Everything that's good for you, has something bad for you. Whether it's food, drinks, medicine; you name it.
The idea that vinegar, a liquid produced by the action of yeast and bacteria on juices made from fruits or grains, might have medicinal properties isn't a new one.
Vinegar was used to treat stomach upset in the Civil War and, further back, by Hippocrates as an antibiotic, nutrition consultant Beth Fontenot reported in "Nutrition Forum." However, drinking vinegar can have unpleasant and dangerous side effects. Never drink vinegar without first discussing it with your medical practitioner, according to Livestrong.com.
Vinegar is very acidic, making it damaging to teeth enamel, particularly if consumed undiluted. Apple cider tablets or capsules can burn your throat if they get stuck, so ensure that you consume the tablets with an entire glass of water. Vinegar may adversely impact your potassium levels. You may also experience an allergic reaction to vinegar, including symptoms such as swelling, hives and difficulty breathing, according to livestrong.com.
Apple cider vinegar may aggravate indigestion and heartburn. Unpasteurized vinegars are often sold for their health benefits marketed with the claim that the "mother," or organism growth, in the vinegar holds more potassium, calcium, ash, malic acid and acetic acid. However unpasteurized vinegars may carry harmful bacteria or toxins. As of 2011, it unknown whether vinegars are a safe supplement for consuming during pregnancy. Do no ingest unpasteurized vinegars if you are pregnant or trying to conceive.
Vinegars may interact with many different medications, blocking absorption of some medications or altering their effect. You should discuss with your doctor before using apple cider vinegar in conjunction with digoxin and insulin, according to EMed TV. Vinegars may also interact with some diuretics, drugs that are intended to reduce swelling and inflammation.
Vinegar may have blood thinning properties, Columbia University Health Services warns. Don't drink vinegar without your medical practitioner's approval if you have a medical disorder that thins your blood and increases bleeding tendencies or if you take blood thinners, such as heparin or warfarin, to treat medical conditions; otherwise, increased bleeding could result.
