Facts & Myths About Apple Cider Vinegar
We’ve all heard about how amazing apple cider vinegar is in terms of the health benefits it has to offer but just like anything you read on the internet, not all of them can be considered factual.
While some of these claims may not be true, it doesn’t take away the fact that ACV is good for our health in more ways than one.
The key is to know how to separate facts from myths and below are some of them.
Fact: It can lower blood sugar
Studies have shown that ACV can be effective in lowering post-meal blood glucose levels after participants of an experiment were given 20 grams of apple cider vinegar.
Blood glucose levels were checked 30 and 60 minutes after the meal and results showed a significant decrease among the participants who took ACV.
While the results were favorable, it would be an exaggeration to say that ACV can cure diabetes. It does help in lowering blood glucose levels which means it can be a good addition to any diabetes treatment plan.
Myth: It can reduce high blood pressure
There have been claims that ACV can also lower high blood pressure, which would have really been great news if it were true.
Unfortunately, this claim is still unproven given that the studies conducted to support such claims were done on rats.
Yes, it did lower blood pressure among rats but no definitive studies have yielded the same results for humans yet.
Fact: It may help you lose weight
This is perhaps one of the most popular claims about ACV, especially within the health and wellness community.
A lot of people love the idea of losing weight and if that means inserting ACV into your daily diet, then why not?
Studies have shown that ACV can indeed help people lose weight and that it can help lower cholesterol levels as well. While such studies support this popular claim, eating a healthy diet and exercise is still essential if you want to reach your target weight.
Myth: It has no negative side effects
It’s supposed to be natural and healthy so it shouldn’t have any side effects, right?
Well, not exactly.
Even if it’s touted as one of the healthiest food today, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it won’t have any bad side effects.
Keep in mind that ACV is acidic and because of this, it has been found to destroy tooth enamel when taken frequently and with no dilution.
Taking high doses of ACV has also been found to lower potassium levels which is why it’s important to only consume the right amount.
Myth: It helps prevent or cure cancer
Here’s another popular claim that can be misleading.
Several studies suggest that ACV can help lower cancer cell growth but it should be noted that the results of these studies are still inconclusive and therefore, should be taken with a grain of salt.
It does come with a ton of health benefits but not enough to be considered a miracle substance that can help prevent or cure cancer.
Final Thoughts
There’s no denying the health benefits apple cider vinegar has to offer but not everything that’s been said about this amazing substance can be considered true. This is not to say that such claims are improbable because research and studies continue to happen even as we speak.