Apple Cider Vinegar was used by Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, over two thousand years ago for wound cleaning and called miraculous for its anti-microbial and anti-viral properties. These days we can find claims that ACV cures everything from flu to warts and diabetes.
There are some studies done that show ACV blocking the starch from being digested and raising blood sugar levels. But do we really have to wait for modern studies to come out and prove that ACV works before we start using it? I believe that there is a way to safely incorporate this potentially very healthy product into our diet and rip the benefits from this small change. My grandma was born in 1910 in Ukraine and when I was little she used to tell me that certain foods have medicinal properties and eating onion and garlic for example can ward off colds. Did she read studies about it? No she did not. Now there are numerous studies to support this and people have been popping garlic pills for years. That’s what I call a grandma paradox! There is certain wisdom that is passed down from generation to generation that we can learn from and appreciate in addition to modern research that we have access to now. To this day it still amazes me that in 1900s, way before computers and iPhones, my great-grandparents new the benefits of ACV and probiotics in sauerkraut (a type of pickled cabbage very popular in that area). They didn’t even know the word “probiotics” but they knew it was good for our health. What is interesting is most vinegars are acidic, but ACV is actually an alkaline food and that’s why people say that it restores our body’s PH balance. If your body is acidic, it’s a breeding ground for diseases and that’s why celebrities and nutrition experts talk about eating alkaline diet. I buy Bragg’s Apple cider vinegar that is made from organic apples, not processed and very cloudy. This vinegar is particularly healthy since it has something called the “mother” that is said to be full of probiotics and good bacteria that is necessary for our gut health. If you do a google search you will discover that some people dilute ACV with water, add honey to make it more palatable and drink daily. I am not a doctor so I am not going to advice whether to do that or not, but I would start using this potentially magical ingredient in your kitchen today. Here is healthy and yummy way to add some ACV to your family dinner and wow your dinner guests with this delicious French bistro salad: