ExecutiveChronicles | Proven Benefit Of Apple Cider Vinegar For Gut Health- Use Now!
Here’s How To Use Apple Cider Vinegar For Gut Health
Apple cider vinegar is a well-known natural remedy in the health and wellness circle. The admirers of ACV claim it as a cure-all drink. Not only is it a cooking staple, but it also bestows incredible health benefits.
You can count on the benefits of apple cider vinegar, from body detox to weight loss to fighting off chronic diseases. The vinegar also clears skin, kills bacteria, and controls blood pressure.
Apple cider vinegar helps reduce toxins and infections. It has a vast role in improving gut health and digestion. Let’s have a look!
What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?
Apple Cider Vinegar is the fermented juice of apples. Crushed apples are mixed with yeast to ferment them into alcohol. Then, bacteria are added to the alcohol for a second fermentation, converting it into acetic acid (vinegar).
Acetic acid is the prime ingredient of apple cider vinegar, imparting most of its health effects. Besides, it contains antioxidants, polyphenols, minerals, prebiotics, and vitamins.
There are two types of apple cider vinegar:
Diluted/ Filtered – it is filtered and pasteurized vinegar with a transparent appearance.
Unfiltered/ Mother – the unfiltered vinegar contains proteins, enzymes, fibers, probiotics, and minerals. Due to these, it has a hazy or cloudy appearance. Most health benefits associated with ACV are due to the one containing ‘mother.’
Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar For Gut Health
Is apple cider vinegar good for you? You might often question whether the claims surrounding ACV are valid or not. Well, they are, and they are not.
There is not enough research supporting the claims. But anecdotal accounts are in the majority, and people have found the vinegar beneficial for their health. Let’s find out how it affects your gut health.
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Improves Digestion
Taking apple cider vinegar before protein-heavy meals can improve digestion. While it is still under-researched, claims are that it increases the acidity of the stomach, which helps the body create more pepsin. Pepsin is the enzyme that breaks down the protein; thus, its increment improves protein digestion.
Here, it’s important to note that your body’s innate acid production is much larger than apple cider vinegar. While acidic food like vinegar increases acid production, the effect will be minute.
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Contains Antioxidants
Apple cider vinegar contains polyphenols and vitamins, which are excellent antioxidants. Antioxidants protect your body against cellular damage and strengthen your gut health. Recent studies have touted antioxidants and polyphenols as beneficial for gut health. Adding ACV into your dishes, soups, and salads may help the case.
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Relieves Constipation
In constipation, your bowel movement becomes painful and difficult. It retards digestion and leads the way to abdominal pain and bloating.
Apple cider vinegar is considered an excellent anecdotal remedy for constipation. It is rich in digestion-friendly components, such as pectin, magnesium, and acetic acid. The vinegar prevents constipation and soothes your gut.
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Improve Gut Microbiome
Fermented foods introduce helpful bacteria into your gut, which helps your digestive system. Apple cider vinegar is also a fermented food. Mother-containing ACV provides your gut with live bacteria and improves your gut health.
It also contains pectin, a prebiotic fiber, which increases the number of good bacteria and reduces bad bacteria. It promotes digestion and improves gut health.
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Prevents Acid Reflux And SIBO
Acid Reflux occurs when your stomach acid goes upward into the esophagus. Frequent acid reflux may result in GERD, leading to esophageal cancer.
SIBO, small intestine bacterial overgrowth, is a condition in which harmful bacteria populate your small intestine. SIBO often leads to gas, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Usually, low amounts of gastric acid contribute to both the above conditions. The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar increases the acidity of your stomach.
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Increases Nutrients Absorption
Apple cider vinegar increases your digestive system’s ability to uptake nutrients from food, especially calcium. Adding vinegar to a soup or sprinkling it over a salad can help you extract plenty of nutrients.
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Antibacterial
Apple cider vinegar possesses remarkable antibacterial properties to support your gut health. It wards off pathogens, such as H. pylori, and prevents infection.
Easy Ways To Use Apple Cider Vinegar For Improved Gut Health
There are countless ways to include apple cider vinegar in your diet. You can drink it straight, add it to a dish, or use ACV supplements.
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Dilute It With Water
Take a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with a glass of water in the mornings or before meals. Drink it in the morning or before meals to improve digestion and gut health.
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Apple Cider Vinegar Tea
Add a cup of water to a pan and a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. Bring to a boil, add a few drops of lemon juice and sprinkle some honey. Enjoy it warm; it will soothe your gut.
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ACV Vinaigrette
Apple cider vinegar makes excellent vinaigrette or salad dressing. Mix apple cider vinegar with one tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle some black pepper. Make a salad of your favorite veggies and dress it with this healthy ACV vinaigrette.
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Apple Cider Vinegar Supplements
Apple cider vinegar has an acidic taste, which doesn’t go well with many people. So, you can also use ACV supplements, including organic apple cider vinegar gummies, capsules, and pills. They mask the acidic taste of the vinegar and provide added minerals and vitamins.
Takeaway!
Due to the prebiotics, antioxidants, and vitamins, apple cider vinegar is the perfect remedy to improve gut health. Use it in any way, and the effect will be there!
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash
