Does apple cider vinegar and diabetes work well together? If you pay attention long enough you will find that someone will claim that a certain food or food product is useful for virtually everything that ails you. It can cause the most forgiving among us to become a bit jaded.
One of these product that seems to come up from time to time is apple cider vinegar. Some wild claims have been made about its ability to get rid of warts, lice and other undesirable ailments in our life. However, there has been more than one set of clinical research findings on the effect of vinegar and diabetes.
We consulted with the findings on WebMD and have discovered some promise in the potential of using vinegar to assist in glucose management, but is it enough to alter the course of your current therapy?
What we discovered was that vinegar seemed to lower cholesterol in rats in 2006 with no additional findings in humans. We learned that vinegar served to lower blood pressure in rats. Again no human study to corroborate the findings. Some studies have suggested that vinegar can kill certain cancer cells or slow the growth of some types of cancer. Other studies suggest it can actually accelerate the growth of other cancer types.
Apple Cider Vinegar and The Diabetes Connection
Now, as for diabetes. The WebMD research indicates, “The effect of vinegar on blood glucose levels is perhaps the best-researched and the most promising of apple cider vinegar’s possible health benefits. Several studies have found that vinegar may help lower glucose levels. For instance, one 2007 study of 11 people with type 2 diabetes found that taking two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before bed lowered glucose levels in the morning by 4%-6%.” Vinegar also contains chromium which may interfere with your body’s ability to process insulin.
Avoiding The Pill Form
WebMD also advises that if you do choose to use apple cider vinegar you may want to consider avoiding the pill form. Why? They advise, “You just can’t be sure what you’re really getting. Unlike medicines, the FDA does not regulate supplements. They aren’t routinely tested for effectiveness or even basic safety. A 2005 study looked at the ingredients of eight different brands of apple cider vinegar supplements. The researchers found that: The ingredients listed on the box did not reflect the actual ingredients, the ingredients varied a great deal between different brands, and the recommended dosages varied a great deal between brands.
“Most disturbing, the chemical analysis of these samples led the researchers to doubt whether any of these brands actually contained any apple cider vinegar at all.”
It has been recommended that apple cider vinegar may be useful as a salad dressing, but may not be something you might consider using as a new health drink. It should be noted that research in some quarters continues into the health benefits of vinegar and some are suggesting there are positive results forthcoming. This includes some video footage provided by WebMD.
Talk To Your Doctor
This medical suggests, “If you’re thinking about trying apple cider vinegar, talk to your doctor first. It’s always worth getting an expert’s advice. Your doctor can also make sure that the apple cider vinegar won’t affect other health conditions or the effectiveness of the medicines you take. Trying to control a serious medical condition on your own with an unproven treatment is both unwise and dangerous.”
Hey, I’m with you on this vinegar therapy. I always use a straw so the vinegar gets on my teeth as little as possible. And, like you, I rinse with water afterwards. I’ve read where they suggest that you always get the unfiltered vinegar, which is what I use. When I looked in the store, about all that I saw was the unfiltered. I don’t think that’s been the case in the past. It’s great, so great, about you being diabetes free. Stick with it. I’ve read too where they have pills that you can take instead of drinking the vinegar. I’m going to look into that. I haven’t checked my health food store, but I will. I’ll let everyone know.
My doctor surprised me with the announcement that I was diabetic about 15 months ago. I immediately started searching for a way to beat it. I read about the apple cider vinegar remedy. I started using it at that time, and after about three months reversed my diabetes, I still use the vinegar and am still diabetes free. I watch my diet and lost weight along with drinking 2 tablespoons of vinegar in a 16.9 oz bottle of water. I consumed 5 bottles per day, one each meal and two randomly. I always rinse my mouth immediately after consuming a bottle of vinegar water, with plain water to avoid the chance of tooth enamel damage. One side effect of the vinegar, or the weight loss, was a normalizing of my blood pressure.