Apple cider vinegar seems to be the new cure-all of the day. True to form, the establishment media has run wild with the supplement – claiming it cures everything from minor infections to cancer. Both the facts and myths surrounding apple cider vinegar are widespread. How can you tell the healthy and helpful facts from mere rumor? Let’s get into the science. As it turns out, apple cider vinegar is an impressive supplement – but click bait claims aside, it won’t cure all that ails you.
In a study published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Elsevier, researchers conducted a meta-analysis – an analysis of data from multiple studies – and found that apple cider vinegar may aid in lowering blood glucose and insulin levels when taken during lunch- or dinner- time meals. Findings hint at significant implications for those battling diabetes, as the substance may aid in regulating insulin levels. Healthy individuals with a family history of diabetes may consume the supplement as well to prevent the onset of the disease – though this is not a cure for the disease.
According to the New Orleans based Times-Picayune, apple cider vinegar may reduce one’s risk of coronary heart disease. Apple cider vinegar is rich in HDL cholesterol, also known as good cholesterol, and it decreases concentrations of LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream. As previously reported on Liberty Nation, LDL cholesterol escalates the risk of heart disease. Although the results are preliminary, apple cider vinegar seems to reduce the possibility of heart disease – though again, it’s a prevention, not a cure.
Scientists at the Central Research Institute of India found that seven hundred fifty milligrams of apple cider vinegar per day may lead to weight loss and decreases in visceral fat. These are significant findings for overweight patients – and not just for the more obvious benefits of healthy weight loss. Obesity may increase one’s risk of both cancer and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), also called steatohepatitis. As found by Bristol-Myers Squibb, NAFLD is prevalent in one in four Americans and is projected to overtake Hepatitis C as the leading cause of liver transplants in the U.S. by 2020. Not all researchers support the findings that apple cider vinegar aids in weight loss and visceral fat decrease, however. One study conducted by Dr. James Brown with BBC News found that apple cider vinegar had no effect on weight loss among his participants.
Although apple cider vinegar may aid in decreasing body weight and visceral fat to prevent the onset of NAFLD, diabetes, and cancer, the myth that the supplement cures cancer is simply that – a myth – as found by the Medscape General Medicine, a peer-reviewed website for health professionals. Another common myth associated with the vinegar is its supposed ability to cure infections. The study from Medscape General Medicine found no evidence to support this claim either, though they did conclude that it is useful in disinfecting household items.
Although drinking apple cider vinegar has proven to offer many health benefits, users should ingest the supplement with caution. As published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine, ingesting excessive quantities of apple cider vinegar may lead to tooth enamel decay – it is a mild acid, after all. The publication reports that those who drink approximately one cup of undiluted apple cider vinegar per day for weight loss are likely to experience tooth enamel decay. Diluting apple cider vinegar and consuming the substance in moderation is necessary when harnessing its health benefits.
Although there are many myths surrounding apple cider vinegar, the evidence seems conclusive that the supplement offers many valuable health benefits. Consumers must maintain skepticism, however, as snake oil hucksters abound and the establishment media often divulges in false hopes and cures for diseases such as cancer just to drive ratings.
