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Is Apple Cider Vinegar a Natural Blood Detoxifier?

Jul 24, 2011 | By Suzanne Robin

Apple cider vinegar, made from fermented apples, has become one of the darlings of some alternative medicine practitioners, who claim it acts as a natural blood detoxifier. Unfortunately, no scientific proof for this claim or most of the other claims made for the supplement exists. Apple cider vinegar has shown promise in treating conditions such as elevated cholesterol levels in preliminary trials. The active ingredient in apple cider vinegar, acetic acid, can have a number of toxic effects if you drink it without diluting it.

History

While vinegar has a long history of use as an antibiotic, as a treatment for gastrointestinal upset and for wartime wound management, apple cider vinegar's main advocate was Vermont doctor D.C. Jarvis, who wrote a book about the healing benefits of apple cider vinegar in 1958. Jarvis attributed some of the healing power of apple cider vinegar to its potassium content.

Nutrients

Proponents of apple cider vinegar point to its high fiber, vitamin and mineral content as part of its beneficial nutritional profile in detoxifying the body. Cider vinegar does not actually contain any dietary fiber, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrient database. A 1-tbsp. serving contains just 3 calories, no measurable vitamins and very small amounts of calcium, iron, magnesium and sodium. A tbsp. also contains 11 mg of potassium, compared to a recommended daily requirement of 2,000 mg per day.

Studies

No studies have shown that apple cider vinegar has any benefit in blood detoxification. Apple cider vinegar does not contain any fiber, which might help move stool through the bowels, although it's used in some alternative cleansing preparations. In an Iranian study conducted on rats, apple cider vinegar did lower triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein levels over a four-week period. The report, published in the "Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences," did not examine any other aspects of detoxification with apple cider vinegar.

Considerations

Apple cider vinegar has not been proven to have any particular health benefits. Nutritionally, it supplies very few nutrients, and those only in small amounts. Apple cider vinegar also has a high acetic acid content that can burn your throat, esophagus or stomach if you don't drink it with a full glass of water. Apple cider vinegar can also lower potassium levels, which could cause problems for people taking the medicine digoxin, eMedTV warns. Do not take apple cider vinegar without first discussing its use with your physician.

References

Article reviewed by Bonny Brown Jones Last updated on: Jul 24, 2011

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