Vinegar is an acidic liquid that makes salad dressings taste tangy, but it is also touted by some holistic healers as a miracle cure. Although drinking vinegar is not scientifically proven to cure or aid any medical symptoms or conditions, it might be worth trying, as long as you don't consume it on a regular basis. Consult your doctor before using vinegar as a home health remedy, especially if you have health conditions or allergies.
Nutrition Facts
Several varieties of vinegar are available in grocery stores, but the most common types of vinegar used in home remedies are apple cider vinegar and white vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is derived from fermented apple juice. White vinegar is usually inexpensive malt vinegar that has gone through a distilling process, although manufacturers can make white vinegar by distilling any type of vinegar.
Vinegar is relatively low in calories and nutrients. Four ounces of apple cider vinegar contains 10 calories, no fat, no sodium, no fiber and no carbohydrates. Four ounces of white vinegar contains 24 calories, no fat, 2.4g of sodium, no fiber and 6g carbohydrates.
Benefits
Vinegar offers only minimal nutritional benefits, but it might address other health symptoms, like reducing bacteria in the body due to food poisoning. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center article "Food Poisoning," drinking apple cider vinegar might reduce the buildup of bacteria in the body, because it has antimicrobial properties. Drinking 4 oz. of vinegar might irritate the stomach, but mixing 2 tbsp., or about 1 oz., of apple cider vinegar in a glass of warm water might help settle the stomach.
Drawbacks
Vinegar has been touted as a cure for a variety of different ailments, including heartburn and vaginitis, but these claims are unsubstantiated. Drinking small amounts of vinegar has also been purported to cause weight loss, but this notion is false, says Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D. in the MayoClinic.com article "Apple Cider for Weight Loss: Effective?" Drinking vinegar on a regular basis might not harm the body, but it isn't healthy, either. Consuming 4 oz. of vinegar on a regular basis might irritate the throat and esophagus because the liquid is so acidic.
Warnings
Occasionally drinking 4 oz. of vinegar might be harmless for most people, but for others it can cause serious interactions with prescribed medications. Some prescription diuretics and insulin may create a reaction in the body that causes your potassium levels to drop. If you experience any adverse medical symptoms after taking vinegar, discontinue the vinegar regimen and consult your doctor immediately.
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