By Pebbles Mendoza
Ever since I can remember, I have always had a penchant for sweet-tasting things. My mom used to scold me sometimes for adding more sugar to my coffee, or for eating sugary jam donuts. But my sweet tooth always won. So the thought of drinking vinegar never had the slightest chance of entering into my daily list of things to do. But many people that I know do just that: swallow a tablespoon or two of apple cider vinegar every day.
This is a relatively new fad, but a particularly popular one right now, and a lot of studies show that the benefits can be quite positive. One study demonstrated that apple cider vinegar improved blood glucose levels in 11 people who were “pre-diabetic.” Drinking just a little more than a tablespoon a day lowered their blood sugar levels just 30-60 minutes after eating. Although the sample size of the research was quite small, the results were encouraging.
Another study of obese adults in Japan demonstrated a significant reduction in weight and fat mass. The subjects were split into three groups of similar body weight, body mass index, and waist size. Throughout a 12-week period, the subjects in each group took 500 ml daily of a beverage containing either 15 ml of vinegar, 30 ml of vinegar, or no vinegar – a placebo, in other words. Body weight, body mass index, visceral fat area, waist circumference, and serum triglyceride levels were all significantly lower in both groups that consumed vinegar than in the placebo group. The results showed that a daily dose of vinegar could be helpful in the prevention of metabolic syndrome by reducing obesity.
Apple cider vinegar has become a trendy new wellness ingredient that many people swear by - almost the holy grail of home remedies. It’s said that a shot or two can help boost energy, control blood sugar, promote weight loss, and even help improve your hair’s shine and tone up your skin. You can mix it with lemon juice, honey and even a little olive oil or warm water to produce a potent booster to make you feel and look better for the rest of the day.
It can also be helpful if you suffer from digestive issues, due to its antibacterial properties. It is a fermented fruit which contains probiotics that help regulate overall healthy digestion. Again, for this condition, don’t drink it straight. Mix it first with some warm water and either some lemon or honey - which also makes it taste better.
For Hair and Skin
Using apple cider vinegar on your head can make your hair shinier. Because it’s acidic, it can help restore the pH levels of the hair and scalp as many hair products we use today are alkaline. By building up the pH levels, it helps close the hair shafts’ cuticles, making the hair easier to manage and appear smoother and shinier.
However, using it on your hair more than twice a week is not recommended as it can also dry out your hair if used too often - which is exactly the opposite of what you want to achieve.
As mentioned earlier, apple cider vinegar has antibacterial properties which can help prevent acne and skin infections. As well as effectively removing excess oil from your skin, as a face wash, by balancing pH levels, it may prevent your skin from becoming too oily or dry. Apple cider vinegar also contains powerful alpha hydroxy acids to help remove dead skin cells. Once you’ve finished cleaning your face, leave it on for ten to 15 minutes before washing off.
Having said all of the above, ultimately what we eat and drink affects our skin more than what we put on it. One of the root causes of poor skin is problems with digestion and detoxification. Taking one or two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water can aid your body’s detoxification and elimination channels, which in turn will benefit your skin by improving its tone and complexion.
Don’t forget that apple cider vinegar is also an effective natural cleaner that can be used on almost all household surfaces.