Vinegar is perhaps the oldest health tonic known to mankind. It has been used for home remedies, household and cooking purposes all around the world for thousands of years! Though it has a wide range of uses, in today’s article I would like to share two distinctive uses of vinegar based on recent researches.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to enjoy vinegar a lot. He used to dip his food in it and say, “what an excellent condiment is vinegar” – Reported in Muslim and Abu Dawood.

And it really is an excellent condiment. In the last two decades, scientists have been making headway in understanding the excellent health properties of vinegar.

Though most researches, to date, have been done on rats, more human-based researches are emerging from various parts of the globe too.

Here are two important findings to help you become lean and healthy:

Health Benefit # 1: Vinegar Lowers Your Blood Sugar Level

Elevated blood sugar level is believed to be a major cause of ageing and various chronic diseases. Elevated blood sugar level, too often, over a long period of time leads to fat gain, obesity and insulin resistance, which is the preliminary stage of type 2 diabetes.

So, a stable blood sugar level is essential for anyone who is looking to live a healthy life.

In recent researches, vinegar has been shown to have numerous benefits for insulin function and blood sugar levels.

In a 2004 study, researchers found that intake of 20ml (1.5 tablespoon) of apple cider vinegar (diluted in a 40ml water) before a carb-rich meal, helped to lower blood sugar level up to 34%!

Another study from Arizona State University indicates that vinegar intake (at least 10 ml) before each meal significantly lowers blood sugar responses even in healthy adults.

So based on these and many other studies, it’s safe to say that adding apple cider vinegar to your diet can improve your insulin sensitivity and reduce your blood sugar level

Health Benefit # 2: Vinegar Helps You Lose Weight

If you want to lose weight and achieve a beautiful body composition, you need to manage your blood sugar level.

Insulin causes the body to store up your excess energy as body fat. So, lowering your blood sugar level means that you are helping your body to shed that stored body fat.

Many studies on humans indicate that vinegar increases satiety level and therefore helps you to eat fewer calories.

Research demonstrates that vinegar intake along with a carb-rich meal can increase feelings of fullness and make people eat roughly 250 fewer calories for the rest of the day.

In another study conducted on obese Japanese participants over a 12-week period showed that vinegar can significantly lower your body weight, BMI, belly fat, blood triglycerides and waist circumference.

And all these benefits are derived from just 15 ml (1 tablespoon) of vinegar a day for 12 weeks.

However, it’s important to note that vinegar isn’t a magic elixir, nor can it provide an easy fix to your blood sugar level or your weight. Along with a healthy diet and well-planned exercise regimen, vinegar can be a helping hand in improving some aspects of your health.

Dosage and How to Use It

From the studies I’ve researched, it seems to be safe to have 1-2 tablespoons of vinegar a day and it’s better not to exceed more than 2 tablespoons on a regular basis.

As the saying goes, “too much of anything is good for nothing”. So just don’t overdo it.

Here are two easy ways to consume vinegar:

1. Add vinegar to your salad dressings
2. Mix 1-2 teaspoons of vinegar in a glass of water and drink before your meals (2-3 times a day)

I hope this article will entice you to use vinegar more often in your life to reap the benefits of this simple and inexpensive condiment.