Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a popular superfood and it’s commonly used as a home remedy for various ailments, from acid reflux to colds.

Unfiltered ACV can also help improve your cholesterol levels and promote weight loss naturally, which is a good thing if you’re trying to boost your overall well-being by maintaining a healthy weight.

What’s the difference between filtered regular apple cider and unfiltered apple cider vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar is a vinegar made from apple juice or apple cider. There are two kinds of ACW: Filtered and unfiltered.

• Filtered apple cider vinegar is made with apple juice and water. The filtering process removes the vinegar “mother” and any sediment from the final product, which is a clear, amber-colored vinegar. There’s also a chance that filtered ACV has been pasteurized, which further refines and clarifies the vinegar.
• Unfiltered apple cider vinegar is also made from apple juice and water. But since it’s unfiltered, the product you buy comes with the “mother” that hasn’t been filtered out. It’s likely that unfiltered ACV isn’t pasteurized. It may also look cloudy and have small amounts of sediment.

The “mother” is the name for the cloudy collection of cellulose and acetic acid bacteria found in ACV. This mother and oxygen turn alcohol into vinegar.

ACV’s health benefits can be attributed to the “mother,” which acts as a probiotic. Additionally, ACV has a vitamin profile similar to apple juice, meaning this sour superfood is full of B-vitamins and polyphenols or plant-based antioxidants.

Does this mean unfiltered ACV better than filtered ACV?

The answer is yes, especially if you prefer using organic ingredients. While both kinds have an acetic acid level of five percent and a mild sweetness from the apple juice, most of the time unfiltered ACV is organic.

The next time you’re buying groceries, check the aisles for organic, unfiltered ACV.

The health benefits of apple cider vinegar

Below are some of the amazing health benefits of ACV.

ACV is full of beneficial substances

Acetic acid, the main active compound in vinegar, gives ACV its characteristic strong sour smell and flavor. Experts suggest that acetic acid is responsible for ACV’s health benefits.

ACV doesn’t contain many vitamins or minerals, but it contains a bit of potassium. High-quality brands of apple cider vinegar also contain some beneficial amino acids and antioxidants.

ACV helps eliminate harmful bacteria

There’s a reason vinegar is often used for cleaning and disinfecting.

Additionally, vinegar is a food preservative and studies have determined that the acetic acid in the vinegar helps inhibit bacteria like E. coli from growing in and spoiling food.

ACV helps promote weight loss

Experts have also found that ACV can help you lose weight. Some human studies have shown that taking ACV can “increase feelings of fullness,” meaning you consume fewer calories and lose weight.

In one study, volunteers who consumed ACV with a high carb meal reported increased feelings of fullness. Results showed that volunteers consumed 200 to 275 fewer calories throughout the rest of the day.

In another study, researchers observed 175 people with obesity. Findings revealed that consuming ACV daily helped reduce belly fat and weight loss.

Specifically:

• Taking one tablespoon (12 mL) of ACV led to a loss of 2.6 pounds (1.2 kg).
• Meanwhile, consuming two tablespoons (30 mL) of apple cider vinegar helped volunteers lose as much as 3.7 pounds (1.7 kg).

If you want to maintain a healthy weight successfully, exercise regularly and follow a balanced diet while you consume ACV daily.

ACV can help improve skin health

Did you know that ACV is also used to treat skin conditions like dry skin and eczema?

Human skin is naturally slightly acidic. If you’re having skin problems, use topical apple cider vinegar to naturally rebalance the natural pH of your skin and improve the protective skin barrier.

Avoid alkaline soaps and cleansers that can irritate eczema and aggravate your symptoms.

ACV has antibacterial properties, which can help prevent skin infections associated with eczema and other skin conditions. Always use diluted apple cider vinegar in a facewash or toner if you want to kill bacteria and prevent pimples.

Avoid using undiluted vinegar on damaged skin because it can cause burns.

ACV can help lower blood sugar levels and manage diabetes

Someone with Type 2 diabetes has high blood sugar levels because of insulin resistance, meaning they are unable to produce insulin.

To date, one of the most convincing applications of vinegar is helping treat Type 2 diabetes.

Even if you don’t have diabetes, you can use ACV to keep your blood sugar levels in the normal range to prevent certain chronic diseases. You can also regulate your blood sugar levels by avoiding refined carbs and sugar as you consume ACV regularly.

Studies have found that vinegar offers the following benefits for blood sugar and insulin levels:

• One study has revealed that apple cider vinegar can help improve insulin sensitivity by 19 to 34 percent while eating a high carb meal. ACV also helped “significantly lower blood sugar and insulin response.”
• A small study involving five healthy participants showed that ACV helped reduce blood sugar by 31.4 percent after eating 50 grams of white bread.

Considerations before taking apple cider vinegar

Unfiltered apple cider vinegar is considered safe for most people but ingesting large amounts of ACV may have adverse effects. For example, ACV can erode tooth enamel, cause burning of the throat or skin and lower your potassium levels.

When drinking ACV, dilute it in water instead of consuming it straight to prevent these adverse side effects. If you’re not used to consuming ACV, start with a low dose and work your way up to check if you can tolerate the vinegar.

If you’re on blood sugar medications, consult a physician since ACV can reduce blood sugar levels. You may also need to modify your dosage of diabetes medications to prevent hypoglycemia symptoms.

Like other superfoods, unfiltered apple cider vinegar isn’t a miracle cure. To lose weight or improve your overall well-being, you should stay physically active, follow a healthy diet and consume diluted ACV for best results.

Sources:

ModernSurvivalBlog.com

TheKitchn.com

UChicagoMedicine.org

Healthline.com