There has been a recent surge in the popularity of apple cider vinegar (ACV), thanks to models and celebrities’ open support for this type of vinegar. In no time, it has quickly earned a reputation that helps speed up weight loss, promotes good skin, and lower cholesterol levels.
But should we believe the hype? Does apple cider vinegar deliver what it promises?
Before we discuss the benefits of apple cider vinegar, let us first try to explain its difference from the other types of vinegar:
The name says it all: apple cider vinegar comes from apples. It is often unfiltered thus, its production process is more time-intensive than for other types of vinegar. The result is a less acidic form of vinegar, due to the chemistry of apples that hasn’t been overridden due to filtration.
The “other types of vinegar” can be lumped into “filtered vinegar” because of the filtration process that they must undergo. Sources can include sugar, rice, or coconut. Filtered vinegar is also more acidic than apple cider vinegar because of its distillation process, often needed to filter out impurities in sugar, rice, or coconut.
The differences already tell a lot about apple cider vinegar: it has a lower pH and goes through the natural distillation process.
Here are the top three health benefits of apple cider vinegar that prove it is far from being a hype:
- Balances out your pH levels
Because of ACV’s natural distillation process, it gets to maintain its balanced pH level, something that is inherent in fruits and vegetables. Taking ACV on its own, with your food or beverage, therefore, can have the same alkalinizing effect as eating fruits and vegetables. Balancing out your pH can be very beneficial in promoting a building ground for good bacteria to flourish.
A healthy gut is essential in maintaining good health; thus, people with hormonal and lifestyle diseases are often advised to cut out on allergens such as dairy, sugar, and gluten; and to increase the intake of fruits, vegetables, and lean meats. A healthy dose of ACV can also be added to the daily diet.
- Regulates blood sugar and helps you lose weight
Controlling blood sugar is the most popular benefit of ACV. It is said that it’s best to take a tablespoon of this vinegar first thing in the morning, before your meals. Even those with Type 2 Diabetes can benefit from this morning regimen because ACV can help ease out insulin resistance.
In one study published by the American Diabetes Association among a small group of 29 participants, it was found out that a daily dose of ACV before meals significantly regulated blood sugar not only in pre-diabetic and diabetic but also in healthy individuals.
In another study in Japan published by the Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry Journal, it was found out that taking two tablespoons of ACV over 12 weeks resulted in 1-2 pounds of weight loss. However, once ACV was put out of the picture, the participants gained all the weight back. It was seen that it is important to regularly take ACV to get to enjoy the benefits of this vinegar.
Successfully addressing insulin resistance can lower down your sugar cravings, can help you make better food and lifestyle choices, can help you curb your crazy appetite, and can eventually help you lose weight.
- Clears out your skin
ACV is also popular in cleaning out your skin and helping it produce a natural glow. It is best to take one tablespoon of ACV with one glass of warm water at night before you sleep. Doing so lowers down your insulin and cortisol, and balances out your hormones. Balanced hormones always result in a clear, youthful skin, and can help ease out chronic skin conditions such as eczema and cystic acne.
These are some of the top benefits of apple cider vinegar that prove it has a significant edge over other types of vinegar. You may want to try incorporating ACV into your daily diet to help you lead a healthier and more balanced life.