10 reasons to try apple cider vinegar

It’s been touted as a “super fluid” that can do everything from lowering your cholesterol to polishing your furniture. Fiona Baker looks at both the scientific and anecdotal benefits of apple cider vinegar

1. Fights diabetes

Several studies have found that vinegar may help to lower glucose levels, making it a beneficial treatment for people with type 2 diabetes. A 2007 study from Arizona State University in the US found that taking two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar along with 30g of cheese before bed led to a 4-6 per cent decrease in fasting blood sugar levels.

2. Reduces appetite and cravings

A 2005 Swedish study found that people felt fuller and more satisfied for longer after eating bread with white vinegar, as opposed to eating bread on its own. The magic ingredient in all vinegars that can suppress appetite is believed to be acetic acid, which helps to reduce the glycemic index of foods, slowing the rate at which sugars are released into the bloodstream and lessening appetite.

3. Lowers bad cholesterol levels

A 2012 study published in Life Science Journal revealed that consumption of apple cider vinegar over an eight-week period can significantly reduce harmful blood lipids that contribute to high cholesterol and triglyceride levels in people who suffer from hyperlipidemia (too many fats in the blood).

4. Helps shift kilos

While many people swear that apple cider vinegar has helped them lose weight, the scientific evidence for this is a bit light. However, one small Japanese study, published in 2009 in the journal Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, found that obese people who consumed between 15ml and 30ml of acetic acid – the major component of vinegar – diluted in water daily for 12 weeks experienced significant decreases in body weight, abdominal fat, waist circumference, and triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood).

5. Promotes glossy tresses

While this may not be scientifically supported, many apple cider vinegar fans swear it works wonders for their hair, making it glossy, shiny and dandruff-free. Beauty blogs suggest adding one part vinegar to one part water and using it as you would conditioner – that is, apply it to your hair and let it soak in for between five and 15 minutes before rinsing.

6. Polishes wood

Another known use for this wonder-worker is in the conditioning of wood. A concoction of half a cup of any vegetable oil with half a cup of apple cider vinegar is said to create a furniture polish that will clean and treat wooden furniture and surfaces, and remove water stains.

7. Aids digestion

b+s nutritionist Lisa Guy says that, taken before each meal, apple cider vinegar improves digestion and is particularly beneficial for people with stomach issues such as reflux, bloating and indigestion. She suggests using it either to make a salad dressing or taking one teaspoon with water before each meal.

8. Tones, clarifies and clears the skin

Apple cider vinegar’s list of widely touted benefits for skin health is long. Converts say it can be used as a toner (one part vinegar to two parts water), and left on overnight to fade age spots and acne. Others have sung its praises for keeping skin clear when ingested as a tonic.

9. Gets rid of warts

Again, there’s no scientific evidence to support this, but a host of online testimonials attest to its wart-zapping powers. The predominant method used by supporters is as follows: Each night before going to bed, soak a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar, apply it to the wart and keep it in place with a sticking plaster. Leave it on all night – 24 hours a day if possible – for a week, changing the dressing each evening. The wart may swell and throb, then start to turn black within the first two days, and disappear completely after a week or two.

10. Works as an all-purpose cleaner

Ditch the chemical, commercial sprays for something you don’t mind spraying around your loved ones. This concoction is said to gently clean and disinfect household surfaces: one part vinegar to two parts water, plus a few drops of tea tree oil for its antibacterial qualities.

Apple Cider Vinegar FAQs

Why so super?
From a scientific viewpoint, the “super-ness” of apple cider vinegar is believed to come from its high concentration of acetic acid, which improves the body’s absorption of important minerals from the foods we consume.
Naturopath Dr Sandi Rogers, CEO of Australia’s National College of Traditional Medicine, has observed its healing powers for more than 35 years, and says it’s “truly an impressive medicine”.
Rogers credits its high mineral content for its “superfood” status. “Minerals are the foundation of health and wellbeing, not vitamins,” she explains. “This is often grossly misunderstood.” She recommends taking apple cider vinegar every day: “Small, regular amounts seem to work best – two teaspoons added to a few teaspoons of water, then swirled around in the mouth [before swallowing] to activate the salivary glands.”
Is it safe?
Apple cider vinegar is great in a salad dressing, but as mentioned, verifiable data on its “cure-all” status is still limited, which means its benefits and risks aren’t fully known. Illnesses should be treated and managed under the supervision of a health professional.
What kind should I buy?
The “uglier” the apple cider vinegar the better. You want it brown and murky – the clear and pretty stuff has been through more filtration processes, and this removes the powerful essence of the vinegar, called the “mother” –the brown strands that rest at the bottom of the bottle.