Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a vinegar made from apple juice. It contains the usual acetic acid content of vinegar and small amounts of various phytochemicals found in apples. It’s one of those widely beloved and yet widely scoffed-at word-of-mouth health remedies. Mix it with lemon juice and coconut oil, and you have the trifecta of popular home remedies (seems like a bad flavor combination though).

It seems to have a modest ability to reduces the glycemic index of foods, making it a possible tool for helping to manage blood sugar. More research is needed, and it’s unclear how its effects differ from any other type of vinegar, but the benefits are unlikely to differ a great deal since acetic acid may be the main driver of its benefits. Apple cider vinegar also seems to be mildly appetite-suppressing and may assist dieting, with a little research finding a spontaneous reduction in food intake and body fat.

Due to its acidic nature, it can damage various tissues and tooth enamel. Application to sensitive skin, excessive consumption (especially of undiluted vinegar), and excessive consumption of pickled foods may lead to damaged tissue. There is an association between pickled food and gastric cancer, and while it’s unclear what the connection might be, vinegar is a plausible explanation.