Apple cider vinegar is a popular antimicrobial property, extracted from fermented apple juice. It has gained popularity for its variety usage in different homes. The popular vinegar came into existence in 5,000 B.C. when the Babylonians used the apple fruit of a date palm to make vinegar as a food source and as a preserving, or pickling agent. During Biblical times, vinegar was used to flavour foods, and as medicine. Greek physician, Hippocrates, considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine, prescribed apple cider vinegar mixed with honey for a variety of ills, including coughs and colds. To date, vinegar made through a process known as fermentation remains useful for many different purposes, says Patrick Kayinamura, a nutrition specialist at Kibagabaga Hospital. “The juice is squeezed out of apples and the yeast during the mixture digests the sugar from the fruit, it is kept somewhere for a few weeks to turn into alcohol,” Kayinamura explains. After a few weeks, he adds, natural bacteria break the alcohol down into acetic acid and the vinegar is made. Kayinamura further says that the vinegar contains vitamin C and B acting as strong medicine, and the acetic acid in it increases the body’s interest of important minerals from the foods we consume, while cutting down the rate at which the body turns carbohydrates into sugar. Due to its antimicrobial property, the vinegar is used for a variety of purposes such as salad dressings, meet marinades, food preservatives, cleaning, and more, Kayinamura says. “Apple cider vinegar according to a study published in the journal Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism is also great for people with high risks of type 2 diabetes, due to the antimicrobial properties contained in it. Consuming it with complex carbohydrates may reduce post-meal blood glucose levels by as much as 19.5 percent,” he says. Experts say that the vinegar should not be refrigerated, instead, kept somewhere in a cool place and it will last for a very long time. Vinegar, in general, has an almost indefinite shelf life. Even if vinegar’s appearance changes (it may look cloudier, for instance), it’s still okay to use. Apple cider vinegar contains very few calories, so it can fit into your diet if you’re trying to lose or maintain weight. The vinegar is found in many different supermarkets. According to an article by Healthline, apple cider vinegar can kill harmful bacteria; people have traditionally used vinegar for cleaning and disinfecting, treating nail fungus, lice, warts, and ear infections. Hippocrates used vinegar to clean wounds more than 2,000 years ago. Healthline’s article further notes that vinegar may help balance the skin’s pH and act and as a remedy for some skin conditions. “The skin is naturally slightly acidic. Using apple cider vinegar could help rebalance the natural pH of the skin, improving the protective skin barrier.” Given its antibacterial properties, apple cider vinegar could, in theory, help prevent skin infections linked to eczema, dry skin, prevent spots and other skin conditions Some studies suggest taking apple cider vinegar as a treatment to manage symptoms in inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, but it is advised you talk to your dermatologist if you have one of these conditions before trying apple cider vinegar.
