One of my favourite pantry staples is apple cider vinegar. Made from raw, unpasteurized apples it is traditionally made by fermenting freshly pressed apple juice for four to six weeks at room temperature.1 A bacterium called Acetobacter is usually used for the fermentation.2
Some of the minerals in apple cider vinegar include; potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and calcium. 3 Other benefits of ACV are;
- Vinegar may help lower glucose levels and was found to lower glucose levels of people with Type II Diabetes in a 2007 study.4
- There is initial evidence that vinegar may help slow down the rate at which our stomachs pass food along to our intestines which means better control of our blood sugar when eating high carb meals.5
- Can be used as a toner for the skin. Use 1 part apple cider vinegar to 10 parts water to dilute and apple to clean skin.
- According to the book, Folk Medicine by Dr D. C. Jarvis, two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of honey in a cup of water can treat chronic fatigue, headache, obesity, insomnia, kidney inflammation, sore throat and arthritis. 6
- Although it is acid, in the body it has an alkalinizing effect.
- My favourite way to use ACV is in salad dressing. Make a simple vinaigrette; 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1/2 fresh squeezed lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste. Mix and serve.
Do use caution with apple cider vinegar, undiluted it can damage the esophagus and other parts of the digestive tract as well as tooth enamel. Undiluted apple cider vinegar should not be applied directly to the skin. It can interact with various drugs and if you have any health concerns you should contact a medical practitioner before use.7
References
1. Wood, Rebecca. The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia. New York: Penguin, 2010.
2. Mateljan, George. The World’s Healthiest Foods. Seattle, WA: GMF Publishing, 2007.
3. Mateljan, George. The World’s Healthiest Foods. Seattle, WA: GMF Publishing, 2007.
4. "Apple Cider Vinegar.” WebMD. 19 Sep 11. 11 Jan 12. <http://www.webmd.com/diet/apple-cider-vinegar?page=3>
5. Mateljan, George. The World’s Healthiest Foods. Seattle, WA: GMF Publishing, 2007.
6. Wood, Rebecca. The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia. New York: Penguin, 2010.
7. Wong, Cathy. “Apple Cider Vinegar.” About.com. 15 Sep 11. 11 Jan 12. <http://altmedicine.about.com/od/applecidervinegardiet/a/applecidervineg.htm>
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An added benefit of apple cider vinegar is for men like myself who suffer from kidney stones. My naturopath recommended it to me when I had my last attack and the stone went away rather quickly with much less pain than previous ones. I started having a small glass mixed with a little honey once a week and haven’t had an attack in a long while.