By Jaelyn Copeland|UAB CommunityHealth and Human Services Intern

Apple Cider vinegar (ACV) is a vinegar made from fermented apple juice. It is a very versatile product that is commonly used in cooking, or to make dressings, sauces, and marinades. 

ACV can also be used as a home remedy for many health ailments, and is available in forms such as tablets, capsules, powder, liquid drops, gummies and topical prescriptions.

The production of apple cider vinegar involves two steps. Crushed apples are first exposed to yeast, which causes the carbohydrates to ferment and transform into alcohol. The alcohol is then further fermented by the addition of bacteria, creating acetic acid, which is the primary active ingredient in vinegar. Vinegar gets its potently sour flavor and smell from acetic acid. Although potential claims are not backed by scientific evidence, the health benefits of apple cider vinegar are thought to be caused by acetic acid. This acid makes up 5-6% of cider vinegars.

Benefits of ACV may include:

• May lower blood sugar levels
• May reduce cholesterol 
• May offer antimicrobial benefits 
• May help increase weight loss

BuBu Banini, M.D. suggests that individuals should consume no more than one to two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar per day. “When used in small amounts, the risk of apple cider vinegar is generally low,” she says. As long as you are tolerating it, diluting it and don’t have esophageal issues, there is no reason not to try it!

Reference

Forbes Magazine. (2023, January 19). Apple cider vinegar benefits and possible side effects. Forbes. Retrieved February 10, 2023, from https://www.forbes.com/health/body/apple-cider-vinegar-benefits/