The Medical Benefits of Vinegar

The ancient Greeks used vinegar as a wound healer and an antibiotic. During the Middle Ages, vinegar was touted as a health elixir and was sometimes even employed as a deodorant and mouthwash. Today, vinegar is used as a condiment and flavor enhancer, as well as a home remedy for a number of different ailments.

Identification

• Vinegar is an acidic solution produced through the fermentation of alcoholic liquids. It can be made from the juice of most fruits and grains, including grapes, rice and barley, however it is apple cider vinegar that often gets special attention for its perceived health-sustaining properties. Most table vinegars contain between 4 and 8 percent acetic acid, an organic compound responsible for vinegar's sour taste and strong smell.

Diabetes Management

• One exciting aspect of vinegar is its potential in helping those who suffer from type 2 diabetes. A 2004 study conducted by Dr. Carol Johnston at Arizona State University found that consumption of 2 tbsp. of vinegar prior to a meal prevented the significant spikes in insulin and glucose levels that typically occur after eating a high-carbohydrate meal. It is believed that vinegar works by inactivating digestive enzymes that break down food into sugar. As a result, sugar is not absorbed into the bloodstream as rapidly.

Calcium Absorption

• The acetic acid found in vinegar helps the body absorb minerals in food. A 1999 Japanese study discovered that rats fed a diet high in vinegar absorbed more calcium and had greater bone density than those that did not receive vinegar. While more studies are needed to confirm these results, this finding may prove beneficial to those suffering from osteoporosis and mineral absorption problems.

Weight Control

• A Swedish study published in the September 2005 European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that vinegar may help with weight control. Test subjects who consumed vinegar prior to eating bread reported feeling fuller than those who had only received bread. Feelings of satiety lasted for up to two hours after eating. Researchers believe that similar benefits may be obtained when individuals consume vinegar with a meal, such as in a salad vinaigrette.

Misconceptions

• Vinegar has a number of documented medical benefits, however many of the claims made by marketers are based on folk remedies that have not been scientifically verified. Vinegar is often touted as a remedy for heartburn and upset stomach, yet in many cases the acid in vinegar will actually aggravate symptoms. Claims that vinegar can cure arthritis, prevent cancer and heal various infections are similarly unproven. Those who wish to reap the medicinal benefits of this natural product may be best served enjoying it as a condiment on vegetables and as a tangy marinade rather than treating it as a miracle cure-all.