JOIN USOften considered the root of all ailments, weight is an issue that many are grappling with and the fitness industry is raking in a lot of money to deal with problems like obesity. Apple cider vinegar seems to be the new product catering to the weight-loss fad.
Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, was supposed to be the first to advocate drinking vinegar, as it had as many as 50 nutrients and also the benefits of the fruit it came from. Apple cider vinegar is a fermented liquid made by introducing friendly bacteria to apple juice. The bacteria turn the sugar in the juice into acetic acid, which is considered a probiotic, as it acts as a source of food for the friendly bacteria in our gut, and this in turn helps digestion.
However, in her book Detox Diet, macrobiotic nutritionist Shonali Sabherwal, warns that until endorsed by a medical practitioner one should not consume apple cider vinegar. “Use apple cider vinegar only for its probiotic benefits, as it improves inclusion of good microbes in your gut,” she says.
A healthy gut is the key to weight loss, but many are unaware that introducing good bacteria to one’s gut has to be done on a daily basis. “A good gut will have good, bad and neutral bacteria to give you a strong ecosystem. Gut microbes control cravings, appetite, metabolism, and decide how calories are extracted from foods and how to utilise them and where. It is therefore important not only to eat foods that give us a good microbiome, but also replenish our store of good microorganisms. If this happens we lose body fat easily,” she explains.
Apple cider vinegar can help those who are lactose intolerant and cannot get probiotics from yogurt or have digestive problems like irritable bowel syndrome. It is ideal to have it on an empty stomach or 30 to 45 minutes before a meal. Have it before a meal if you suffer from heartburn.