Apple cider vinegar has been used for thousands of years for medicine and to this date it can even prevent diabetes.
The apple cider vinegar that is rich in minerals is the unfiltered and organic vinegar. There is a long history of its use in medicine dating back to 400 B.C., when the father of medicine, Hippocrates, used it to treat his patients. Although there is not a lot of scientific evidence to prove its effectiveness, it is still considered to be a valuable remedy for illnesses such as diabetes and osteoarthritis.
Of all the ways in which people use apple cider vinegar, that which perhaps has the most potential is in helping with diabetes. Several studies have shown its positive effect on blood glucose levels; a 2007 study of participants with type-2 diabetes found that two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before bed lowered glucose in the morning by 4 to 6 percent.
Carol Johnston, PhD, directs Arizona State University's nutrition program. She has been studying apple cider vinegar for more than 10 years and believes its effects on blood sugar are similar to certain medications. "Apple cider vinegar's anti-glycemic effect is very well documented," Johnston told tuftsmedicalcenter.com.
She explains that the vinegar blocks some of the digestion of starch. "It doesn't block the starch 100%, but it definitely prevents at least some of that starch from being digested and raising your blood sugar," Johnston says. Not every expert feels as confident about apple cider vinegar's power.
"Trying to use vinegar to treat diabetes is like trying to bail out a flooded basement with a teaspoon," Michael Dansinger, MD, director of Tufts University's diabetes lifestyle coaching program told tuftsmedicalcenter.com. He advises patients to focus instead on their overall diets -- a strategy backed by a lot more research, he says.
If you have gastro paresis, a common problem with diabetes that slows stomach emptying, be careful. Early research shows apple cider vinegar may make this problem worse.
"I'm concerned that drinking vinegar, even diluted in water, increases acid in your system, which puts a strain on your kidneys and bones," Dansinger says.
If you have diabetes and want to try apple cider vinegar, let your doctor know, and keep an eye on your blood sugar levels.
Johnston stresses that if you are on medication for diabetes, you shouldn't stop taking it and substitute vinegar. If you're thinking about using it to help manage your blood sugar, talk to your doctor first.