Perhaps you’ve heard about the tremendous number of potential health benefits apple cider vinegar (ACV) can provide you with, or maybe you’re new to learning more about this exciting product.
Whether you’re an apple cider vinegar aficionado or just getting curious about what it can do for you, it’s important to know all about the products you’re putting in your body. Apple cider vinegar is no exception.
There’s plenty to learn about apple cider vinegar, and once you do, you’ll have a greater comprehension of why it’s such an up-and-coming product.
If you’re unsure where to start, don’t worry — we’re here to answer all of your apple cider vinegar related questions.
Today, we’re going to discuss what apple cider vinegar is, what the potential health benefits are, how acidic it is, and even how you can experience the benefits of ACV without sipping it.
What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?
Apple cider vinegar isn’t a new product — it’s actually been around for thousands of years, which just goes to show how widespread this product is.
Apple cider vinegar is essentially apple juice with a twist — it gets fermented twice. The way it works is that yeast, sugar, or a different carbohydrate are mixed in with crushed apples.
It takes a few weeks, but natural bacteria and yeast ferments the juice. This changes the carbohydrates into alcohol. That’s not all, however. There’s a second fermentation process where the alcohol changes into acetic acid. Once this occurs, ta-da! You’ve successfully crafted apple cider vinegar.
There are several ways that you can acquire apple cider vinegar in the liquid form. Some people choose to use raw apple cider vinegar because it supposedly has more natural bacteria and yeasts. These substances, referred to as “the mother,” are the cloudy sediment that you’ll notice in the bottle.
Initially, glancing at the nutrition facts label on an apple cider vinegar glass might seem confusing. It won’t reveal high levels of vitamins, minerals, or calories. Instead, the potential health benefits of this product are found in substances not mentioned on a traditional nutrition label.
Apple cider vinegar is popular for its acetic acid component, which forms during the fermentation process. It’s widely assumed that this acid could have several health benefits.
In addition to this, raw ACV also contains natural probiotics (also known as health bacteria). These can support your gut health and immune system.
ACV also contains antioxidants, which are substances that can support your body’s cells and work to prevent damage.
What Are Some of the Potential Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar?
There are plenty of potential health benefits associated with incorporating apple cider vinegar into your daily routine. One of these presumed health benefits is that it could be helpful with blood sugar management.
Several small studies found that if you consume apple cider vinegar after a meal, it could support management of your blood glucose (also known as sugar).
Still, it’s important to not expect the vinegar alone to transform your blood sugar levels. If you have a health condition that leads to spiked blood sugar levels, you definitely should still follow a healthy diet and exercise plan and take any medication as needed — but adding ACV likely won’t hurt.
Another potential health benefit of ACV is that it may help to calm acid reflux. If you notice that you frequently have heartburn, apple cider vinegar could be worth your while to try. People also sometimes opt to toss it on their salad in its liquid form to reap the benefits of this product’s anti-microbial properties.
Finally, there’s plenty of talk regarding how apple cider vinegar could potentially make a positive impact on your gut health. If you’re interested in helping to soothe your gut or simply want to see what ACV can do for your gut, we invite you to give it a try — you might just love it!
Are There Any Potential Side Effects of ACV?
Like most products, there are some potential side effects of consuming apple cider vinegar.
It is a highly acidic product, which means you should be mindful about how you’re consuming it. If you drink it straight, for example, it could potentially wreak havoc on your esophagus. One way that you can reduce this is by diluting it with water.
In addition, people with several health conditions should avoid apple cider vinegar.
If you have low potassium levels, you shouldn’t use apple cider vinegar, as it can worsen the condition.
If you’re taking medication, you should check to make sure that ACV doesn’t have any interactions with it. It can interact with some insulin and diuretic drugs. Therefore, before you try ACV, check in with your doctor to make sure that it won’t react badly with your medication.
Finally, some people simply can’t stand the taste of ACV. It can make you feel sick to your stomach and can even cause nausea or vomiting. That’s one of the reasons why choosing an ACV gummy is such a great idea — it’s tasty, and can help you get plenty of the same health benefits as the liquid.
The most important thing to know is that apple cider vinegar is highly acidic, and that can erode your tooth enamel. Once that wears away, you’re not going to be able to get it back. That brings us to our next point of discussion: the acidity of apple cider vinegar.
How Acidic Is Apple Cider Vinegar?
The pH scale was designed to help us gauge how acidic or basic a product is, so knowing apple cider vinegar’s pH can be extremely beneficial to figuring out what its acidity is like. First, we’ll provide you with a little background on the pH scale.
The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, and 7 is considered neutral. This means that a product having a pH below 7 indicates acidity, while a product with a higher pH indicates a base.
Apple cider vinegar’s pH is a 2-3, which means that it definitely falls on the acidic side of the pH scale. In other words, if you try to sip on ACV, you might find that it’s highly acidic, too much so to even drink. Of course, everyone has different taste buds so this will bother some people more than others.
As we mentioned, apple cider vinegar can have a whole host of potential health benefits. Still, it’s essential to ensure that you’re taking care of other parts of your body that ACV can erode or harm — such as your teeth.
Diluting it is a great place to start, but there are also other ways that you can experience ACV without having to drink a highly unpleasant and acidic beverage.
Allow us to introduce you to ACV gummy supplements.
How Can I Experience the Benefits of ACV Without Drinking It?
If you want to get the full benefits of ACV without having to drink a cup of ACV (and really, who does?) help is on the way.
We suggest that you try Cosmos Vita’s delicious and healthful ACV gummy supplement: Gutsy. This easy to digest supplement can help you experience some of the potential benefits of apple cider vinegar, but without the aftertaste that plenty of people dislike.
Gutsy was created right here in the United States and is vegan-friendly. At Cosmos Vita, we’re passionate about creating gummy supplements that people will enjoy taking. That’s why all of our supplements are gluten, artificial flavor, and dye free. None of the bad stuff — and all of the good.
We use simple ingredients because we know that sometimes, the best products are the ones with the most basic components. This is certainly one of those cases.
This supplement was created to support your body in a variety of ways. Not only is it supportive of immune health, it can also promote a healthier gut, too. We believe that your vitamins should be part of your daily routine, and the reason that plenty of people forget to take them is because they’re not enjoyable. Cosmos Vita is on a mission to change that.
In Conclusion
Apple cider vinegar has a myriad of potential health benefits — that’s why it’s a mainstay for those who are conscientious about their health.
If you’re passionate about supporting your body, you’ve likely considered taking apple cider vinegar.
Our gummy vitamins will help you experience this product without the strong acidity that comes with drinking it and can erode your teeth. Once you try our Gutsy supplement, we know you’ll fall in love. Thank us later — and don’t forget to check out our other outstanding supplements, too!
SOURCES:
Exploring the Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar | Cleveland Clinic
Debunking the health benefits of apple cider vinegar | UChicago Medicine
Apple Cider Vinegar for Digestion. What's the Deal? | CDFH
Apple cider vinegar: Uses and benefits - MyDr.com.au | My Dr.
FAQs
How Acidic Is Apple Cider Vinegar? ›
In addition to acetic acid, ACV may also contain a small amount of malic acid and citric acid. The pH of apple cider vinegar is about 2-3, which is considered mildly acidic. (pH is a measure of acidity, with 1 being the most acidic and 7 being neutral.)
Does drinking apple cider vinegar Alkalize the body? ›Internal. Contrary to what you may think, apple cider vinegar is actually not acid once consumed. Instead, it has an alkaline effect on the body when taken internally. Keeping your body's pH levels, or the balance between acidic and alkaline, as stable as possible is said to aid in disease prevention.
Is apple cider vinegar just as acidic as white vinegar? ›Next, acetic acid bacteria are added to a distilled alcohol and water mixture. The bacteria turn the alcohol into acetic acid (5). The acid levels of apple cider vinegar and white vinegar are similar. Apple cider vinegar contains 5%-6% acetic acid, while white vinegar contains 4%-7% (5).
Who should not take apple cider vinegar? ›Low potassium levels in the blood (hypokalemia): Apple cider vinegar might lower potassium levels in the blood. If your potassium is already low, apple cider vinegar might make it too low. Don't use apple cider vinegar if you have this condition.
Is apple cider vinegar too acidic for stomach? ›Side effects
But we do know that apple cider vinegar is, itself, highly acidic. It's possible, then, that your attempt to treat your heartburn could actually make it worse.
That's because of its purported ability to boost digestion, support a healthy weight, and amplify your glow from the inside out. Understandably so, considering ACV packs antioxidants, B vitamins, calcium, and potassium, and supports healthy gut bacteria.
What does drinking diluted apple cider vinegar do to your body? ›The bottom line
That said, some studies suggest it may offer some benefits, including killing bacteria, lowering blood sugar levels, and promoting weight loss. Apple cider vinegar appears safe when diluted as long as you don't take excessive amounts of it.