The Uses & Benefits Of Apple Cider Vinegar

More than 10,000 years ago, the wine went bad and vinegar was born. That's how it gets its name. "Vin aigre" is French for sour wine. Apple cider vinegar comes from the second fermentation after apple juice becomes cider. The two fermentation processes add extra enzymes and acids to the already-nutritious apples, providing a host of health benefits.

Nutrients

Apple cider vinegar contains vitamins A, B-1, B-2, B-6, C, beta-carotene and bioflavonoids. Minerals include potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, chlorine, copper, iron, silicon, pectin and fluorine. In fact, vinegar can contain as many as 50 nutrients, which may be destroyed by the heating process of pasteurization. "To get the health benefits of vinegar, you should look on the label for key terms like 'unpasteurized,' 'unfiltered,' 'traditionally brewed,' 'traditionally fermented,' or 'aged in wood,'" says author Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S., who features apple cider vinegar in his book "The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth."

Insulin Levels

Apple cider vinegar can affect blood sugar and insulin levels. Two tablespoons of vinegar taken with 1 oz. of cheese at bedtime moderates glucose in adults with Type 2 diabetes, according to an Arizona State University study published in the November 2007 issue of "Diabetes Care." An earlier Arizona State University study in the August 2004 issue of the same journal concluded that an intake of apple cider vinegar improved insulin sensitivity with a high-carbohydrate meal.

Health Maintenance

The website EarthClinic.com recommends sipping -- not gulping -- 2 tsp. apple cider vinegar in 16 oz. of water three times daily to help with weight loss and to reduce acid levels in your system. Use apple cider vinegar in your salad dressing for good nutrition.

Medicine

Hippocrates, the father of medicine, used apple cider vinegar as a natural antibiotic and antiseptic. Soldiers' wounds were treated with apple cider vinegar during the Civil War and World War I. Today, you can apply apple cider vinegar to a cloth and lightly rub it on sunburn, insect bites or itchy skin for relief. If you have dandruff, rinse your hair with 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar and two cups warm water. For a sore throat, gargle with 1 tsp. vinegar in a glass of water. Add some honey to apple cider vinegar and water to dispel nausea.

For Your Home

To get rid of refrigerator odor, place a one-cup glass of apple cider vinegar inside. Ward away fruit flies and gnats in your kitchen by filling a bowl with 1/2 quart water, 2 tbsp. sugar, 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar and a few drops of dish detergent. Soak your gold jewelry in apple cider vinegar for 15 minutes and then dry with a cloth.