Vinegar and oil in a bottle.
Image Credit: emregologlu/iStock/Getty Images Vinegar owes its pungent odor and sour flavor to acetic acid, a compound with numerous potential health benefits. As a result, drinking small amounts of vinegar, either plain or mixed with water, can be good for you. Often used as a flavor enhancer or food preservative, vinegar is sometimes touted as a cleaning agent or disinfectant. Vinegar contains 3 calories per tablespoon and only negligible amounts of any nutrients.
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Benefits
The amount of acetic acid in 1.5 tablespoons of white vinegar can help reduce spikes in blood sugar if you take it with high-carbohydrate foods, according to a study published in 2005 in the “European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.” In addition, drinking vinegar with food may help you feel fuller longer.
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Risks
Avoid excessive amounts of vinegar and always take it with food. As a 2006 review in “Medscape General Medicine” indicates, too much acetic acid can cause inflammation and damage in your digestive tract, particularly if you take it without food.
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references
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition: Vinegar Supplementation Lowers Glucose and Insulin Responses and Increases Satiety After a Bread Meal in Healthy Subjects
USDA National Nutrient Database: Vinegar, Distilled
Medscape General Medicine: Vinegar: Medicinal Uses and Antiglycemic Effect
references
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition: Vinegar Supplementation Lowers Glucose and Insulin Responses and Increases Satiety After a Bread Meal in Healthy Subjects
USDA National Nutrient Database: Vinegar, Distilled
Medscape General Medicine: Vinegar: Medicinal Uses and Antiglycemic Effect
Vinegar and oil in a bottle.
Image Credit: emregologlu/iStock/Getty Images
Image Credit: emregologlu/iStock/Getty Images
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition: Vinegar Supplementation Lowers Glucose and Insulin Responses and Increases Satiety After a Bread Meal in Healthy Subjects
USDA National Nutrient Database: Vinegar, Distilled
Medscape General Medicine: Vinegar: Medicinal Uses and Antiglycemic Effect
