Drinking raw apple cider vinegar may help you lose weight, boost your immune system, improve digestion and relieve constipation, and help clear up acne and minor skin irritations. Raw unpasteurized apple cider vinegar that contains the "mother" -- the brown sediment that contains pectin, enzymes and beneficial bacteria -- is the preferred type of raw vinegar to use. It should be organic and unfiltered for the best health benefits.
Consult a physician before embarking on vinegar supplementation to self-treat any medical condition.
Living Enzymes
Our bodies naturally produce enzymes, but it is essential that we obtain additional enzymes from the foods we eat. Raw foods have more living enzymes than cooked foods, and fermented foods are the best source of this friendly bacteria that aids in digestion and helps your body absorb more nutrients.
Potassium
Raw apple cider vinegar is rich in potassium, a mineral that keeps your teeth, hair and nails healthy and works as an electrolyte to balance the body's pH and fluid levels, which helps regulate blood pressure.
Insulin Sensitivity
Apple cider vinegar was proven to effectively improve insulin sensitivity and may even delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. The acetic acid in raw apple cider vinegar can suppress disaccharidase activity much like the diabetes medications acarbose and metformin.
Bone Health
Raw apple cider vinegar contains calcium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus and silicon, which are important minerals to strengthen bones and help prevent osteoporosis.
Fiber
The pectin in the "mother" of raw apple cider vinegar is a good source of soluble fiber, which binds with waste material in the colon and helps with elimination by adding bulk to your stool. Apple cider vinegar can aid with constipation and diarrhea.
Antioxidants
The tannins found in apple skins are a great source of antioxidants, as are the vitamins A, C, E and beta-carotene all found in raw apple cider vinegar. Antioxidants protect your cells from free radical damage, which may lead to cancer or heart disease.
External Uses
Topical application of raw apple cider vinegar can help reduce the inflammation of acne when diluting it with water and applying the solution to your blemish with a cotton ball. It can also be used as a natural deodorant by killing the underarm bacteria that causes odor. Letting apple cider vinegar soak into your scalp for 30 minutes may help alleviate dandruff.
References
- Body Ecology Diet: Apple Cider Vinegar
- American Diabetes Association: Vinegar Improves Insulin Sensitivity to a High-Carbohydrate Meal in Subjects With Insulin Resistance or Type 2 Diabetes
- Candida Cure Recipes: Apple Cider Vinegar Health Benefits
- Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits: Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits And Multiple Uses
- National Institutes of Health: Antioxidants
- Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits: Home Remedies
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