Apple cider vinegar is a safe, natural remedy people have used for ages to treat all kinds of ailments. Its potential benefits are numerous, and there’s virtually no risk unless you consume way too much. The downside is that, in order to reap the benefits, you have to drink the stuff — or do you? These days, many companies are making alternative products that give you the benefits of ACV, without the taste.
However you choose to consume your ACV, it could help you get that spring back in your step. Its many potential benefits could support higher energy levels and less likelihood of low mood or illness. Read on to see all the ways that ACV might help you feel just a bit livelier each day. Here are 10 possible health benefits of including ACV in your balanced diet:
1. Gut Health
A healthy gut microbiome may be the foundation of many other aspects of human health and wellbeing. ACV with live active cultures could help the body achieve this healthy balance. Numo gummies are full of live active cultures from ‘the mother’, containing the good bacteria your gut needs. That means they may better support a healthy balance of the right gastrointestinal bacteria. The benefits of good gut health could, in turn, have a positive domino effect on the rest of your body, boosting your energy levels and vitality.
2. Sleep
Studies have shown that gut microbiome diversity can directly impact sleep quality. (Conversely, not sleeping enough can actually hurt the balance of your gut microbiota). In other words, taking care of your gut health with ACV could help you get deeper, more restful sleep. The better you sleep, the more energy you’ll have to take on the rest of your day. Better sleep quality may also help ward off energy-sapping illnesses and diseases.
3. Mood
Gut health seems to play a key role in fighting the symptoms of mood-related mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. Products that support a healthy gut could provide a powerful prophylactic against these downer disorders. These and other mental health issues often list exhaustion, fatigue, and poor sleep as common symptoms. ACV and other gut-health-promoting foods could play a role in boosting energy by staving off these energy killers.
4. Blood Pressure
In a handful of studies, it has been shown that ingesting ACV may lower blood pressure, particularly in rats. But there isn’t any evidence to demonstrate that it could actually be used as an effective treatment for hypertension. That said, it couldn’t hurt to include ACV as part of a balanced diet, with less salt and lots of fruits and veggies. A healthy blood pressure (not too high, not too low) can mean good cardiovascular health, which means more energy for exercise and daily life.
5. Blood Sugar Levels
Some studies have shown that ingesting ACV can help regulate blood sugar levels after a meal. Meanwhile, big fluctuations in blood sugar before and after eating can make you crash and burn. To stay energetic, it’s a good idea to keep blood sugar levels relatively stable, instead of spiking and crashing. It’s possible that ACV alone could play a modest role in aiding this stability. But a better bet is to consume ACV as part of a balanced diet, to stabilize blood sugar.
6. Immunity Support
ACV contains antioxidants, in the form of polyphenols, which can help absorb or eliminate free radicals in the body. Too many free radicals can damage cells, lead to inflammation, and reduce immunity. In worse cases, they may actually act as triggers for disease. Antioxidants and strong gut health can boost overall immunity, staving off short or long-term illness. The body is most energetic when healthy and disease-free, so immune support is crucial to high energy levels.
7. Weight Loss
Results are mixed on whether ACV might possibly boost metabolism or directly assist with weight loss. But some studies have shown that it can play a role in hunger. Separate studies in 2009 and 2018 both showed a modest relationship between vinegar consumption and weight loss. But it may simply be the case that the taste of drinking straight vinegar causes people to lose their appetite. The bottom line? ACV as part of a healthy diet could help you lose weight, which could make you more energetic.
8. Digestion
The reason ACV shows a modest impact on weight loss may be that it increases feelings of satiety after eating. Because it can delay gastric emptying (read: slow digestion) some people find it makes them feel full. Consuming ACV just before a meal could potentially lead you to eat less. Eating less, in turn, can help you avoid those awful, low-energy post-meal “food comas.”
9. Cholesterol
A few studies also suggest that ACV could play a small role in regulating blood cholesterol. High cholesterol can lead to all kinds of diseases that ultimately cause fatigue. In fact, fatigue is sometimes a symptom that helps people discover they have high cholesterol. ACV should never be used as a substitute for any medical treatment, including cholesterol medication. But it is worth noting that, as part of a balanced lifestyle, ACV might help decrease bad cholesterol levels.
10. Bacteria
One interesting property of ACV is that it’s a natural antibiotic. For many centuries, it’s been used as a home remedy for wounds, sore throats, ear infections, and more. There’s no evidence that these treatments definitely work, but they’re reasonably safe to try out. Even more effective? Letting ACV work its antibacterial powers on your salad. ACV has been shown to kill bacteria like E. coli on food, and nothing saps your energy like a nasty case of food poisoning.
The Right Balance
The potential energy benefits of ACV and improved gut health could bring back some of your strength and vigor. But those benefits won’t make much of a difference if you don’t fuel your body properly in other ways. When taking ACV, remember to also eat a healthy diet and get plenty of exercise. It’s also a good idea to avoid alcohol, nicotine, or other substances that could mess with your energy.
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