Vinegar has been an agent for treatment of various diseases for more than 2000 years.  But most of us know only vinegar as a condiment to enhance flavor and preserve foods.  In India, Ayurvedic physicians prescribed vinegar in combination with few herbs to provide relief for various ailments since ages.  I came across amazing healing power of vinegar as home remedy, which was discussed in my previous article.  In this article, I would like to throw light on some scientific studies performed on the use of vinegar against weight loss, diabetes and more.

Vinegar and diabetes:  A study conducted by researchers at Arizona State University, involving 11 people with type 2 diabetes found that taking two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before going to bed, lowered glucose levels in the morning by 4%-6%.

One more study published in European Journal of clinical nutrition found that vinegar can lower the post-meal rise in blood glucose and insulin levels.

Vinegar lowers blood pressure:  Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition reveals vinegar aids in reducing blood pressure. Apple cider vinegar helps in thinning the blood that eases blood circulation in the body.  Thin blood is less likely to put pressure on the heart, thus reduces chances of high blood pressure. Many medicines that are prescribed for heart diseases are based on this principle of blood thinning.

Vinegar lowers cholesterol level:   Studies show that apple cider vinegar contains pectin, an element that binds to the cholesterol and then removes it from your body.

Vinegar helps in weight loss:  Apple cider vinegar has become popular as a “fat-burner” and as a natural appetite suppressant.  One small study cited by European Journal of clinical nutrition in 2005 found that eating a piece of bread with a small amount of white vinegar fills your appetite much more than if you  ate the bread alone.

Vinegar suppresses body fat accumulation: Japanese researchers, Tomoo Kondo and colleagues found that acetic acid, the main component of vinegar, helps to control fat accumulation in the body.  It is believed that acetic acid activates genes that churn out proteins and hence help the body break down fats. The study was performed on lab mice and with limited human trials. 

It is no wonder that the health benefits of vinegar are infinite and it can provide relief in miraculous ways.  In my family we have been using vinegar along with the pickles for decades.  This might have helped my family to control chronic disorders to some extent. .  If you like eating natural healthy whole foods and want to shy away from the overconsumption of highly processed convenience foods, I believe vinegar is a good choice for you.  I think making these subtle changes in your life style can benefit your health in long term. Look out for more natural therapies.

Healthy reading!

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