Is It Okay to Drink Vinegar? There Are Both Benefits and Dangers

Is it good for you to drink vinegar? Yes, if you drink vinegar in small amounts. Be careful if you are taking any medication regularly or suffer from any serious medical condition. Discuss with your doctor first. The distinctive taste and odor of vinegar is due to the presence of acetic acid in it. There are many health benefits associated with acetic acid and consuming vinegar in small quantities can be beneficial. It can be used in various recipes or you can drink it either plain or mixed with some water. It is a great disinfectant and a good cleaning agent and one table spoon of vinegar contains only 3 calories. If used in the right way, it can provide many health benefits, but there are also some risks associated with drinking large amounts of vinegar. So before taking vinegar, it is recommended to discuss with your physician if you are on any regular medication or have a health condition in order to avoid any medication interactions that can exacerbate your conditions.

Antimicrobial Properties

Vinegar has strong antimicrobial properties and it is one of the best natural cleaning agents. The acetic acid present in vinegar has the ability to cross the cell membrane and to destroy microbial organisms. Any food fermented with vinegar has large amounts of organic acids such as lactic acid, acetic acid, ascorbic acid, citric acid and so on. All of them are lethal for bacteria.

Antioxidant Effects

Antioxidants make profound influence on your health, as they can inhabit oxidation of another molecule and fight free radicals which cause oxidative stress. Many types of vinegar have antioxidant properties as they contain polyphenols and vitamins that can help reduce oxidative stress.

Fights Cancer

Vinegar is rich in antioxidants like epicatechin, catechin and gallic acid. These potent anti oxidants have an ability to fight against cancer cells. Kurosu is traditional Japanese rice vinegar and many studies have confirmed its ability to inhibit the growth of various cancer cells and to fight against bladder, colon, lung, breast and prostate cancer.

Prevents Heartburn and Acid Reflux

Most of the time, acid reflux is caused by too little acid in your stomach. If you are wondering that “can you drink vinegar?” if you are experiencing acid reflux, the good news is that you can. Drinking a tablespoon of raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar will correct the acid imbalance of your stomach.

Helps to Heal the Wounds

There is a cobweb-like amino acid-based substance present in unprocessed vinegar which is known as the “mother” of the vinegar. This substance has antibacterial properties that can be helpful to heal burn injuries. Acetic acids in vinegar can be helpful to relieve muscle damage result from inflammation after exercise.

Nutritional Value

Vinegar contains many minerals and vitamins, such as vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, magnesium, sodium, potassium, calcium and phosphorous. These contents are beneficial to energy production, healthy digestion and food metabolism. Almost all of the vinegars, especially the less filtered and processed types, like apple cider vinegar, are beneficial to heart, muscle health, blood vessel and nerve.

Reduces Acidity

Although vinegar is rich in acetic acid, it can be helpful to balance the pH level of your body. Taking a couple of teaspoons of vinegar a day has an alkalizing effect, which may be beneficial in various conditions like headache, arthritis, allergies and gout.

Helps to Reduce Appetite

Vinegar is part of nearly every weight loss diet plan. People often ask from nutritionists that “can you drink vinegar?” to promote weight loss. Vinegar reduces appetite as ingesting vinegar slows down food digestion and lower blood glucose and insulin after eating. It also reduces the unhealthy cravings and is very effective to maintain a feeling of fullness for longer.

Better Control of Diabetes

Vinegar is very helpful to maintain steady blood glucose levels in diabetics. It increases insulin production and sensitivity and reduces insulin resistance. People with type 2 diabetes can take a teaspoon of vinegar at night for better glycemic control.

Great for Hair and Skin

Vinegar is helpful to keep your hair healthy. Applying a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar on the scalp can help you to remove dandruff, reduce itching scalp and hair loss.

If you want to give your skin a healthy glow and want to get rid of the dull complexion, just mix some apple cider vinegar with water and splash it on your face. It will remove the dead cells and harmful toxins from your skin.

Tooth Enamel Destruction

Tooth enamel can get eroded by the acid in vinegar and excessive consumption of vinegar can lead to cavities. Always rinse your mouth with water after you have anything acidic to preserve your teeth.

Blood Thinning

Vinegar is known to have blood thinning properties. For people who already take blood thinning medicines or have a medical disorder can increase bleeding tendency or thin your blood, avoid drinking vinegar.

Drug Interactions

Vinegar can interact with many medicines. It can either decrease their effectiveness by reducing their absorption or altering the metabolism or can lead to toxicity by potentiating their effects. If you are on any long term medication, discuss with your doctor before starting taking vinegar as a supplement.