I am just getting on the apple cider vinegar train now, though I’m not sure why it took so long. The list of health benefits is quite extensive for this supplement that has been used for thousands of years. Maybe it was because I only thought it was a dressing for salads, or maybe because I knew the taste wasn’t my favorite. Either way, I’m now adding it to my daily diet (just started this week!) and I’m hoping to see how this helps out.
Healthy digestion is essential for a healthy life. Your digestive tract is how your body gets its nutrients, and if its not functioning properly, then you can’t be as healthy as you should. Apple cider vinegar has been known for healing a large number of ailments throughout the ages, and if you’re not on it yet, now is the time.
This all being said, I’ve been looking into why people are using apple cider vinegar and what it does for your health. Here are ____ ways it can help your health, body and life!
1. It reduces blood glucose levels – aka helps control diabetes
In a study by Arizona State University, they found that people who took 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, twice daily with meals, showed significantly lower blood glucose levels after the meal. What this means for people who don’t have diabetes, is that it helps keep your glucose levels in check, and theoretically will minimize your chances of getting diabetes.
2. It lowers bad cholesterol and blood lipids
A 2012 study published in Life Science Journal showed that apple cider vinegar taken over an 8 week period reduced total cholesterol and more significantly reduced blood lipids, which are bad fats found in the blood. This finding is important for people with high cholesterol, or who’s family has the risk of high cholesterol or hyperlipidemia (high concentrations of blood lipids).
3. It aids in digestion
Our stomachs, as soon as you think about or smell food, start producing hydrochloric acid, which is what digests your food. In a lot of people, not enough acid is produced, either due to stress, improper nutrition or allergies. This then means that you’re not digesting well enough. You may notice that food sits ‘heavy’ in your stomach hours after eating. This is caused by not digesting food well enough.
By taking a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water 15-20 minutes before a meal, you start your body’s digestive process and give it a boost as well by increasing hydrochloric acid production.
4. Is a great antioxidant
Within pure apple cider vinegar is beta-carotene, which helps your body fight free radicals that are known to cause some major issues like cancer. The amount of beta-carotene in apple cider vinegar is greatly debated, whether there is enough to make it really worth while, but if you’re taking it for other reasons, this is just an added bonus!
5. It helps your body absorb minerals
Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid and this acid can increase your body’s absorption of important minerals from the foods you eat. So taking a spoonful of vinegar mixed with water just before a meal could help your absorption of the minerals found in your foods.
Overall, apple cider vinegar is wildly debated, from people who believe it has close to magical properties, to those who think its only use could be in salad dressing. While research is still fairly limited, we do know that people have been using apple cider vinegar for hundreds of years for its properties. You can judge yourself.
Do you take it straight with water? Or mixed in a salad? What works for you?
Header image by: Mike Mozart
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Water with ASV dries my mouth. Why? I also need to add lots of salt in my water, I have POTS. Can I mix salt and ACV in my water?
Hi Sam
That’s very interesting. Quick fact: The tannic acid found in ACV (similar to red wine’s tannins) can cause your mouth to feel dry since they decrease the saliva production. Some people are more prone to this than others. Do you drink red wine? Same effect?
As for mixing, you can do that if you don’t mind the taste! Assuming with POTS, you’re used to adding salt to the water, so no harm there.
Use warmer water though, not cold, as it’ll dissolve faster.
I keep an old pickle jar that i use to mix ACV with fresh ginger, garlic, cloves, mustard seed, cumin seed, fennel seed, caraway seed and other stuff that I have laying around. I filter and drink about 2 TBSP of this a day. Delicious and full of good stuff.