The Benefits of Vinegar

Vinegar by definition is "a sour liquid obtained by acetic fermentation of diluted alcoholic liquids and used as a condiment or preservative." The French discovered vinegar when they had found soured wine left in the barrel. Vinegar was used as a natural preservative for many, many years because it kills germs and bacteria. This wonderful germ and bacteria fighting agent also makes it a great house cleaner!
Vinegar has been valued for its healing properties for thousands of years. During that time, it has found its way from the apothecary's shelf to the cook's pot. Today it continues help regulate blood sugar levels while entertaining our taste buds with its tart flavor.
Apple cider vinegar, in particular, is very beneficial to your health. It contains vitamins C, E, A, P, B1, B2, and B6. Apple Cider vinegar also contains a slew of healthy minerals such as manganese, iron, calcium, sodium, magnesium, sulfur, copper, phosphorous, silicon, chlorine, and fluorine. Packed with all these vitamins and minerals, Apple cider vinegar could be one of the most important staples in our diets.
Apple cider vinegar helps to control blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, arthritis pains, yeast infections, chest congestion, sore throat, and nasal congestion. Apple cider vinegar also aids in weight loss by detoxifying the liver. Some historians suggest that the Egyptians used apple cider vinegar for weight loss.
No one is really sure how apple cider vinegar works to promote weight loss, but there is no shortage of theories. It is generally believed that the nutrients, enzymes, and organic acids in apple cider vinegar cause weight reduction by acting as an appetite suppressant, by increasing your body's metabolic rate, by reducing water retention, and by helping you maintain a feeling of well being. Recent medical research has highlighted the connection between levels of insulin and weight loss. That coupled with the fact that vinegar is known to slow the rise of blood sugar after a meal leads to the suggestion that the taking of apple cider vinegar with a meal reduces the amount of insulin required to process the meal resulting in weight loss.