Four Surprising Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar Supplements

You may or may not have heard that Apple Cider Vinegar can have an array of different health benefits – from supporting weight loss to improving heart health. And if the thought of drinking any kind of vinegar puts you off (it certainly does us!), then fear not! Apple Cider Vinegar is now available in easy to take supplement form. Here we are focussing on just our top four benefits, although there are more! Find out more about the benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar supplements right here…

The word vinegar comes from the French for ‘sour wine’. However, Apple Cider Vinegar is actually the product of oxidised cider, rather than wine.

To start the process apples are crushed to extract the juice, to which is added yeast (a bacteria culture), forming cider. The yeast feeds on the sugar in the apple juice turning it into ethanol (alcohol). The fermented apple juice then undergoes a second reaction to oxidise the ethanol turning it into acetic acid. The acetic acid gives it the typical acidic or ‘sour’ taste and is the active compound in the vinegar.

Unfiltered vinegars contain what is known as ‘the mother’, which is all the good stuff: enzymes, healthy bacteria and proteins that give it a cloudy appearance and sometimes produce sediment.

It is the combination of acetic acid, the probiotics (friendly bacteria), enzymes and proteins, which give apple cider vinegar its fabulous health-giving benefits. Its positive health perks are many and varied, our top four favourites are below.

It Is A Natural Bactericidal

The natural acidity of cider vinegar (usually around pH4) makes it ideal for killing off harmful bacteria or preventing bacteria from multiplying. Internally this can support your body’s natural bacteria balance, preventing the overgrowth of the fungus Candida Albicans, which causes thrush. As a gargle with warm water, cider vinegar can also help ease and reduce a sore throat by killing the bacteria that are the cause of the infection.

It Lowers Blood Sugar

Apple Cider Vinegar has also been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and help lower blood sugar levels after meals. This can help in patients with Type Two Diabetes (an inability to produce insulin, or insulin resistance) and also those who don’t have diabetes. High blood sugar is thought to be the cause of various chronic diseases.

All of us benefit from keeping our blood sugar within the normal levels. You can do this effectively and healthily by reducing the number of refined carbohydrates and sugar in your diet, but Apple Cider Vinegar also has a marked effect.

It Can Support Weight Loss

Interestingly it has been found that taking cider vinegar with meals can increase the feeling of fullness leading to the consumption of fewer calories. Studies show that Apple Cider Vinegar taken with a high carb meal resulted in a reduced intake of 200-275 calories for the rest of the day.

Further studies on obesity have demonstrated weight and fat loss over a period of three months of 1.2 – 1.7 kilos. (Note that diet and lifestyle, as well as the Apple Cider Vinegar, contributes to the overall weight-loss, sadly it’s not a singular miracle cure!)

It Improves Heart Health

Tests have shown that Apple Cider Vinegar can lower triglycerides and cholesterol (high levels of both of these are linked to an increased risk of heart disease). It has also been shown that it can support reductions in blood pressure, which is also a large contributing factor to heart disease. As mentioned Apple Cider Vinegar helps to improve insulin sensitivity and fight diabetes, which further reduces the risk of heart disease and supports a healthy heart.

Why Choose an Apple Cider Vinegar Supplement?

Of course, Apple Cider Vinegar is available as a liquid and often taken from the spoon or cup. However, it is also now possible to take it in supplement form – great news for anyone that doesn’t like drinking vinegar!

The benefits of taking Apple Cider Vinegar as a supplement is that it is simple, easy and quick. There is no mess and no fuss. It also means you don’t have to taste the vinegar itself (we don’t all love vinegar after all!) and the bonus is that you can travel with a supplement really easily, especially if your trip takes you through airports. Either way, leaking vinegar in the suitcase is never desired!

Additionally, supplements are highly concentrated, standardised (so you get the same amount each dose) and are cost effective. As always, when sourcing your brand, we recommend you look for good quality and high purity. If you can go organic too, then that is a great option!

Who knew the humble apple had so many surprising health benefits!

Stay well and happy, beautiful one. Lots of love,