For thousands of years, vinegar has been significant for its healing techniques, and it has made its way from the apothecary to the kitchen. Some believe that vinegar is the quick fix for everything, and marketers have tried to claim that vinegar can cure disease such as diabetes, obesity and cancer. Vinegar will only alleviate or be used in preventative care for these health problems.
Within in the next 25 years, Type 2 diabetes is expected to increase in Americans by 50 percent. A study was completed at Arizona State University in 2007 where subjects were either insulin sensitive or insulin resistant. Fasting individuals were randomly given 20 grams of apple cider vinegar or a placebo drink after consuming a white bagel with butter and orange juice. Blood tests for glucose and insulin were done 30 and 60 minutes after the meal. The study concluded that vinegar does improve postprandial insulin sensitivity in individuals who are insulin resistant. A reason as to why vinegar can be beneficial for diabetics is that vinegar contains acetic acid, which halts the activity of numerous carbohydrate-digesting enzymes: amylase, sucrase, maltase and lactase. Recommendations are to consume about 2 tablespoons of vinegar a day.
In numerous animal studies, researchers found that the acetic acid in vinegar suppresses body-fat accumulation. A 2009 study was completed on obese Japanese individuals who were placed in three groups of comparable body weight, body mass index and waist circumference. The study was completed over a span of 12 weeks where each group ingested 15, 30 or zero milliliters of vinegar daily. Researchers found that body weight, body mass index, visceral fat, waist circumference and serum triglyceride levels were lower in those who consumed vinegar. The results showed that daily consumption of vinegar can be helpful in preventing metabolic syndrome by decreasing obesity.
Each year, 250,000 women die of cervical cancer, and it is the No. 1 cancer killer for women. Today it is common for a woman to have a Pap smear test, which involves taking cells from the lining of the cervix and then having them sent to the lab to be analyzed. Pap smear tests are readily available in the United States, but for developing nations, a yearly Pap smear can be impossible. However, the key ingredient that can help women in developing nations detect cancer is vinegar. The procedure involves a sterile vinegar solution, which is placed on the cervix. After taking a swab of the cervical lining, the acetic acid in vinegar makes cells turn white if they are cancerous; normal cells are pink. Currently, this technique is being used throughout India.
Used in preventative care, vinegar can help detect cervical cancer as well as preventing metabolic syndrome for those who are obese. It is appropriate to add vinegar to the daily diet so that a person can potentially experience the benefits of a common cooking ingredient.
- Yahoo: 10 Health Benefits of Vinegar
- dLife: A Spoonful of Vinegar Helps the Blood Sugar Go Down
- American Diabetes Association: Vinegar Improves Insulin Sensitivity to a High-Carbohydrate Meal in Subjects with Insulin Resistance or Type 2 Diabetes
- Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry: Vinegar Intake Reduces Body Weight, Body Fat Mass, and Serum Triglyceride Levels in Obese Japanese Subjects
- Fox News: Vinegar Cancer Test Saves Lives, India Study Finds
- Mail Online: The Healing Powers of Vinegar
- Local 10: Vinegar Could Save Tens of Thousands of Lives
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