Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits

Apple cider vinegar, also commonly referred to as cider vinegar or ACV, is made from cider or apple must. It typically has a brownish-yellow color and is often sold unfiltered and unpasteurized as a natural product and more recently as a health supplement.

The wide and popular use of vinegar has been a constant theme in the ancient times for promoting good health, weight loss properties and anti-aging related remedies. Historically, the Egyptians as far back as 3000 BC used it, and the great Julius Caesar's army used vinegar as a health tonic. Even Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, reported treating his patients with apple cider vinegar around 400 BC.

More recently, apple cider vinegar benefits became well known in the United States in the late 1950s, when it was promoted in the best-selling book Folk Medicine: A Vermont Doctor's Guide to Good Health by D. C. Jarvis.  Jarvis recommended a mixture of whole apple cider vinegar and honey as a health tonic. When consuming apple cider vinegar straight, it is often recommended to dilute with water or juice, and/or combine with honey to help take some of the bite off of drinking it straight.

One of the most popular brands on the market is called: Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar.  Among the many benefits Bragg’s references is it’s cleansing properties, and is known to aid digestion by stimulating the flow of enzymes and saliva in the mouth and they report vinegar has been shown to support a healthy heart.

Here are just a few of the many benefits they tout from their research:

- Rich in enzymes & potassium
- Support a healthy immune system
- Helps control weight
- Promotes digestion & ph Balance
- Helps soothe dry throats
- Helps remove body sludge toxins
- Helps maintain healthy skin
- Helps promote youthful, healthy bodies
- Soothes irritated skin
- Relieves muscle pain from exercise

Scientific Studies Related to Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits

As with many products that have become known as “cure-alls” over the centuries, many of the miraculous claims are not proven or accepted in the broader medical community.  However there are many studies that are starting to surface that support some of the potential benefits of apple cider vinegar.

Here is a brief overview of some studies referenced on WebMD that show promise:

Diabetes: A 2007 study of 11 people with type 2 diabetes found that taking two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before bed lowered glucose levels in the morning by 4%-6%.

Blood pressure and heart health: A study on rats found that vinegar could lower high blood pressure.

High cholesterol: A 2006 study showed evidence that vinegar could lower cholesterol.

Cancer: A few laboratory studies have found that vinegar may be able to kill cancer cells or slow their growth.  One found that eating vinegar was associated with a decreased risk of esophageal cancer. Another associated it with an increased risk of bladder cancer.

Weight Loss. A 2005 study of 12 people found that those who ate a piece of bread along with small amounts of vinegar felt fuller and more satisfied than those who just ate the bread. 

As is often the case, there will need to be longer lasting, larger case studies before the medical community will begin officially embracing the benefits mentioned above. 

Regardless of your level of belief on the medicinal benefits of apple cider vinegar, as with many types of vinegar, adding just a touch to your daily salad, or to dip your bread in, will enhance any meal and perhaps just might help enhance your health along the way.

Resources:
1."Apple Cider Vinegar", WebMD  http://www.webmd.com/diet/apple-cider-vinegar?page=2
2. D.C. Md Jarvis (May 12, 1985). Folk Medicine: A New England Almanac of Natural Health Care from a Noted Vermont Country Doctor. Fawcett Publications. ISBN 978-0449208809.
3. http://bragg.com