{Photo Referece: http://www.webmd.com/diet/apple-cider-vinegar}
There are claims that apple cider vinegar helps numerous health issues, but is it truly an effective treatment? First off, what is apple cider vinegar? Apple cider vinegar is produced by fermentation of apples. The main ingredient is acetic acid, but many vinegars also have vitamins, minerals, and amino acids (many of these naturally from the apples).
The Claims:
There has been claims that apple cider vinegar is said to help with weight loss. There is little scientific evidence to support these claims. Occasional use of apple cider vinegar is safe for most people, but it won’t likely lead to weight loss.
Apple cider vinegar is an alternative treatment for warts. The wart needs to soak in apple cider vinegar for about 20 minutes. Than the dead skin can be removed and petroleum jelly applied around the wart. The treatment is repeated until the wart falls off.
Apple cider vinegar is also claimed to control blood sugars. It seems that vinegar may be able to inactivate some of the digestive enzymes that break the carbohydrates from food into sugar, thus slowing the absorption of sugar from a meal into the bloodstream. Slowing sugar, absorption gives the insulin-resistant body more time to pull sugar out of the blood and thus helps prevent the blood sugar level from rising so high. This is just a claim and has no scientific evidence to support this.
Apple cider vinegar is said to increase calcium absorption. Vinegar is high in acetic acid, which can increase the body’s absorption of important minerals from the foods we eat.
If you have runny nose, watery eyes, sore throat, or a persistent cough some websites recommend that you mix two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar with two tablespoons of honey and put into a glass of water.
Some articles recommend that taking one to two teaspoonfuls with five to six ounces of water 30 minutes before a meal can help allergies. Than again there is little evidence to support this.
Taking apple cider vinegar for any of these problems, may lead to problems of its own. Apple cider vinegar is very acidic, so it may irritate your throat if you drink it often or in large amounts. Apple cider vinegar may interact with certain supplements or drugs, including diuretics and insulin.
There are many claims that apple cider vinegar cures many diseases and symptoms of colds, but there is little scientific evidence to support these claims. Nothing can be proven, because of the lack of supporting scientific research which can be a problem with alternative therapies. If you are considering using apple cider vinegar for one of these problems, be sure to consult your physician before taking it.
-Jessica Claussen, SDSU Dietetic Student
