CBS NEWS – Apple cider season brings on renewed interest in a longtime wellness trend: apple cider vinegar.
From social media posts extolling the supposed benefits of drinking the pungent fermented liquid to gummy forms being marketed as health supplements, proponents say it can help with everything from skin health to gut health and even weight loss.
But how helpful is it for our health, really?
While more research is needed to fully understand any potential benefits of apple cider vinegar, experts say they have seen some evidence of it supporting certain health goals — but there are things to be mindful of if you’re going to give it a try.
“It’s not a magic cure or a quick fix to any health problem,” says Laura Ligos, a registered dietitian nutritionist and specialist in sports dietetics. “However, in my experience as a dietitian, I have seen using something like apple cider vinegar pre-meal can be helpful in aiding digestion to help simulate stomach acid and break down your food appropriately.”
We know this type of vinegar contains certain acids that can kill harmful bacteria, and natural probiotics that may encourage gut health, but studies on the actual extent of these potential benefits are still needed.
Small studies have also examined apple cider vinegar’s effect on blood sugar.
“As far as other benefits, it may be helpful in reducing the blood sugar response when taken with or after a meal,” Ligos explains.
Others are turning to apple cider vinegar not for internal use, but external — using the liquid for skin and scalp care.
While research is also lacking in this area, Dr. Azza Halim, a physician and board-certified anesthesiologist, says apple cider vinegar contains multiple elements that may aid in certain skin concerns.
“The acidic nature of apple cider vinegar helps restore the natural pH of the skin to reduce inflammation.
It also contains alpha hydroxy acid and antioxidants which all help to exfoliate, brighten and smooth the skin,” she says … READ MORE.
