The Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

When creating my hot sauce for my patients I wanted to create a healthier option. Of course, the main reason was a good tasting salt-free alternative. But I wanted to add other healthy ingredients such as beets and apple cider vinegar. I decided to use apple cider vinegar (ACV) as opposed to the traditional white vinegar used in other hot sauces because of its amazing health properties. Benefits of apple cider vinegar include but are not limited to diabetes, cholesterol, and weight loss.

The Benefits

The benefits of ACV almost seem magical. Not only does apple cider vinegar support healthy cholesterol, but studies have also shown that it can protect from arterial damage or oxidation,  a risk factor of high cholesterol.

Several studies have shown that apple cider vinegar also has strong anti-glycemic properties that support a healthy blood sugar level. The vinegar actually blocks some of the digestion of starch, preventing it from raising your blood sugar. Carol Johnston, PhD, directs Arizona State University’s nutrition program. She has been studying apple cider vinegar for more than 10 years and believes its effects on blood sugar are similar to certain medications. She explains that the vinegar blocks some of the digestion of starch. “It doesn’t block the starch 100%, but it definitely prevents at least some of that starch from being digested and raising your blood sugar,” Johnston says.

ACV also has probiotics so it could be beneficial for keeping your gut microbiome (the bacterial universe of your GI tract) in balance and prevent harmful bacteria from causing inflammation and disease.

Apple cider vinegar has even been proven to cause weight loss. Possible benefits also include: treating gastritis, acne, and constipation.