I had to laugh out loud when I recently read the headline in a health magazine: “Vinegar is Trending!”  Are you kidding me?  Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar came on the market over a hundred years ago!!When we were talking about apple cider vinegar on the show today with Cardiologist and Chef, Dr. Mike Fenster, I reminisced back to my childhood and seeing the bottle of Bragg’s on the kitchen counter.  I also thought of my mother, Elizabeth Hicken-Fiaschetti, and how cool she was, though I never really realized it when I was a kid.  We had a garden, my mom made our bread homemade and she sang like a bird around the house; she did so many good and positive things for our family.There was so much information on the show today and some of it was difficult to comprehend…like the Short-Chain Fatty Acids AKA SCFA’s.Bottom line from Authority Nutrition about the SCFA’s is this:  Short chain fatty acids are produced when fiber is fermented in the colon.  They act as a source of energy for the cells lining the colon.

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The following types of fiber are best for the production of short-chain fatty acids in the colon: Inulin: You can get inulin from artichokes, garlic, leeks, onions, wheat, rye and asparagus. Fructooligosaccharides (FOS): FOS are found in various fruits and vegetables, including bananas, onions, garlic and asparagus. Resistant starch: You can get resistant starch from grains, barley, rice, beans, green bananas, legumes and potatoes that have been cooked and then cooled. Pectin: Good sources of pectin include apples, apricots, carrots, oranges and others. Arabinoxylan: Arabinoxylan is found in cereal grains. For example, it is the most common fiber in wheat bran, making up about 70% of the total fiber content. Guar gum: Guar gum can be extracted from guar beans, which are legumes.Some types of cheese, butter and cow’s milk also contain small amounts of butyrate. Bottom Line: High-fiber foods, such as fruits, veggies, legumes and whole grains, encourage the production of short-chain fatty acids.Okay now let’s really talk vinegar!  I am going to have to give Hippocrates some more credit…In 400 B.C. the Father of Medicine used it for it’s amazing natural qualities.As well, our modern day Hippocrates Dr. Joseph Mercola says that “just one tablespoon a day for 60 days can fight all these health problems” and lots more!

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By Dr. Mercola:Vinegar is said to have been discovered around 5000 BC when unattended grape juice turned into wine and then vinegar. Originally used as a food preservative, vinegar’s medicinal uses soon came to light.Hippocrates used vinegar to manage wounds, while medical practitioners in the 1700s used it to treat everything from poison ivy and croup to stomach aches. Vinegar was even used to treat diabetes.Vinegar, which means “sour wine” in French, can be made from virtually any carbohydrate that can be fermented, including grapes, dates, coconut, potatoes, beets, and, of course, apples.Traditionally, vinegar is made through a long, slow fermentation process, leaving it rich in bioactive components like acetic acid, gallic acid, catechin, epicatechin, caffeic acid, and more, giving it a potent antioxidant, antimicrobial, and many other beneficial properties.“The slow methods are generally used for the production of the traditional wine vinegars, and the culture of acetic acid bacteria grows on the surface of the liquid and fermentation proceeds slowly over the course of weeks or months.The longer fermentation period allows for the accumulation of a non-toxic slime composed of yeast and acetic acid bacteria, known as the mother of vinegar.”“Mother” of vinegar, a cobweb-like amino acid-based substance found in unprocessed, unfiltered vinegar, indicates your vinegar is of the best quality. Most manufacturers pasteurize and filter their vinegar to prevent the mother from forming, but the “murky” kind is best, especially if you’re planning to consume it.Vinegar is not only useful for cooking, but it’s also useful for health purposes, cleaning, garden care, hygiene, and much more. In fact, a jug of vinegar is easily one of the most economical and versatile remedies around. I recommend keeping it in your home at all times… Health Uses for Apple Cider VinegarThere are no official guidelines concerning taking vinegar internally. Some people take one to two teaspoons a day, mixed in a glass of water, before meals or in the morning, and report benefits from doing so. The risk of taking small amounts of vinegar is low, and research suggests it may have some real health benefits.

1. Diabetes

Vinegar is said to be anti-glycemic and has a beneficial effect on blood sugar levels. It’s thought that the acetic acid in vinegar may lower blood sugar by preventing the complete digestion of complex carbohydrates, which is accomplished either by accelerating gastric emptying or increasing the uptake of glucose by bodily tissues.One theory is that vinegar might inactivate some of the digestive enzymes that break down carbohydrates into sugar, thus slowing the conversion of complex carbohydrate into sugar from a meal into your bloodstream.This gives your body more time to pull sugar out of your blood, preventing your sugar levels from spiking.  Quite a bit of research supports the use of vinegar as a diabetic treatment as well.One study found that vinegar treatment improved insulin sensitivity in 19 percent of individuals with type 2 diabetes and 34 percent of those with pre-diabetes.Another study found taking two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before bed lowered blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes by up to 6 percent by the morning.2. Heart HealthVinegar supports heart health in multiple ways. As explained in the Journal of Food Science:“Polyphenols such as chlorogenic acid, which is present in high levels in apple cider vinegar, could inhibit oxidation of LDLs and improve health by preventing cardiovascular diseases.”One study showed that vinegar could lower cholesterol in laboratory rats,7 while another study on rats found the acetic acid could lower their blood pressure in vinegar.Vinegar has also been found to decrease triglyceride levels and VLDL levels (the damaging form of cholesterol) in animal studies.3. Weight LossVinegar may help you lose weight, as it appears to have an anti-obesity effect by increasing satiety and reducing the total amount of food consumed.For instance, when volunteers consumed a small amount of vinegar along with a high-carb meal (a bagel and juice) they consumed less food for the remainder of the day. The reduction equated to about 200 to 275 calories a day – an amount that would result in a monthly weight loss of up to 1.5 pounds.Also, the separate research found taking vinegar along with bread lowered not only glucose and insulin responses, but also increased levels of satiety. The rating of satiety was directly related to the acetic acid level in the vinegar.4. Sinus CongestionApple cider vinegar helps to break up and reduce mucous in your body, helping to clear your sinuses. It also has antibacterial properties, making it useful for infections.5. Sore ThroatThe antibacterial properties of apple cider vinegar may be useful for sore throats as well. Gargle with a mixture of the about one-third cup of apple cider vinegar mixed with warm water as needed.6. Digestion and Acid RefluxAcid reflux typically results from having too little acid in your stomach. You can easily improve the acid content of your stomach by taking one tablespoon of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar in a large glass of water daily. The pectin in apple cider vinegar may also help to soothe intestinal spasms.7. Skin IrritationsApple cider vinegar works for a variety of skin ailments, from bug bites to poison ivy to sunburn. You can either apply it directly to the irritated area or try soaking in a bath with about one cup of vinegar added.8. WartsTopical application of apple cider vinegar may help remove warts, likely because of the high levels of acetic acid it contains. You can try soaking a cotton ball in vinegar and applying it to the wart, covered, overnight.9. Energy BoostApple cider vinegar contains potassium and enzymes to help banish fatigue. Plus, its amino acids may help prevent the buildup of lactic acid in your body, further preventing fatigue.Apple Cider Vinegar Around Your HomeGenerally, you can use distilled white vinegar for household use and the cider vinegar, made from fermenting fruits such as apples, for consumption. However, if you prefer, you can use apple cider vinegar around your home as well.1. Natural CleaningVinegar is one of the best natural cleaning agents there is, and this is mainly due to its antimicrobial properties. When added to food, the organic acids in vinegar (especially the acetic acid) pass into cell membranes to kill bacteria.Foods fermented with vinegar have a natural arsenal of antimicrobial organic acids, including acetic, lactic, ascorbic, citric, malic, propionic, succinic, and tartaric acids.One study found acetic acid to be lethal to even E. coli O157: other surfactantH7, while other research has shown substances such as acetic acid, lemon juice, or a combination of lemon juice and vinegar to be effective against salmonella.2. Weed KillerVinegar is very effective to control weeds in your garden. Howard Garrett, also known as The Dirt Doctor, shared his recipe for vinegar-based herbicide (this spray will injure any plant it touches, so use it only on those you want to remove):Herbicide Formula•1 gallon of 10 percent (100 grain) vinegar•Add 1-ounce orange oil or d-limonene•Add 1 tablespoon molasses (optional – some say it doesn’t help)•1 teaspoon another surfactant(such as Bio Wash)•Do not add water3. Neutralize OdorsApple cider vinegar in a bowl will help to neutralize odors in your home.4. Fruit and Veggie WashVinegar is one of the best natural agents for removing certain pesticides and bacteria from your fresh produce. Try a solution of 10 percent vinegar to 90 percent water as a bath to briefly soak produce.Just place your veggies or fruit in the solution, swish them around, and rinse thoroughly (don’t use this process on fragile fruits like berries since they could be damaged in the process or soak up too much vinegar through their porous skins).Hygiene and BeautyYou might even want to keep some apple cider vinegar in your bathroom cabinet…1. Hair RinseApple cider vinegar helps remove product build-up and balance your scalp’s pH level. Try a weekly rinse of one-third cup of vinegar mixed with four cups of water.For dandruff, try spraying your scalp with equal parts vinegar and water (mixed), wrapping a towel around your head, and leaving it to sit for an hour. Then, wash out and repeat up to twice a week.2. Facial TonerDiluted apple cider vinegar on a cotton ball makes a simple facial toner and cleanser to help prevent breakouts. It might even help bruises to fade faster.3. DeodorantApple cider vinegar helps kill odor-causing bacteria, so dab a bit under your arms for a natural deodorant.4. Oral HealthGargling with diluted apple cider vinegar can help to eliminate bad breath and whiten teeth. Keep in mind, however, that apple cider vinegar is highly acidic. The main ingredient is acetic acid, which is quite harsh, so you should always dilute it with water before swallowing.Pure, straight apple cider vinegar could damage your tooth enamel or the tissues of your mouth and throat. (There is, in fact, one reported incident of long-term esophageal damage to a woman who got an apple cider vinegar supplement capsule stuck in her throat.)5. Foot OdorWiping your feet down with apple cider vinegar can help to eliminate odor-causing bacteria and smells from your feet.

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Wow, wow, wow, who would have known?  Bartender!!! Shots of apple cider vinegar for everyone!XO- Bern