Do you use apple cider vinegar?

I’m not talking about the sterile, crystal-clear stuff. Look for words like organic, unfiltered, and unprocessed. As with all foods, the less processed it is, the better.

We want the cloudy kind of apple cider vinegar that contains the “mother,” which is similar to sourdough starter. This web-like substance is full of probiotic microbes that benefit the gut biome.

5 Ways to Improve Your Health with Apple Cider VinegarIt is mainly that aspect that interests me, because I believe Micronized Purple Rice is good for our gut biome, so anything else that also benefits our helpful gut microbes has my full attention.

Having a healthy gut biome is crucial to good health and anti-aging. This is one reason to avoid antibiotics whenever possible, because they kill off good bacteria as well as bad.

Although the health benefits of apple cider vinegar have been known for hundreds or even thousands of years, it has only been in recent years that scientific research is starting to prove its value when it comes to health.

Don’t ever drink apple cider vinegar full-strength, because the acetic acid in it can be hard on tooth enamel and esophageal and mouth tissues, and can cause upset stomach.

The best way is to put a teaspoon up to a tablespoon or two of apple cider vinegar in a glass of pure water, and drink it before meals.

Here are five ways this natural powerhouse can be helpful to your health:

1. Improved insulin sensitivity 

Research shows that apple cider vinegar benefits people with type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes.

A 2004 study from the American Diabetes Foundation shows that drinking a little apple cider vinegar with water before meals increases insulin sensitivity and decreases glucose spikes after meals.

The results showed that apple cider vinegar helped people with pre-diabetes almost twice as much as it helped people with diabetes.

2. Weight loss

A related study also showed that apple cider vinegar helped people lose weight.

Of course, it makes sense that if you stabilize blood glucose, that’s going to help with weight loss.

The people in the study only lost about half a pound per week, but that adds up! They drank two tablespoons of vinegar in a glass of water before two of their daily meals.

3. Heart health 

There is not a whole lot of research on how apple cider vinegar helps with cardiovascular health, but one 2006 study showed that it lowered cholesterol and blood pressure in rats.

More research needs to be done on this, but it is an intriguing possibility.

Of course, many people have had good results with lowered cholesterol and blood pressure with help from Micronized Purple Rice. I am one of them — my cholesterol dropped 73 points in the first month!

4. Improved absorption of minerals

The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar has been shown to increase absorption of minerals. 

So there’s a good chance that you’ll benefit even more from eating green leafy vegetables such as kale if you drink some apple cider vinegar with water beforehand.

5. Possible cancer prevention

The jury is still out on cancer prevention, but some research shows it may be a possibility. Some studies have shown it might be able to kill cancer cells or prevent their growth.

One study showed a possible decreased risk of esophageal cancer, but another study showed a possible increased risk for bladder cancer.

So, more research needs to be done, but again, it’s an intriguing possibility.

As always, I want to hear from you!

Which is your favorite way to use apple cider vinegar?

Do you have some tips you’d like to share?

Let me know in the comments below!