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Read Dr. Elena Krasnov's Weekly Column in the Health & Fitness section of the 24 Hours Magazine. Look for new articles every week!

Monday, January 19, 2009

The Mother of all Vinegars

Q: Dear Elena: I hear there are several benefits to daily drinking Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother. Benefits range from weight loss to combating cholesterol and athletes foot. What exactly are the proven, real benefits of drinkiing Mother of Vinegar, if any?

A: Mother of vinegar, or 'Mother' is the term for a visible materialization of the occurrence by which acetobacters flourish and turn apple cider into vinegar. Acetobacters themselves are various species of bacteria or live culture that conduct the acetification process in cider or wine by turning alcohol into vinegar under anaerobic conditions.

Drinking three tablespoons of apple cider vinegar may be a good way to maintain the body's PH balance, and ward off colds and flu. It also shows it can lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, cure asthma, migraines and arthritis. Some people also drink cider vinegar as part of a weight loss regime.

There are many beneficial ingredients in raw apple cider vinegar. The following are just a few:

• Potassium - helps to prevent brittle teeth, hair loss and runny noses.
• Pectin - helps to regulate blood pressure and reduce bad cholesterol.
• Malic Acid - gives ACV the properties of being anti-viral, anti-bacterial & anti-fungal.
• Calcium - helps create strong bones and teeth.
• Ash - gives ACV its alkaline property that aids your body in maintaining proper pH levels for a healthy alkaline state.
• Acetic Acid - It appears that this acid slows the digestion of starch, which can help to lower the rise in glucose that commonly occurs after meals.

Some Benefits of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar:

• 1 tablespoon of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar mixed in 4 ounces of purified water after a meal has been used as a natural remedy for heartburn and as a replacement for toxic heartburn medications.
• Raw Apple Cider Vinegar may help improve bowel irregularity, thereby removing toxins from the body at a faster rate.
• Helps clear up skin conditions and blemishes giving a smoother texture and complexion.
• Apple Cider Vinegar helps to break down fats so that your body can use them rather than store them. For this reason, many diets include ACV in their regimen.

On a small scale, researchers at Arizona State University studied ACV. The preliminary study was published in the Diabetes Care 27:281-282, 2004. It reported that ACV helps reduce levels of glucose.

Raw organic apple cider vinegar is even good for pets. It has been used to help control fleas and even promotes a healthy shiny coat.

All The Healthy Way articles:

Dr. Elena Krasnov is a registered Naturopathic Doctor and Clinic Director of the Toronto Naturopathic Clinic. Submit your questions online at 24hrs.ca

Co-written by Miranda Tallon-Malisani Holistic Nutritionist