Does Vinegar Detoxify a System?

Consuming unfiltered, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar has been considered a healthful way to detoxify the human body and improve health for thousands of years. While modern science casts doubt on the question of whether vinegar actually removes toxins from the system, its consumption as a inexpensive supplement to a healthy diet is widely reported to boost energy and improve a sense of well-being.

History

• Hippocrates, considered the father of modern medicine, treated his patients with unfiltered apple cider vinegar in 400 B.C. but the use of vinegar for health is considerably older than that. Vinegar consumption is referenced in the the Bible, and vinegar urns have been found at ancient Egyptian archaeological sites. In 1958 Dr. Deforrest Jarvis of Vermont published the now-iconic book Folk Medicine, touting daily use of apple cider vinegar and honey in a glass of water as a cure for ailments ranging from colds to arthritis.

Function

• According to some holistic health practitioners, the human bloodstream becomes more alkaline on a modern western diet of fat, starches, sugars and carbohydrates. Dr. Jarvis, Dr. Patricia Bragg and others report that consuming vinegar functions to counteract this tendency towards alkalinity, raising the bloodstream acidity level back to a natural norm. However, other natural health practitioners like staff at the Natural Superfoods Blog and Shomatsu Osada at NaturoDoc, state that the human body actually becomes more acidic due to poor eating habits and that unfiltered, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar, despite being a strong acid, actually makes the blood and urine more alkaline.

Effects

• Health practitioners on either side of the acidity-alkalinity debate report that consuming unpasteurized apple cider vinegar aids in relieving fatigue and improves the sensation of well-being. Experts like doctors Phillip and Jane Mountrose describe this effect as one of removing toxins that have built up in the body. Others refer to this effect as removing excess lactic acid build-up in the muscles or increasing cell vitality.

Expert Insight

• Doctors at the Mayo Clinic report that there is no scientific evidence that detoxifying diets actually remove any toxins from the body. Rather, any toxins included in substances which humans digest are efficiently removed by the liver and other organs designed for that purpose. Mayo Clinic doctors also advise that consuming apple cider vinegar will not boost metabolism or aid weight loss. However, a healthy diet based on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins, combined with moderate exercise, will generally improve health. Unlike fasts and other rigid detox diets, however, most vinegar proponents suggest only small quantities (2 tsp. twice a day in a glass of water) of apple cider vinegar as a supplement to a healthy diet; thus it is unlikely to cause harm to health, even if it does not cause substantial benefits.

Misconceptions

• Many consumers have the misconception that filtered, clear vinegar is a higher quality food product than unfiltered, unpasteurized vinegar, which has cloudy strands floating in it called the vinegar mother. The vinegar mother contains the most healthful properties of vinegar, which can not be found in clear, commercial vinegars. Unpasteurized vinegar can usually be found in health food stores and can also be produced at home.

Significance

• Use of unpasteurized apple cider vinegar for detoxifying the body is significant because it is an inexpensive, relatively safe method for many people to take personal control of aspects of their health. The energizing effects of detoxifying with vinegar may bring on a sense of well-being which can complement a healthy diet and provide the strength necessary to embark on exercise and positive lifestyle changes.