January Health News
Cravings Keeping you from Success?
Apple Cider Vinegar to the Rescue
by Kellie Hill
More evidence that raw, organic apple cider vinegar is practically a miracle health product . . . the Journal of Functional Foods showed that drinking apple cider vinegar before a meal may help lower your blood glucose. Study participants who drank a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with 8 ounces of water prior to eating had lower blood glucose levels compared to participants who didn’t consume apple cider vinegar.
Research shows that consuming apple cider vinegar during a high-carbohydrate meal actually helps to improve insulin sensitivity by 19-34% and significantly lowers blood glucose and insulin responses. Non-medical translation – your blood glucose won’t spike as much.
This just adds to the amazing things apple cider vinegar can help with – improved digestion, relief of constipation, headaches, arthritis, heartburn symptoms and high blood pressure, just to name a few. This means that apple cider vinegar may actually help control blood sugar levels.
Cravings?
Okay, we all know the best (and healthiest) way to reduce your cravings for sweet foods is to avoid refined carbohydrates and sugary foods, but that can be a difficult road and nobody wants cravings (too frequently). So . . . apple cider vinegar just may help with sugar cravings.
Since apple cider vinegar has been shown to improve blood glucose levels and improve insulin sensitivity, it stands to reason that drinking a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar may curb your sugar cravings. Admittedly there’s no real research yet, and I’m extrapolating on the research but what have you got to lose? . . . besides your sugar cravings – so give it a try. At minimum your blood glucose levels will improve and your food will digest better.
Seems like a good enough reason!
What to Look for When Purchasing
Make sure you pick an apple cider vinegar that has a health value. It must be natural (undistilled), organic, raw, and include the “mother” enzyme. It should be a rich, brownish color with the cobweb-like substance at the bottom of the bottle.