Apple cider vinegar is popular among natural-health devotees and others interested in nutrition. Far more than just an ingredient for salad dressing or a useful chemical-free cleaner and disinfectant, vinegar in general has been used for thousands of years -- for cooking and cleaning, yes, but also as a home remedy for numerous ills, says The Vinegar Institute. The apple cider variety of vinegar, in particular, is thought to aid digestion and treat infections and sunburn, says Columbia University Health Services. However, there is a difference between organic and non-organic apple cider vinegar.
Apple Cider Vinegar Basics
Apple cider vinegar is made via a process that involves fermentation of apples' natural sugars into alcohol, then a second fermentation by microorganisms that turn the alcohol into acetic acid, explains Apple-Cider-Vinegar-Benefits.com. The acetic acid gives vinegar its characteristic sour, strong taste, as well as its antimicrobial properties. In addition to acetic acid and water, apple cider vinegar contains various vitamins, minerals, enzymes and other compounds that come from the apples themselves as well as from the bacterial process that changes the apple alcohol -- or hard cider -- into vinegar.
Organic vs. Non-Organic
There are two different kinds of apple cider vinegar -- organic and non-organic. Organic apple cider vinegar is unpasteurized and unfiltered, and therefore contains all the original nutrients and enzymes produced by the fermentation process. Non-organic apple cider vinegar has been pasteurized -- or heated to a very high temperature to kill bacteria -- and is often more appealing to the mass market. As noted by Columbia University's Health Services, while pasteurized, non-organic apple cider vinegar eliminates potential problems from bacteria, organic and unpasteurized apple cider vinegar may be preferable if you are consuming vinegar for its health and nutritive benefits.
Claims
Organic apple cider vinegar may benefit your health in several ways. Its high nutrient content -- including minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium and a host of antioxidants -- is claimed to help ease digestive problems, eliminate warts, burn fat, facilitate weight loss and stabilize blood sugar, according to Apple-Cider-Vinegar-Benefits.com. It is not fully clear whether pastuerized apple cider vinegar, which contains fewer nutrients, provides the same benefits.
Considerations
Keep in mind that, no matter what type you're ingesting, excessive consumption of apple cider vinegar can cause health concerns. According to Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., of the Mayo Clinic, frequent vinegar intake can result in throat irritation or harmful interactions with some medications. However, vinegar is generally considered safe, given its long historical record of use. If you are interested in taking organic, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar as a supplement, consult your physician first for medical approval.
References
- The Vinegar Institute; Vinegar Lore
- Columbia University Health Services; Apple Cider Vinegar; August 2010
- Apple-Cider-Vinegar-Benefits.com; Properties of Vinegar
- Apple-Cider-Vinegar-Benefits.com; Home Remedies
- MayoClinic.com; Apple Cider Vinegar for Weight Loss: Effective?; Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.; April 2010
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