To Your Health: Sometimes a remedy is right in your kitchen

By Gillian Slade on June 25, 2018.

When there is a natural remedy already in your kitchen that you can try for an ailment, it is sometimes worth a shot.

For painful joints, arthritis pain, even acid reflux and more, the remedy is cider vinegar, according to the internet and those in favour of natural remedies.

If you are questioning how something as acidic as vinegar can lessen acid reflux, I understand completely.

Even salad dressings with a high percentage of vinegar are too acidic for me so I was skeptical about trying cider vinegar on a daily basis. You don’t have to take the cider vinegar on its own. Even half a teaspoon in a large glass of water is beneficial. Initially I added an equal quantity of black cherry juice until I started to rather enjoy the sour flavour of the vinegar on its own in water. It did not leave an acidic feeling in my mouth at all.

An unexpected benefit is that I am drinking in a lot more water than I used to. A glass of water on the counter did not entice me to gulp it down, I just had to do it — or not. With a little vinegar in the water it is rather refreshing. So drinking more water than you would usually is a good thing.

Cider vinegar is of course made with apple juice that is fermented. Some sources will tell you there are additional benefits if the cider vinegar is made from organic apples with unfiltered juice giving it a slightly cloudy appearance.

There are some reports that say ingesting cider vinegar kills harmful bacteria. Vinegar in general has disinfecting properties and can be used for household cleaning.

Others will tell you cider vinegar will help to lower your blood sugar levels and be beneficial for those with Type 2 diabetes. Taking cider vinegar does not mean you can eat high sugar content foods and then gulp down some cider vinegar to make it all OK. You need to eat a healthy diet and limit high-carb and high sugar foods also.

Other sources say it can help you lose weight. I can’t say it has done that for me.

There are some animal studies that seem to indicate cider vinegar can lower cholesterol and even lower blood pressure.

If you think you may benefit from trying it be sure to talk to your family doctor and discuss a reasonable way for you to start if it is appropriate for you.

Here’s to drinking lots of water and perhaps a little cider vinegar too and here’s To Your Health.

To Your Health is a weekly column by Gillian Slade, health reporter for the News, bringing you news on health issues and research from around the world. You can reach her at gslade@medicinehatnews.com or 403-528-8635.

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