Some people enjoy apple cider vinegar as a dressing for their foods. But recently, people have started exploring apple cider vinegar as a whole lot more than a condiment. There have been claims for several centuries that apple cider vinegar can promote a person’s health and well-being and provide a variety of health benefits.
What makes apple cider vinegar quite unique is the fact that certain organic formulations contain the original pulp of the apple, which when fermented, is referred to as “the mother”. This part of the apple cider vinegar is rich in vitamins, minerals enzymes, and even probiotic bacteria.
The claimed benefits of apple cider vinegar
All of the nutrients in apple cider vinegar have the potential to cause great health benefits for the body. Some of the suggested benefits of apple cider vinegar include:
- Improved potassium intake
- Improved immune system functioning due to vitamins
- Weight loss
- Body pH balance
- Assisting digestion
- Improving the gut microbiome
- Maintaining the health of the skin, including reducing acne
- Reducing appetite
- Assistance with cholesterol
- Controlling diabetes type 2
- Removing “sludge toxins” from the body
Many of these claims are anecdotal and a lot more research is needed but there are a few benefits that are proven by science.
What the science says
There are a few small scale studies that have researched the effect of apple cider vinegar in relation to some health factors. Participants who took apple cider vinegar significantly lowered their blood glucose. The participants also reported that their appetite was produced after consuming a meal with apple cider vinegar.
There is also a study that proved that apple cider vinegar reduced body weight and total fats in its participants. A reduction in the amount of circulating fats also reduces the risk of atherosclerosis, the hardening of arteries, which in turn reduces the risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
The majority of the proven health benefits provided by apple cider vinegar reduce the risk of developing metabolic syndrome, which is essentially an unhealthy state where the body is filled with toxins and is quite pro-inflammatory.
How to detox with apple cider vinegar
One of the recipes for a detox solution is made by mixing one or two tablespoons of unfiltered apple cider vinegar with 8 ounces of water and then adding one or two teaspoons of honey or stevia. Some recipes also contain lemon juice or pepper. Generally, this solution is taken three times a day: when getting out of bed, in the mid morning and in the mid afternoon.
Some considerations
It’s important to make sure that the apple cider vinegar is diluted or it could cause some serious side effects like tooth erosion and burning in the throat. It is also important to consult your doctor if you are taking any medications, as apple cider vinegar could interfere with that. Any sort of long-term health conditions like diabetes or even pregnancy might also be affected differently by the detox, so be sure to consult.
