People use apple cider vinegar (ACV) for everything. From being an all-purpose cleaner to a facial toner to a trap for fruit flies, it seems like ACV does it all. In fact, it is more beneficial for your body than it is for unclogging a toilet – yes, it does that too!
The use of apple cider vinegar in your diet can help you feel better and improve your health. What is apple cider vinegar good for exactly? Find out these surprising health benefits of adding it into your diet.
Reduces Blood Sugar Levels and Helps Manages Diabetes
People with diabetes can lower their blood sugar levels by consuming an apple cider vinegar drink daily. Scientists and researchers have conducted trials to test the benefits of ACV. ACV can:
· Improve insulin sensitivity during a carb-heavy meal.
· Reduce blood sugar.
· Reduce fasting blood sugar level.
· Improve insulin function.
· Lower blood sugar levels after meals
Insulin sensitivity is how your body responds to insulin. Your body can become resistant to insulin if you have diabetes. The more resistant your body becomes, the more insulin you need to use to manage your blood sugar level.
ACV is not a medicine and should not replace any prescribed treatments. Consult with your doctor about using ACV to manage your diabetic symptoms. Combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise, home-remedies like using ACV can help you keep your blood glucose levels balanced.
Using Apple Cider Vinegar for Weight Loss
Is apple cider vinegar good for you when you are trying to lose weight? Absolutely! ACV helps you feel fuller longer and suppresses your appetite. It suppresses your appetite by slowing the time it takes for food to leave your stomach.
Feeling full can decrease your calorie intake throughout the day. One study showed that subjects ate 200 to 275 fewer calories than their usual daily intake. Results from drinking 2 tablespoons of ACV a day for 12 weeks showed test subjects, on average:
· Lost 3.7 pounds.
· Decreased their waist circumference by 3/4 an inch.
· Decreased body fat percentage by 0.9 percent.
Studies have shown that ACV also improves your metabolism by increasing an enzyme that influences your ability to burn fat. The genes that control fat burning significantly increases with regular consumption of ACV. It also decreases fat and sugar production in the liver.
When given to obese rats, ACV caused reduced belly fat storage. It protected them from additional weight gain too.
Improving Your Heart Health
Apple cider vinegar might help keep your heart healthy, along with reducing blood glucose levels and helping you lose weight. In studies with animals, ACV lowered:
· Cholesterol.
· Triglyceride levels.
· Blood pressure.
· Other heart disease factors.
There have not been enough studies to prove these same benefits apply to humans. However, ACV is high in alpha-linolenic acid, which researchers found to reduce the risk of heart disease in women.
Apple Cider Vinegar for Detox Purposes
Apple cider vinegar has antibiotic and antioxidant properties that remove “sludge toxins” from your body. It helps cleanse the body, digestive system, and colon. However, ACV retains good gut bacteria.
Many people who use apple cider vinegar for detox consume a drink with ACV and other ingredients three to four times a day. The apple cider vinegar drink varies, but the basic recipe includes:
· 1 to 2 tablespoons of raw, unfiltered ACV
· 8 ounces of distilled or purified water
· 1 to 2 tablespoons of sweetener
· Add lemon juice for flavor
You could use honey, maple syrup, simple syrup, or another type of sweetener to cut the bitter vinegar taste. If you are using apple cider vinegar for weight loss, you can also add cayenne pepper, which also increases your metabolism, helps you burn more calories, and lowers your food cravings.
You should always dilute ACV with water if you are going to drink it regularly. ACV is acidic, can burn your mouth and throat, and erode your tooth enamel. It can make your stomach upset or cause nausea if you drink it without eating.
Keeps Bacteria Off Your Food and Other Goods
Apple cider vinegar works as an organic cleaner for fruits and vegetables. ACV can clean the dirt and pesticide residue left.
It also kills bacteria, such as E. coli and Salmonella, from food. It is one of the reasons it became popular for marinades. People have used oil and vinegar in cooking since ancient Rome. For instance, vinegar helps eggs boil better. It is also used in the kitchen for:
· Vinaigrettes in salads.
· Pickled foods.
· Soups and sauces.
· Hot drinks.
· To preserve food being transported.
ACV kills bacteria, so you can use it as a cleaner for many surfaces you cannot clean with non-edible cleaners. For example, you can clean your toothbrush with an ACV mixture with water and baking soda.
Likewise, some use it as a mouthwash and to whiten teeth. However, it is better to use ACV to clean dentures, as the acid can cause damage to teeth enamel.
Healthy from Inside Out
An apple cider vinegar diet adds enzymes, potassium, and good bacteria for your immune and gut functions. ACV also promotes pH balance in your body and helps healthy digestion.
Many claim the use of apple cider vinegar externally:
· Soothes skin as a facial toner.
· Heals acne
· Gets rid of warts
· Whiten teeth
· Treat dandruff
· Add shine to your hair
Because of its antibacterial properties, people use ACV as a deodorizer or an odor neutralizer. For example, you can combine it with water and Epsom salt for a foot soak to get rid of odor-cause bacteria.
Similarly, individuals believe the vinegar’s acidic and antibacterial properties treat fungus. For instance, people use ACV to kill the fungus Malassezia that can cause dandruff.
Speaking of your scalp, many have long used ACV as a hair rinse to get rid of buildup, such as oil, grease, and dirt. Users claim that it detangles and enhances the shine of your hair.
There are many health benefits to incorporating apple cider vinegar into your lifestyle. You should consult your doctor before using ACV as a replacement for medicine and treatments.
By Admin –
