Raw apple cider vinegar has been used for hundreds of years as a natural cure for many illnesses, and research has shown that consuming vinegar can have a positive effect on several conditions, including diabetes, blood pressure and high cholesterol. Raw apple cider vinegar is the unfiltered product of fermented apples. The main beneficial ingredient in raw apple cider vinegar is acetic acid, an organic acid that gives vinegar its distinctive tart taste and smell.
Treats Diabetes
Raw apple cider vinegar can help lower blood sugar levels, according to WebMD. The American Diabetes Association claims those with type 1 diabetes can take two tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar per day to reduce glucose levels. The association cites a study that found patients with type 1 diabetes who drank 30 milliliters of raw apple cider vinegar daily five minutes before a meal experienced an average 20 percent reduction in blood sugar levels.
Relieves Food Poisoning Symptoms
Raw apple cider vinegar has been traditionally used to treat food poisoning, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Raw apple cider vinegar may have anti-microbial properties that reduce the severity of food-borne illnesses. The University of Maryland Medical Center website recommends mixing 2 teaspoons of raw apple cider vinegar with ¼ cup water and drinking the combination several times a day when suffering from food poisoning.
Reduces Blood Pressure
A 2001 study done by doctors at the Central Research Institute in Japan found that rats fed diets high in vinegar experienced a reduction in systolic blood pressure. A 10-year study published in 1999 by researchers at the Harvard Nutrition Department found that women who ate salads topped with dressing made from oil and vinegar five or six times per week were less likely to die from heart disease than women who did not consume as much vinegar. The researchers at the Central Research Institute and Harvard used several different types of vinegars in their studies but claim that the acetic acid in the vinegar is the active ingredient that lowers blood pressure. Because raw apple cider vinegar contains just as much acetic acid as other types of vinegar, the researchers suggest that raw apple cider is helpful in reducing blood pressure.
Lowers Cholesterol
An article in the May 15, 2008 Scientific American discusses a small study done at Central New Mexico Community College that found raw apple cider vinegar effective in lowering cholesterol levels. By adding apple cider vinegar to blood samples with high cholesterol levels, the researchers were able to generate small reductions in the samples' cholesterol levels. Meanwhile, researchers at the Japanese food manufacturer Mizkan also claim that consuming daily amounts of vinegar can reduce cholesterol levels. Mizkan officials, presenting their findings at a 2005 annual meeting of the Japanese Society of Nutrition and Food Science, said that a daily dose of 15 milliliters of vinegar is enough to lower cholesterol.
Promotes Weight Loss
Vinegar has been used as a weight loss aid for thousands of years, according to WebMD. A 2005 study found that people who drank a small amount of vinegar and ate a slice of bread felt full longer than people who ate a slice of bread alone.
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