Spotlight On Apple Cider Vinegar

DON’T LET ITS TART TASTE PUT YOU OFF – THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT THIS BRAIN-BOOSTING, HEART-HEALTHY, VERSATILE TONIC

- Julia Braybrook

Vinegar in any form has been around for a long time – the earliest known use dates back more than 10,000 years. In more recent history, US medical practitioners used vinegar in the 18th century to treat poison ivy, stomach ache, fevers and oedema. Today, apple cider vinegar is enjoying a resurgence on the health scene. We take a look at how it helps and what to look out for.

Like all vinegars, apple cider vinegar is fermented. It involves crushing apples, then adding yeast to apple juice. This turns the fruit sugar into alcohol and the fermentation process then turns the alcohol into acetic acid, which is what gives vinegar its strong smell and sour taste.

Apple cider vinegar has long been touted as a remedy for many maladies, including scalp and skin problems, varicose veins, arthritis and digestive issues, as well as helping with weight loss. There’s no definitive science yet to back up these claims, but studies have shown that apple cider vinegar is very good for controlling blood sugar levels.

Happy and healthy

Elevated blood sugar is thought to contribute to ageing and several chronic diseases, as well as being a precursor to diabetes. A study published in the journal Diabetes Care found that apple cider vinegar significantly lowered blood glucose levels after a high-carb meal and improved insulin sensitivity by up to 34 per cent. Dietitian Carol Johnston says apple cider vinegar may be of most benefit to those who are pre-diabetic. Johnston, who has been studying the effect of acetic acid on blood glucose levels since 2004, says her studies have shown that the reduction in blood sugar in prediabetics “was too good to be true. It fell a good bit and stayed that way.”