For centuries apple cider vinegar has been used as an effective home remedy in cooking as well as medicine. Due to its high antimicrobial and antioxidant content, apple cider vinegar has extremely healthful properties which can help you combat any disease.

Apart from strengthening your immune system, it also helps in reducing weight, cholesterol, reduction in blood sugar levels and also reducing the symptoms of diabetes.

4 Health benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

Here are some health benefits of ACV, which can surely have a positive effect on the overall wellness of the body.

1. Nutrient-Rich

Apple cider vinegar is a highly nutritious and healthful substance due to the way it’s made. ACV is made in two processes.

First, the apples will be crushed by the manufacturer before exposing them off to yeast. Upon this exposure to yeast, these crushed apples will ferment into sugar and then turn into alcohol. For further fermenting the process, the manufacturer will add bacteria which will escalate the process of fermentation of the alcohol.

This further fermentation will turn the alcohol into acetic acid, which is primarily the active compound of vinegar. The strong sour smell of vinegar is induced by acetic acid, which is also one of the reasons why apple cider vinegar is so healthy.

However, if you are consuming the raw or organic form of apple cider vinegar, you will see a murky appearance called mother, which is more healthful due to the presence of proteins, enzymes, and healthy bacteria.

Apple cider vinegar also contains some vital nutrients and vitamins, along with some amount of potassium, amino acids, and antioxidants.

2. Helps in killing harmful bacteria:

Vinegar is one of the most effective products to kill pathogens and bacteria. For centuries, people have been using vinegar for cleansing and treating fungus, lice, and ear infections. Even Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, had used vinegar for cleaning and treating wounds.

Vinegar is also sometimes used as a food preservative to prevent E.coli., a bacteria that spreads and spoils food.  

Not only in food but apple cider vinegar, if diluted, can also help you with acne, if you have acne-prone skin.

3. Help you to manage blood sugar levels and diabetes:

Type 2 diabetes generally causes high blood sugar levels which result from the body’s inability to produce insulin. Apple cider vinegar is one of the best and most convincing products when it comes to treating type 2 diabetes.

According to a small study undertaken by a group of researchers, it was revealed that insulin may improve the sensitivity of insulin by 20 to 35 % and lower the blood sugar levels significantly.

Not only that, when a small study was conducted on a group of people suffering from diabetes it was revealed that when they consumed two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before bedtime, their blood sugar was reduced by 4% the following morning.

Although apple cider vinegar has such inciting health benefits when it comes to diabetes and blood sugar levels, sufficient research is still required in this area. Therefore, before beginning to consume ACV, it is essential to consult your doctor, especially when you are on other blood-sugar controlling medications.

Other ways to reduce blood sugar levels could be reduced by consuming refined carbohydrates and sugar.

4. Help you to escalate the process of weight loss

According to the research conducted by health experts, it was revealed that vinegar could help people in losing weight. This is achieved because vinegar induces the feeling of fullness which can lead an individual to consume fewer calories and fat.

In addition to this, if you consume vinegar along with a high carbohydrate meal, you will feel an increased feeling of fullness. Consequently, this can lead to eating 200 to 275 fewer calories throughout the day.

As per the study conducted on 175 people, it was revealed that the daily consumption of apple cider vinegar can lead to a reduction in belly fat and even weight loss in three months. For instance, if you are taking one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar you may lose a total of 2.6 pounds. Perhaps, if you take two tablespoons of ACV, you may also lose around 1.8 or 2 kgs.

Moreover, apple cider vinegar may also act as a catalyst in your weight loss process by lowering blood sugar levels as well as the levels of insulin in your body. Apple cider vinegar itself carries only three calories per tablespoon.

Apple cider vinegar has also been believed to treat men suffering from erectile dysfunction. However, there has been no sufficient research done in this area, which could give us any substantial results.

Are there any side effects of Apple Cider Vinegar?

Although the health benefits of apple cider vinegar are many, due to the lack of sufficient research done in this area, its benefits remain null. Moreover, it is not strong enough to replace the treatments carried out for diabetes or weight problems. Therefore, if you are suffering from any other comorbidities, it is best to talk to your doctor and consult him regarding this.  

As mentioned earlier, apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid. If this acetic acid is taken in a larger amount or consumed in its raw form, it can cause pain or discomfort in your stomach. Not only the stomach, but it could also cause harm to your throat, mouth, and esophagus. Acetic acid is also believed to erode tooth enamel.

More often than not, if you are suffering from any comorbidities, you are supposed to take the related medications. Therefore, if you are taking any diuretic or insulin medications, you should not be consuming apple cider vinegar regularly, as it can reduce the effectiveness of these medications.

In conclusion, it is recommended to consult your doctor before you begin consuming apple cider vinegar.  

Also Read: Apple Cider Vinegar