Alternative Cures: Apple Cider Vinegar

You might believe the adage "an apple a day will keep the doctor away" applies only to apples. But some claim that apple products, such as apple cider vinegar are healthy for you, too. There are a long list of purported health benefits of apple cider vinegar, and though there is no scientific support for these claims, testimonials about apple cider vinegar's use for health abound.

Facts

Apple cider vinegar is made by fermenting the juice of an apple first to cider and then in a second step to cider vinegar. You can find this tangy liquid in supermarkets usually among the dressings, cooking sauces or baking supplies. The US Apple Association states that "real" apple cider vinegar may be confused with white distilled vinegar that has been dyed and labeled apple cider vinegar. To avoid buying this, they recommend reading the bottle's food label carefully. Common uses for apple cider vinegar include cooking and food preserving.

Purported Cures

Beyond the obvious cooking uses, there is a long list of health benefits associated with apple cider vinegar. By consuming, mixing and applying apple cider vinegar in a variety of ways, many people report positive health results. None of these claims have been scientifically proven, however. The more hefty claimed health benefits include lower blood sugar for diabetics, lower cholesterol and weight loss benefits. Apple cider vinegar home remedies supposedly help ease canker sores, psoriasis, sore throat, dandruff, diaper rash and varicose veins, among many other conditions.

Research and Some Recommendations

Solid scientific evidence upholding the purported benefits of apple cider vinegar for health do not exist, but there has been research that shows some promise. A 2008 study in the "Pakistan Journal of Biological Science" found that apple cider vinegar helped lower cholesterol levels in non-diabetic and diabetic rats. A 2004 study in "Diabetes Care" showed vinegar helped increase insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic and insulin resistant patients. The National Psoriasis Foundation recommends a home remedy of apple cider vinegar mixed with water and applied to psoriasis areas for itch relief. In the book "Folk Medicine: A Doctor's Guide to Good Health" by Dr. DeForest Jarvis, M.D., the doctor claims multiple benefits of apple cider vinegar including weight loss. He recommends taking two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar mixed with water at mealtimes for reduced weight.

Considerations

Apple cider vinegar has thousands of years of anecdotal claims behind its health benefits, but modern scientific studies do little to back them up. Critics state that apple cider vinegar is acidic and can irritate the throat and esophagus if taken in large amounts. Critics also say that it retains little of the apple's nutritious vitamins and fiber after it has gone through the fermentation process. Apple cider vinegar may adversely interact with supplements, diuretics and insulin and can lead to lowered potassium levels. Despite this, many people write about and continue to use apple cider vinegar in their home remedies for a variety of conditions.