9 Vinegar Health Benefits : How To Use It & What Types To Use
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Vinegar is essentially a dilute solution of acetic acid after alcohol can no longer be fermented. Vinegar is called as ‘the king of fermented foods’ and it has uncountable benefits on our health. There are many people who do not like vinegar due to the unique sour smell of fermented foods, but the nutritional effect is excellent for everyone.
To consume vinegar for health, you should know what types of vinegar are. The vinegar is divided into two types according to the manufacturing method.
Naturally Fermented Vinegar vs Synthetic Vinegar
Naturally fermented vinegar is known to be good for health because it is rich in various minerals and organic acids generated during the fermentation process. Wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, and apple vinegar are the most common natural fermented vinegars we know. Fermented vinegar is nutritious and the taste is smoother than synthetic vinegar, so it’s widely used in cooking.
On the other hand, synthetic vinegar is a product made by adding amino acids and sweetness to glacial acetic acid. Although it is cheap and many people use it, it is different product from fermented vinegar in terms of nutrition.
Vinegar should be diluted with water before consumption. The one we commonly use at home is seasoned vinegar with an average acidity of 4 to 6%. Therefore, if you want to drink vinegar as a beverage, it is better to choose natural fermented vinegar. It is good to mix vinegar and water beverage in a 1:3 ratio, 2-3 times a day. It is also good to add a little honey to vinegar if the taste is too pungent.
Now, let’s look at the health benefits of consuming vinegar.
9 Vinegar Health Benefits
1. Control Blood Sugar Level
Consuming vinegar before going to bed can help lower your blood sugar levels. A study reported by the American Diabetes Association found that drinking two tablespoons of vinegar daily before bedtime reduced fasting blood sugar as well as postprandial blood sugar. In addition, a Japanese study found that people who consumed vinegar regularly lost stomach fat and waist size compared to people who didn’t. Vinegar has this effect thanks to its main ingredient, ‘acetic acid’. Acetic acid inhibits fat synthesis and promotes fat burning and eventually control the blood sugar lever as well.
2. Promote Weight Loss
Various organic acids in fermented vinegar promote nutrient absorption and help you lose weight by helping you feel full for a long time. Furthermore, the citric acid and amino acids in fermented vinegar play a role in promoting the excretion of wastes and fat breakdown in the body. Especially, people eating meat-based meals can promote fat burning by drinking 1 cup of water and 1 tablespoon of vinegar mix after breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you want a faster effect, mix vinegar and milk in a 1:1 ratio. This Milk vinegar beverage is one of the well known drinks for dieters.
3. Fatigue Recovery
Vinegar helps relieve fatigue. In 1945, Dr. Bartane of Finland revealed that the acetic acid in vinegar plays a leading role in the process of digesting and absorbing food and turning it into energy. When you drink vinegar, your metabolism is activated, and waste materials in the body disappear and more energy is released. Vinegar removes bad radicals in the body and breaks down lactic acid, so fatigue is quickly relieved and vitality is restored. If you have no appetite because of tiredness from work, add vinegar to your dish. It has the effect of turning your appetite and reducing fatigue.
4. Constipation Treatment
Vinegar, which has excellent sterilizing power, helps gut health by removing harmful bacteria in the intestine. Acetic acid and citric acid promote digestion and advocate bowel movements to relieve constipation. If you drink banana vinegar in water on an empty stomach 2-3 times a day, it will foster to relieve constipation.
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5. Prevention of Osteoporosis
Vinegar is a very accommodating food for adolescents, pregnant women, and postmenopausal women who need to consume a lot of potassium. The citric acid contained in vinegar helps to prevent osteoporosis by shooting up calcium absorption and strengthening bones. When calcium absorption is raised, nerves are stabilized and tension is reduced, which can help with insomnia.
6. Keep Healthy Skin
Vinegar also helps to build up the skin barrier. It is rich in amino acids that make proteins, which are components of skin cells. Moreover, the organic acid of vinegar has the effect of expelling toxins from our body, so it is effectual for skin troubles and allergic dermatitis. On top of that, vitamin C suppresses the formation of melanin, which is the cause of freckles and blemishes on the skin.
7. Hangover Relief
Vinegar has more than 60 organic acids that break down acetaldehyde that alleviate hangovers. There are already many cases of using vinegar for hangover relief around the world. For example, in Poland and Denmark, people consume pickles in vinegar after drinking wine to relieve a hangover.
8. Boost Body Immunity
Vinegar has improving immunity effect as well as recovering from fatigue. The organic acid in vinegar activates the metabolism, suppresses the reproduction of harmful bacteria, improves the intestinal environment, and promotes the activity of white blood cells to help strengthen immunity.
9. Natural Food Disinfectant
Vinegar can also be used as a natural disinfectant or detoxifier. Sprinkling vinegar on food in summer prevents food from spoiling easily and prevents food poisoning. If you wash fruits and vegetables in water mixed with vinegar, the sterilization, neutralization, and decomposition effects of vinegar are good for cleaning pesticides. Vinegar also neutralizes acidification in the body after eating meat or instant food.
Vinegar is inexpensive and has various health benefits. People who feel tired easily can help recover from fatigue by consuming vinegar. However, you need to be careful as vinegar containing a lot of sugar can increase the sugar level. In addition, vinegar can cause heartburn if consumed on an empty stomach, so it is better to consume it after meals.
