Learn about Vinegar for Blood Sugar Control

Learn about Vinegar for Blood Sugar Control
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How is Vinegar Beneficial to Health?

Vinegar has long been known for the health benefits of its main component, acetic acid. One of the more popular vinegars used in cooking, apple cider vinegar, may be effective in coping with obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Recent research suggests that vinegar may lower the glycemic index of starchy foods, thereby reducing spikes in blood glucose levels after meals. It is also known to help keep you feeling full which can help with type 2 diabetes caused by obesity.

How Can Vinegar Control Blood Sugar?

Some studies have concluded that consuming vinegar may be beneficial to diabetics struggling to control blood glucose levels. In fact, researchers at Arizona State University confirmed that people with type 2 diabetes benefited from taking vinegar at bedtime, with it reducing their fasting glucose levels by roughly six percent. More extensive research is needed, however, and researchers agree that the consumption of vinegar is not a substitute for a healthy diet and consistent physical activity and exercise.

Moreover, researchers at Tokyo University considered that acetic acid in vinegar might keep some carbohydrate-digesting enzymes from activating, such as sucrase, amylase, maltase, and lactase. No wonder sugars and starches can go through without digestion once vinegar has been in the intestines. Those carbohydrates would influence less on blood glucose.

In addition, taking vinegar regularly can decrease a blood sugar rise in a condition called insulin resistance. The so-called insulin resistance refers to a condition when the body’s cells are not responsive to insulin’s effect. Your body is resistant to insulin, making it possible for your body to require more insulin to allow glucose to get into the cells. It enables the pancreas to produce more insulin to meet the requirement, but it fails. Therefore, an excess glucose might build up in the bloodstream leading to diabetes. Fortunately, vinegar can help those with this health problem.

Side Effects and Suggestions

Keep in mind that consuming vinegar, whatever you may take, may result in gastroesophageal acid reflux (GERD) and burping. It is commonly recommended including vinegar with food by using vinegar salad dressing, which is made with apple-cider or balsamic vinegar. Add enough vinegar, basil, dried oregano, and garlic to the dressing. Stir it well in Dijon mustard.

You may also try to sop thin slices of whole-grain bread into balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Researchers have also found that consuming vinegar with bread, instead of bread alone, could make you less hungry for a few hours. Another suggestion is to use vinaigrette dressings drizzled over cauliflower.

References

The Arizona State University: Vinegar Helps Lower Blood Glucose in Diabetics - https://researchstories.asu.edu/2008/01/vinegar_helps_lower_blood_gluc.html

The Arizona State University: A Spoonful of Vinegar Helps the Sugar Go Down - https://researchstories.asu.edu/stories/spoonful-vinegar-helps-sugar-go-down-1170

Health.msn.com: Apple Cider Vinegar - https://health.msn.com/health-topics/diabetes/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100168260

Dlife.com: A Spoonful of Vinegar Makes the Blood Sugar Go Down - https://www.dlife.com/diabetes/information//food_and_nutrition/spoonful_of_vinegar.html