If you’re looking for natural ways to clear your skin, and lower your cholesterol and blood sugar, the answer just might be in your pantry.
By Jamie Wilson
Balsamic vinegar is a popular ingredient in salad dressings, marinades, and many other foods. It is has a distinctive flavour that is often described as bold, tart, and complex.
Some studies suggest that balsamic vinegar has additional health benefits, ranging from improving a person’s complexion to lowering cholesterol and aiding weight loss.
Ten health benefits of balsamic vinegar
The health benefits of balsamic vinegar may include the following:
1. Improving skin health
Balsamic vinegar contains antimicrobial compounds, acetic acid, and antioxidants. These components may help improve a person’s complexion over time. Other clear vinegars have been topically applied to the skin to help clear up acne. Balsamic vinegar can cause stains, however, so should not be applied directly to the skin.
2. Reducing blood sugar
Balsamic vinegar helps regulate blood sugar when eaten as part of a meal.
One review that examined the scientific effects of vinegar, found that balsamic vinegar has an antiglycemic impact when consumed, meaning a person’s blood sugar will spike less drastically after a meal. The review indicated that vinegar could help create a blood sugar plateau for a period of up to five hours following a meal.
3. Promoting healthy digestion
Acetic acid is the active compound in balsamic vinegar. This acid contains strains of probiotics that aid digestion. The probiotics found in acetic acid can help promote good gut health and digestion while supporting overall immune function.
4. Lowering cholesterol
Balsamic vinegar may help lower cholesterol. The antioxidants in balsamic vinegar help block toxic cells in the body that can raise cholesterol levels.
5. Losing weight
The probiotics in balsamic vinegar can also help make a person feel full for longer.
Some research indicates that people may consume fewer calories throughout the day when they add vinegar to their morning meal.
6. Treating wounds
Balsamic vinegar has been used for many years to help treat wounds. It is suggested that balsamic vinegar has antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties.
7. Reducing hypertension
One study determined that balsamic vinegar might help lower blood pressure. This research suggested that regularly adding balsamic vinegar to foods could help reduce high blood pressure over time. This may be true if a person replaces fatty foods, such as butter and oil, with vinegar, thus lowering the total amount of fats they consume.
8. Relieving congestion
Some people use balsamic vinegar to help treat congestion. To do this, a person can add a few drops of vinegar to steaming water and breathe in the vapour.
9. Reducing acid reflux
People can try using balsamic vinegar to help reduce acid reflux or heartburn.
This remedy may not work for everyone, so it is a good idea to try it in small amounts and wait several hours to see whether it makes symptoms better or worse.
10. Promoting blood circulation
Balsamic vinegar is derived from grapes. Studies have found that grapes may help prevent cardiac disease by preventing platelets from building up in blood vessels.
Balsamic vinegar also contains polyphenols.
