another natural method that can be used as heartburn remedies.