Apple Cider Vinegar

Even with its strong smell, apple cider vinegar is still one of my favorite pantry items. ACV been used as a natural tonic for thousands of years, notably by Hippocrates – the father of Western Medicine. ACV is made from apple juice, which is then fermented to hard apple cider, and again fermented to make apple cider vinegar. It’s a very multipurpose ingredient and can be used in a variety of cooking methods as well as for uses outside the kitchen. I like using apple cider vinegar as a flavor booster for salad dressings, pickling, marinades, and sauces. It can also be used as a household cleaning, as a face toner, and as an acne spot treatment.

  • ACV is high in acetic acid, which helps to increase the body’s absorption of vitamins and minerals from other foods we eat.
  • It may also aid in weight loss. A study published in Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry found that people who consumed acetic acid (found in ACV) for twelve weeks experienced major reductions of body weight, abdominal fat, waist circumference and triglycerides – a type of fat found in the blood.
  • ACV may help with blood sugar level control, as it has been found to steady our stomach’s rate of digestion. When this happens, our body has more time to use the hormone, insulin, to get sugar out of blood and into cells where its needed. This keeps blood sugar levels normal, and helps to prevent high levels of sugars and insulin in our blood.
  • ACV is very alkalizing, and can therefore help to balance the pH of our body.

Vegukate Tips:

Always buy organic and raw/unfiltered ACV – which hasn’t been over processed and stripped of its beneficial enzymes.

Store ACV in a cool, dark place.