What is Vinegar?

The primary constituent of vinegar is acetic acid, but acetic acid in itself isn’t vinegar, it also contains mineral salts. Vinegar can be made from anything that is starchy like corn or apples. Yeasts convert natural sugars to alcohol and then bacteria transforms the alcohol portion to acid. Vinegar has 6 calories an ounce and noteworthy enough, in 1 ounce it has 2mg calcium and 22mg potassium. It’s shelf life is nearly indefinite and doesn’t require refrigeration. (12) (8) 

Throughout history, it has been used as a food preservative, to manage wounds and prescribed by numerous medical practitioners to cure many ailments in the 18th century. And fun fact, it was combined with sulfur to act as the first hand sanitizer. (11)

Photo credit small_realm via Flickr. Image altered.

What is Mother Vinegar?

Have you ever seen the stringy, murky, and for lack of a better term, gross looking stuff in the bottom of vinegar bottles? That’s called Mother. And it’s where the mother-load of health benefits lie. “Mother vinegar is extracellular cellulose and is a thick, hard layer formed by the acetic acid bacteria on the surface of vinegar.” (7) Most companies pasteurize their vinegar to actually prevent mother from forming because it is rather unsightly. Bad idea though, you’re ridding the vinegar of, bioactive substances.

What are Bioactive Substances?

Bioactive substances are the extra nutritional properties in food present in small amounts. These substances are under research to fully identify their properties and effect in the body. Already identified are phenolic compounds and their subgroup flavonoids, resveratrol and lycopene just to name a few. Many have been found to be potent antioxidants that provide substantial health benefits. (14) (Side note, these are the reasons why a vitamin/mineral supplement just doesn’t compare with the real deal.) Also the reason why we should opt for raw, unpasteurized vinegar like Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar. 

Get Healthy and Lose Weight with Vinegar

 (Substantiated by Research)

Vinegar Fights Obesity 

Vinegar is clinically proven to increase satiety (the feeling of fullness). The more vinegar you take, the more full you will feel. (2) A powerful aid to aid in weight loss is to sip on a vinegar-honey elixir mid-day as dinner approaches. Recipe below! 
 

Vinegar is an Anti-diabetic

Vinegar reduces the amount of insulin released after eating. The more vinegar ingested, the less insulin is released. (2) Why is this beneficial? Suppression of insulin secretion is associated with weight loss and fat mass. (5) Blood glucose will be lower after eating a meal with vinegar. The more vinegar ingested, the lower your blood glucose will be after eating. (2) Diabetics will appreciate this a ton; managing the disease is all about keeping blood sugar under control. It actually possess similar physiological effects as many diabetic medications.

Vinegar Reduces the Glycemic Load of Your Meal

Due to it’s low pH, vinegar decreases the glycemic response. (1) What does this mean? Your food will digest slower, releasing glucose into your system at a more steady rate. Why is this beneficial? (4) 

Lower glycemic diets are associated with rapid weight loss, decreased circulating triglycerides, lower blood pressure and improved fasting glucose and glucose response.

Vinegar is High in Iron

Just 1 fluid ounce of cider vinegar contains 0.06mg iron. (8) An 8 fluid ounce glass of cow’s milk doesn’t even contain that much! (10)  And just for comparison, a 3 ounce steak (an excellent source) contains 1.57mg iron. (9) That said, it’s tough to get more than an ounce of vinegar a day, so don’t rely on your salad dressing or the Skinny Juice (recipe below) to fulfill your daily iron needs.

Vinegar is an Antioxidant

Naturally fermented vinegar has potent radical scavenging activity and this study showed it’s ability to repress growth of leukemia cells. (6) Not surprisingly, pomegranate vinegar has the highest free radical fighting abilities. (7) But since I have yet to find a raw (unpasteurized) pomegranate vinegar, I will choose to stick with the apple cider vinegar so I can savor the mother. 

 Vinegar and Arthritis

There is surprisingly little research done in this area despite it’s popularity in folk medicine. Perhaps it is because early studies have found it to be “ineffective as an anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory agent” (in rats) (15).

I grew up hearing stories of my great grandpa religiously drinking his vinegar-honey concoction daily to treat his arthritis. He swore it worked. Who knows, placebos are a powerful drug.

Get More Vinegar in Your Diet!

Eating a salad dressed with a vinegar-based dressing is your best option for your heart, your cells, and your waistline. If you want an easy way to reduce your appetite and eat less naturally, drink the following Skinny Juice daily. 

I suggest making your Skinny Juice it in the late afternoon to reap the biggest benefits of appetite reduction.

I suggest making your vinegar and honey Skinny Juice in the late afternoon to reap the biggest benefits of appetite reduction. For 70 calories, it tastes great, will give you a natural energy boost and provide your body with powerful antioxidants it needs. 

Vinegar and Honey Skinny Juice

2015-03-07 22:51:01

Serves 1

Curb your appetite naturally!

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Skinny Juice

1. 1 oz Unpasteurized apple cider vinegar
2. 2 oz Honey syrup* (recipe below)
3. 6 oz Water

Instructions

1. In a tall glass, add vinegar and honey syrup*.
2. Add ice to top of glass.
3. Fill with water and stir.
4. Drink daily in the late afternoon.

*Honey Syrup

1. In a small saucepan heat 8 oz honey and 8 oz water over medium-low heat.
2. Stir until fully incorporated.
3. Let cool .

Notes

1. Honey syrup should be stored in the refrigerator for use in tea and bar drinks. It will pour smoothly and incorporates well, even in ice cold drinks.
2. Each Skinny Juice is 70 calories.

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