That bottle of vinegar in your kitchen pantry is a virtual jack-of-all-trades. Produced by fermenting wine, cider or other liquids containing alcohol, vinegar has been used for more than 10,000 years, according to the Vinegar Institute. Today, research is uncovering even more ways vinegar can be used to support a healthy lifestyle.
Healthy Flavoring
Vinegar is probably best known as a flavoring for foods, and it's an excellent choice for a healthy diet. The Mayo Clinic recommends substituting flavored vinegars for high-fat salad dressing and using balsamic vinegar rather than oil-based marinades to help lower fat and calories in your meals.
Lowering Risk for Heart Disease
There may be another good reason to add vinegar to your diet. A study on rabbits, published in the January 2010 issue of "Lipids in Health and Disease," showed that consuming vinegar may help decrease bad cholesterol.
Controlling Diabetes
Vinegar may help diabetics keep their sugar levels in check. A study in the February 2010 issue of "Diabetes Care" reported that consuming vinegar may help decrease hyperglycemia in diabetic individuals.
Organic Cleaning
To avoid harsh chemicals when cleaning, mix white distilled vinegar with water to remove mildew and to wash windows, coffee makers and floors. The acid in vinegar makes it an effective yet all-natural and environmentally-friendly cleaner.
Gardening
Rather than using potentially harmful chemicals to kill weeds in your garden, try a vinegar solution. Research from the USDA has shown that vinegar may be effective in killing young weeds. A higher concentration of vinegar than the ones found in your kitchen are necessary for larger, older weeds and are available in some garden centers.
Stain Remover
Vinegar can be a chemical-free alternative for helping remove stains on clothing. Dab stains immediately with white vinegar, or soak the stain overnight in white vinegar and water before washing.
Jellyfish Stings
According to the Mayo Clinic, with the exception of Chesapeake sea nettle stings, jellyfish stings may be treated by rinsing the sting area with seawater and then with vinegar to neutralize any stingers remaining on the skin. After the vinegar rinse, tentacles may be removed with a plastic object, such as a credit card, and a paste of seawater and baking soda applied to remove any remaining stingers.
Nail Fungus
According to the Mayo Clinic, soaking your feet for 15 to 20 minutes in one part vinegar to two parts warm water daily may help inhibit the growth of nail fungus.
Lice
While there is no scientific evidence that vinegar alone will eliminate head lice or pubic lice (crabs), vinegar is sometimes used in the steps of home remedies for removing these tiny parasitic insects. According to the Mayo Clinic, after washing the hair with a lice-killing solution, rinse hair with vinegar and comb through it or use a cloth soaked in vinegar to remove the lice from locks of hair.
Impetigo
For minor infections of impetigo, the Mayo Clinic states that soaking the affected areas of skin with 1 tbsp. of white vinegar to 1 pt. of water for 20 minutes may make it easier to remove the scabs of this highly contagious skin infection that typically affects infants and children.
References
- "Diabetes Care"; Vinegar Decreases Postprandial Hyperglycemia in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes; Panayota Mitrou; February 2010
- "Lipids in Health and Disease"; Acute Effects of Intake on Some Biochemical Risk Factors of Atherosclerosis in Hypercholesterolemic Rabbits; Mahbubeh Setorki; January 2010
- Mayo Clinic: Ingredient Substitutions: Make the switch for healthier recipes
- United States Department of Agriculture: Spray Weeds with Vinegar?
- The Vinegar Institute: Vinegar Lore
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