Apple Cider Vinegar is revered for its plethora of benefits as a great essential in your everyday diet. But did you know that besides its effectiveness in detoxification, weight loss, improved heart health, and hair and skin health, apple cider vinegar also works to aid digestion and boost your overall energy? In fact, ACV is widely recommended as a natural remedy to sort digestive troubles quickly. Curious about how it can work for your gut? Read on to find out more about this miracle drink and how to use apple cider vinegar for digestion troubles.
What is Apple Cider Vinegar?
Apple cider vinegar or ACV is nothing but fermented apple juice. The process starts by adding yeast to crushed apples which act upon the sugar to produce alcohol. Subsequently, bacteria is added which further turns the alcohol into acetic acid, the main active ingredient of vinegar. The presence of acetic acid gives apple cider vinegar its strong smell and sour taste and is also responsible for the range of health benefits that apple cider vinegar confers.
Why Apple Cider Vinegar for Digestion?
The organic or unfiltered apple cider vinegar is known as ‘the mother’. These are visible strands of proteins, enzymes, and friendly bacteria in the apple cider vinegar. Health experts feel it’s the presence of beneficial bacteria, yeast, and protein in ‘the mother’ that makes apple cider vinegar the health tonic it is pronounced to be. It is believed that the presence of ‘the mother’ makes apple cider vinegar prebiotic and probiotic in nature and therefore protects and heals the gut, giving the digestive system the required boost.
Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar for Digestion
The use of apple cider vinegar is widely propagated to resolve a range of digestive issues. Its acidic nature and antibacterial properties make it the perfect digestive health tonic. The digestive problems that apple cider vinegar can help alleviate are:
1. Bloating
Bloating is a common digestive condition that leads to a buildup of gas in the stomach or intestines. It is invariably a result of low stomach acids which slow down the digestion process. As apple cider vinegar is acidic, it helps provide gas relief by raising the acid levels and stimulating the digestion process. Also, its antibacterial properties kill the harmful bacteria that are responsible for gas.
2. Reflux
While many think that acid reflux is due to too many stomach acids produced in the stomach, the inverse may also be true. At times, low stomach acid production can also trigger acid reflux that leads to regurgitation and pain. Supporting the diet with apple cider vinegar can help raise low stomach acid levels and provide relief from reflux; however, more research is needed to prove this.
3. Gut Inflammation
The high levels of acids present in the apple cider vinegar promote quicker breakdown and digestion of problematic foods. These foods increase gut inflammation if not digested quickly. Thus, the use of apple cider vinegar expedites the digestion process, helping prevent and reduce gut inflammation. Quick digestion also eliminates the overgrowth of bad bacteria in the gut.
4. Diarrhea
Pectin is a soluble fiber found in fruits. It helps the growth of good bacteria in the gut which in turn aids in healthy digestion. High levels of pectin are also important for the body as they add bulk to the stool and reduce intestinal inflammation. As apple cider vinegar is high in pectin and possesses antibiotic properties, its use is considered effective in treating diarrhea caused by bacterial infections.
5. Constipation
Chronic constipation can be hard for the body. It not only impacts the bowel movement but impairs the entire digestive process. Thankfully, apple cider vinegar can be used as an active treatment for constipation. Apple cider vinegar is claimed to be a natural laxative. Being high in pectin adds bulk to the stool and improves overall digestion.
Furthermore, apple cider vinegar is packed with digestion-friendly malic and acetic acids. The magnesium content present in apple cider vinegar is vital for regular bowel movement.
Recommended Dosage and Timing of Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar balances the acid levels in the stomach. Thus, being watchful about the timing of intake and required dose is important to reap maximum health benefits.
Experts recommend the consumption of not more than one to two tablespoons (approximately 15-30 ml) of diluted apple cider vinegar per day. Apple cider vinegar for digestion works best when consumed before meals. This increases the stomach acid levels which help in the breakdown of food and thus aids in digestion.
Ways to Add Apple Cider Vinegar to Diet
If you are thinking about gulping down apple cider vinegar, then it’s a strict ‘NO’. The best way to reap digestive benefits from apple cider vinegar is to add it to your daily diet. Keep the recommended daily dose of apple cider vinegar for digestion in mind and opt from the available methods:
- Prepare a mix: Take a cup of hot water and add 1 to 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to it. Taste it up with lemon juice, honey, or maple syrup.
- Dilute with water: Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to a cup of water, mix it well, and take it between meals.
- Use as a salad dressing: The pungent taste makes apple cider vinegar a perfect salad dressing. Simply blend 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and drizzle it over salads for that perfect taste.
- Pickles: Add onions and cucumber slices to apple cider vinegar and let it stay for 3-4 hours. Enjoy the ‘pickled’ slices with meals.
- Marinate: Use apple cider vinegar to marinate meats and vegetables. It not just adds flavor to the foods but is also a more fun and pleasant way to consume the otherwise pungent taste.
- Smoothie: Take a bowlful of fresh fruits and nuts and drizzle a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. Garnish it with honey or maple syrup.
Side Effects of Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is highly acidic and can thus lead to several side effects if consumed in excess. Here are a few to be mindful of:
- May erode tooth enamel
- May irritate the throat
- If taken in excess, it may upset the stomach
- May lead to a dip in your potassium levels, so those who are on potassium-lowering medicines need to be cautious
- Worsens symptoms of undiagnosed ulcers
- Interfere with diabetes, heart disease, diuretics, and laxative medication
- The strong smell and sour taste might induce nausea and vomiting
From the House of HealthKart
Naturally fermented and rich with the goodness of Himalayan apples, HealthKart Apple Cider Vinegar can help you with your digestive issues apart from a plethora of benefits. HealthKart HK Vitals Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother is pure, unpasteurized, and unfiltered. The ‘mother’ present in it is the bacteria and yeast that make it rich in prebiotic properties.
Another choice in ACV is HealthKart HK Vitals Filtered Apple Cider Vinegar is completely natural and can be easily used as a salad dressing as well as with tea.
Conclusion
The role of apple cider vinegar for digestion problems is widely documented and its use is pronounced to have exceptional health benefits. However, the use of apple cider vinegar for digestion problems is recommended only in people who have low levels of stomach acids. Therefore, talking to your medical practitioner is important.
