APPLE CIDER VINEGAR: IS IT THE REAL DEAL?

It once was “snake oil,” but these days products of this nature are hyped as best for weight loss, wrinkle removal, and a variety of other cures. Now, there’s apple cider vinegar.

WRITER: FRED HILTON

Back in the 1940s and 1950s, a tonic called Hadacol took America by storm. Sold over the counter, it promised to cure high blood pressure, ulcers, stroke, and many other illnesses.

Its massive advertising campaign (second nationally only to Coca-Cola) used some outrageous testimonials, including this one: “Two months ago, I couldn’t read or write. I took four bottles of Hadacol, and now I’m teaching school.”

Public demand for Hadacol was enormous. “People paid $3.50 for a 24-ounce bottle even if they had no food in the pantry,” Mentalfloss.com says.

There were some vitamins, but Hadacol also had a healthy kick of alcohol. You felt better temporarily, but it didn’t cure anything.

A combination of lawsuits, government investigations, and tax troubles forced Hadacol into bankruptcy.

Today, we hear many amazing stories of the health benefits of apple cider vinegar. Is it just a new Hadacol or is it for real? The proponents of apple cider vinegar are adamant that it is a wonder food with enormous benefits— lower blood sugar levels, lower cholesterol, weight loss, lower risk of heart disease, and protection against cancer.

Several studies indicated apple cider vinegar does lower cholesterol and blood pressure in rats. Few studies address the effect it has on humans. However, one study done by Harvard University showed that women who ate salad dressings with vinegar had a reduced risk of heart attack.

A study in obese individuals showed that daily vinegar consumption led to reduced belly fat, waist circumference, lower blood triglycerides, and weight loss. Common dosages range from one teaspoon to two tablespoons. Consumption of more than that can have harmful effects due to acidity, doctors say.

Apple cider vinegar is clearly not a reincarnation of Hadacol. There are proven positive effects, but more research is needed. However, it does have its benefits. “At the end of the day, apple cider vinegar appears to be very healthy,” Kris Gunnars wrote in Authority Nutrition. “It’s not a ‘miracle’ or a ‘cure-all’ like some people seem to believe, but it does clearly have some important health benefits, especially for blood sugar and weight control.”

Getting back to Hadacol, if you’re wondering how the product got its name, the company president explained: “Well, I hadda call it something.”

Sources

“13+ Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar,” Reader’s Digest, rd.com http://www.rd.com/health/wellness/apple-cider-vinegar-benefits/

“6 Proven Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar,” by Kris Gunnars, Authority Nutrition, authoritynutition.com https://authoritynutrition.com/6-proven-health-benefits-of-apple-cider-vinegar/ “Hadacol, the Last of the Medicine Shows,” Mental Floss, mentalfloss.com http://mentalfloss.com/article/23920/hadacol-last-medicine-shows

“Is apple cider vinegar rally good for you?” by Ellie Krieger, Chicago Tribune, from The Washington Post, March 26, 2016 http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/health/ct-apple-cider-vinegar-health-20160326-story.html

“1 Tbsp of Apple Cider Vinegar for 60 Days Can Eliminate these Common Health Problems,” by David Wolfe, davidwolfe.com https://www.davidwolfe.com/1-tbsp-acv-eliminate-health-problems/