White vinegar may make your Chinese food tangylicious, but its cousin – apple cider vinegar – can do much more than add flavour. It can give you a new you – with a slimmer waistline, luscious locks, glowing skin and a life free of nearly every ailment.
Apple cider vinegar is being touted as a “miracle potion” these days. Though the celebrity status is recent, the amber-coloured liquid has been working on the sidelines for long now. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, had used it to treat his patients and its potential was discussed in the Bible too.
Here are seven reasons to get home a bottle of this wonder vinegar:
1. It can help you lose those kilos
Apple cider vinegar’s biggest claim to fame is its ability to quell your appetite. Studies have revealed that consuming apple cider vinegar before eating can curb appetite and that sipping it with high-carb meals can make you feel fuller – subjects who used it consumed nearly 275 calories less through the day. A 2009 study found that obese individuals who consumed acetic acid (the main ingredient in apple cider vinegar) for 12 weeks experienced a noticeable decline in weight, abdominal fat and waist circumference.
2. It can help control diabetes
Another successful use of apple cider vinegar is its ability to lower blood glucose levels. This is because the versatile ingredient improves insulin sensitivity and the body’s blood sugar response after meals. A 2007 study found that two tablespoons of the vinegar at bedtime lowered fasting glucose by 4 to 6 percent.
3. It can improve heart health
Scientists believe apple cider vinegar can lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels and help you stay heart-healthy. It contains the antioxidant chlorogenic acid that prevents LDL (bad) cholesterol particles from becoming oxidised, which is a crucial step in the development of heart disease. The wonder tonic also reduces blood pressure, another risk factor for cardiac problems. However, these studies have been conducted with rats. The only human evidence is a small-scale observational Harvard study which found that women who ate salads with vinegar had a reduced risk of heart disease.
4. It can relieve tummy trouble
If you plan to indulge in a sinful meal that could bother your stomach, sip a glass of warm water mixed with a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar half an hour before dining. The vinegar prevents acid reflux and has antibiotic properties that can fight bacterial infection. It also contains pectin, which calms intestinal spasms.
5. It can soothe a sore throat
It may not be as acclaimed as ginger or honey, but proponents swear by apple cider vinegar for removing throat irritants. Mix a quarter cup with an equal quantity of warm water and gargle multiple times a day or sip a cup of hot water with a dash of apple cider vinegar and honey.
6. It can help you get your glow on
Here’s another plus of having apple cider vinegar in your kitchen — it can double as a skin cream. Just dab it on your face with a cotton ball for a healthy glow. The natural alpha hydroxyl acids and acetic acid stimulate circulation, close pores and prevent acne. The multi-tasking ingredient also minimises the effect of blemishes, dry skin, psoriasis and eczema.
7. It can tame your tresses
Add apple cider vinegar to your final rinse. The vinegar’s acidity helps maintain the pH balance of your hair without depriving it of natural oils. This makes hair soft, smooth and shiny. Its antibacterial and anti-fungal constituents help treat scalp itch, dryness and dandruff, too.
