2 minute read
Should you take apple cider vinegar?
What About These Apples? The most Googled health term for 2020 is apple cider vinegar
BY » Martin Rose
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Did you know that “Apple cider vinegar” is the most searched Google health topic locally and across the United States? Many swear by its health benefits including helping weight loss, blood sugar, complexion, digestion, energy levels, heart health and immune system.
“Mother” is the cloud of yeast and bacteria you see in unfiltered bottles of apple cider vinegar.
The term appears in 11 of the top 100 searches combined with weight loss, detox, benefits, gummies, drink and mother (the cloud of yeast and bacteria you see in unfiltered bottles). Apple cider vinegar has been used medicinally for centuries, but most of the science community remains skeptical, citing little support for these claims.
Weight loss fans believe taking apple cider before before meals helps curb appetite and burn fat. It may help lower blood sugar levels in diabetics by changing how foods get absorbed from the gut, though the research sample size is very small.
Apple cider vinegar is the fermented juice of crushed apples. It contains acetic acid and nutrients such as B vitamins and vitamin C. The acid and probiotic “mother” are believed to provide the health benefits.
If you’re looking to use it for health reasons, most recommend adding 1 to 2 tablespoons to water or tea or adding apple cider vinegar to salads and food as a dressing. Many prefer the convenience of pill form or a new trend, gummies, over the liquid version.
Gummies claim to provide all benefits without the harsh vinegar taste, appearing in five of the 11 top apple cider vinegar searches. Goli is the best-selling gummy brand, with 550,000 Facebook fans and 4.5-star rating and 74,000 reviews on Amazon.
Apple cider vinegar has superpower status in the wellness community. Most medical professions caution that it is not the health cure-all or weight-loss jump starter you may think, nor should it take the place of other medications.
According to the Mayo Clinic, taking apple cider vinegar daily poses little risk for most people, though it may cause throat irritation, damage to tooth enamel or interaction with certain drugs including diuretics and insulin. Like all supplements, consult with your health care professional for the most relevant advice.
I just found a bottle of organic ACV with “mother” in the pantry. Gonna give it a try.
Dream It. Plan It. Pursue It. SM
