Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

Vinegar has been used historically for both culinary and non-culinary applications, including cleansing, disinfecting and medicinal purposes. It remains quite ubiquitous in our world today. There are many varieties and variations of vinegar, all lending themselves to different uses. Vinegar is distilled from a variety of different agricultural products.

Vinegar still enjoys a fairly prominent place in our diet today. It shows up in salad dressings, baked goods and other processed food products. However, nearly all vinegars are excluded from the Kaufmann 1 Diet.

Vinegar is made from the process of fermentation, involving yeast, and often, quite a bit of sugar – two things we recommend avoiding while on the Kaufmann 1 Diet. Remember: The Kaufmann 1 Diet excludes all products containing sugar and yeast. Be sure to read the labels on certain products, especially products such as mayonnaise and salad dressings. Vinegar will often show up in products such as these.

However, there is one vinegar that is allowed and even recommended while eating on Kaufmann 1.

Apple cider vinegar has long been touted as a health tonic. Claims about the benefits of apple cider vinegar include benefits for hair and skin, with many people using it as a topical agent. Some people even use apple cider vinegar in lieu of shampoo. Drinking apple cider vinegar has been linked to improved control of blood sugar – a very important benefit for diabetics. Drinking apple cider vinegar has also been shown to improve heart health, aid in weight loss and might aid in the prevention of cancer.

But one of the benefits of apple cider vinegar that we are most interested in at Know the Cause is its anti-fungal properties. Inherent in apple cider vinegar is a nutrient known as malic acid. Malic acid exhibits anti-fungal activity both topically and internally. Malic acid has been shown to have benefits for skin health and may possibly reduce pain associated with fibromyalgia. So, taking apple cider vinegar will actually aid in the goal of the Kaufmann 1 Diet – ridding the body of potentially pathogenic fungi.

Because of the health benefits of apple cider vinegar along with the potent anti-fungal properties, apple cider vinegar is allowed on The Kaufmann 1 Diet for both internal and external uses. Organic is the best kind to look for – check your local health food store. If you buy packaged condiments, look for those made exclusively with apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar works great as a substitute in homemade salad dressings, and drinking apple cider vinegar will allow you to benefit from all the goodness therein.

If you are on Kaufmann 2, there are certain apple cider vinegar drinks sweetened with honey. Enjoy in moderation, but avoid if you are focusing on the Kaufmann 1 eating plan.

For more information on how to include apple cider vinegar in your diet, check out the books, Cooking Your Way To Good Health and Eating Your Way To Good Health.