A fixture at salad bars and fish and chips shops, the humble condiment known as vinegar can fetch exorbitant prices for gourmet versions sold at high-end food retailers. This acidic liquid adds a welcome tang to many foods, but it has also long been used for purposes outside the kitchen. Vinegar has a few applications related to health.
Denture Cleaner
If you've got a mouthful of faux teeth, you're aware of the importance of keeping those artificial choppers clean. According to Carol S. Johnston, R.D., of the Department of Nutrition at Arizona State University, vinegar can help. Johnston explains in a May 2006 review article in "Medscape General Medicine" that undiluted vinegar is an effective denture cleaner and doesn't irritate the gums should a bit of vinegar residue remain on the dentures after cleaning. Bleach solutions used for the same purpose may cause mucosal damage.
Swimmer's Ear Prevention
If you prefer exercise of the aquatic variety, you may be familiar with the condition known as swimmer's ear. This infection of the outer ear canal is often prompted by water that lingers in the ear once you've left the pool. The moisture created by this leftover water provides a breeding environment for microbes that can leave your ear itchy, sore and draining clear, odorless fluid -- or worse, pus. According to MayoClinic.com, vinegar may prevent swimmer's ear. As long as your eardrum is intact and not punctured, it's safe to use a mixture of one-part white vinegar to one-part rubbing alcohol to promote drying and deter the growth of microscopic bacteria and fungi. Pouring 1 tsp. of the vinegar-alcohol mixture in each ear should suffice, then let it drain out.
Anti-glycemic Effects
Though the mechanisms by which it achieves its results merit further study, vinegar appears to have anti-glycemic properties that may be helpful for those suffering from insulin resistance or type II diabetes, according to Johnston. In her article, Johnston reviews studies that have examined the effects of vinegar consumption on blood glucose levels following a meal.
Potential Weight Loss
The jury is still out on whether vinegar is an effective aid to weight loss. Mayo Clinic nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky gives it a thumbs down, stating that the lack of scientific support for the "apple cider vinegar diet" means that drinking vinegar isn't likely to aid in your quest to weigh less. Others are not so pessimistic about the potential for vinegar to aid in weight loss. Johnston quotes research that points to a link between vinegar consumption and increased feelings of satiety, which she attributes to vinegar's effect on mealtime blood sugar levels. More recently, research conducted by Samuel Mettler of the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences in Zurich, Switzerland, focused on the combination of cinnamon and vinegar. Mettler's work, published in the October 2009 issue of the journal "Nutrition Research," found that the two substances, when consumed with a meal, resulted in increased satiety, which could help those seeking to feel full while eating less.
References
- "Medscape General Medicine"; Vinegar: Medicinal Uses and Antiglycemic Effect; Carol S. Johnston and Cindy A. Gaas; May 2006
- MayoClinic.com: Apple Cider Vinegar for Weight Loss: Effective?
- PubMed.gov: Additive Postprandial Blood Glucose-Attenuating and Satiety-Enhancing Effect of Cinnamon and Acetic Acid
- MayoClinic.com: Swimmer's Ear: Prevention
Member Comments