Is vinegar good for food? Table vinegar benefits and harms to the body. Is vinegar good for hair

There are many types of vinegar, but most often in everyday life, 9% vinegar, apple cider, grape, from whey, and some others are used. More than two dozen of them are known. Their properties are similar, and they are also used in about the same way. In everyday life, they mainly use table and apple.

it is an excellent antiseptic

• During flu epidemics, do a wet cleaning with vinegar. And for colds and sore throats, gargle with water and vinegar. In the room where the patient is, the air is humidified by spraying 9% vinegar.
• As first aid for minor burns at home - to relieve pain.

antipyretic

At high temperatures, wipe the body with a cloth dipped in water and vinegar, and put such a cloth on the forehead. The towel should not be very cold.

with diabetes

• Added in various dishes, reduces them glycemic index... This applies to any kind of vinegar.

as an immunomodulator

• In small amounts, apple cider vinegar acts as a general tonic, helps cleanse blood vessels from cholesterol plaques, removes toxins from the body, and creates an intolerable environment for pathogenic bacteria. In some cases, it replaces a probiotic, therefore, strengthens the immune system.

in cooking

• It is used for conservation and as a baking powder for dough.
• Since it softens muscle fibers, it is added to meat dishes. They are made softer and more tender.
• Thanks to the acidity, it helps to preserve the color of the dishes and makes them taste more expressive.
• Soda is quenched with vinegar when baking dough.
• As a seasoning for various dishes

in folk medicine

• It is used to treat asthma and migraines.
• A solution of vinegar with iodine is used to treat persistent nosebleeds.
• Vinegar is used to smear the sites of mosquito bites, after which the itching stops.
• As a prophylaxis during epidemics of colds and flu, mix in equal proportions apple or grape vinegar with buckwheat or linden honey and take a teaspoon three times a day. The same remedy promotes fat burning and weight loss.
• It is used as an anthelmintic agent.
• It is used to treat nail fungus.
• Also compresses with apple and grape vinegar help with varicose veins.
• Helps in the treatment of withdrawal symptoms.

in cosmetology

• To soften tap water... Such water improves and nourishes the skin, it becomes velvety and soft.
• And if you add it to the water while rinsing your head while washing, your hair will become shiny and silky.
• It also fights dandruff, especially whey vinegar.
• Apple vinegar used in the treatment of acne. It works well on the skin, as it contains a lot of amino acids, and dries wounds without leaving scars.
• Apple cider vinegar can help relieve rough skin on your feet. Mix dry black bread with vinegar until a thick gruel, apply it on your feet, leave this compress overnight. Rinse off with a pumice stone in the morning. The feet will become soft and callus-free.

tourists

• Mix equal parts vinegar and alcohol, add a little table salt. Use this solution to lubricate exposed parts of the body on hikes. This smell scares off midges.

This is interesting - 9% vinegar is an excellent antidote for jellyfish stings.

Harm

Vinegar is both beneficial and harmful, depending on the co. If you thoughtlessly "cure with vinegar", you can cause serious harm to your health.

• For example, instead of lightening age spots and freckles on the face, you can get a chemical burn that will leave scars.
• Those who want to "lose weight" too much will create a problem for themselves in the form of gastritis or stomach ulcers and, as an addition, frequent constipation.
• After using vinegar, it is imperative to brush your teeth or at least rinse your mouth - acid of this intensity destroys tooth enamel.
• Too frequent use of vinegar will affect the vision - it will worsen, and the liver. As a result, the skin will acquire a yellowish tint.
• Too intense "air disinfection" by spraying vinegar will lead to headaches and watery eyes.
• May cause burns in contact with mucous membranes and eyes.
• In case of excessive skin contact, table vinegar is irritating.
• Apple cider vinegar should only be used diluted. Otherwise, the consequences can be very bad.

Composition

The composition of the vinegar is quite rich. In 100 grams there is

Contraindications

• with proctological problems - constipation, inflamed hemorrhoids
• for urological diseases
• it should not be used for kidney disease.
• with any gastritis and peptic ulcer, even during remission
• with sexual weakness - dishes with vinegar will only aggravate the matter
• vinegar is not recommended for children and the elderly
• with cystitis - acid will only irritate the urinary system and provoke more frequent urges
• with the body's immunity to the components of vinegar.

During pregnancy and breastfeeding

The usual 9% table vinegar should be limited or stopped altogether. There are many reasons for this.

• it is a synthetic, artificial product, it will definitely not benefit the child
• it causes anemia in the mother, and therefore in the child
• it makes the expectant mother thirsty, therefore creates an additional load on the kidneys
• can provoke premature birth.

Better to use apple or grape. But they should not be abused either. When feeding a baby, it is better to refrain from using any vinegar altogether, it can give the milk an unpleasant aftertaste and cause constipation in the baby. But with elevated temperature in pregnant women, rubbing with vinegar is not contraindicated, it will not harm either mother. not a child.

How to cook

Synthetic vinegar

It is prepared in factories by distilling wood alcohol. This is how the vinegar essence is obtained, which is then diluted with water. Then the resulting vinegar is bottled.

Fruit vinegar

It is made from fruit juice - apples, grapes, and so on. Distinctive feature good quality vinegar will have sediment at the bottom of the bottle. If not, it is most likely a fake. It is prepared by fermenting the juice; rye crackers and a little honey must be added to the container. Leave in a warm and dark place for a month and a half, from time to time removing the foam that appears. When the unpleasant smell disappears. vinegar is ready. It is bottled and set aside in a dark place. Whey vinegar is prepared in the same way.

How to choose

Plain table vinegar should be 9%. Sometimes there are also 5%. Apple and grape vinegar should only be natural. Without the addition of dyes and flavors "identical to natural", otherwise it is the same table vinegar, but with the aroma of fruits and without their beneficial qualities. It cannot be cheap, there must be sediment at the bottom. Even if you shake the vinegar bottle, the sediment will rise and settle quickly. This vinegar should be sold in dark glass containers.

How to store

• Any vinegar should be stored in a cool place.
• It is desirable away from direct sunlight so that vitamins are not destroyed in it.
• It is best if the bottles are not plastic so that the vinegar does not react with the plastic.

What is combined with

Used as a seasoning

• It is added to meat and fish dishes.
• For various sauces.
• It will accentuate the taste of the salad.

In confectionery

• or drop by drop can be used even when preparing a cream for desserts.
• With a few drops of apple cider vinegar, egg whites are beaten better.

Vinegar has been produced and sold for thousands of years, even before the onset of the VI century. The people of Babylon were very fond of vinegar flavored with fruits, honey and malt, and Hippocrates used vinegar to heal wounds.

In China in the 10th century, hands could be washed and disinfected with vinegar, and in the early years of the US existence, vinegar was used to treat fever, burns from a poisonous plant sumac, cereals, edema and many other ailments.

Today we know that vinegar, which is traditionally made through prolonged fermentation, is rich in biologically active elements such as acetic and gallic acids, catechin, epicatechin, caffeic acid, etc., which endow vinegar with powerful antioxidant, antimicrobial and many other healing properties.

All over the world, vinegar is a common pickle for fruits and vegetables. Its also ubiquitous added to dressings and other dishes to improve the taste. At the same time, vinegar also exhibits the properties of a functional food product, which not only adds piquancy to your meals ... but can also significantly improve your well-being.

This is what they write in the magazine JournalofFoodScience(Science Journal of Food):

“Among the functional medicinal properties vinegar ... antibacterial effects, lowering blood pressure, antioxidant effects, alleviation of diabetes symptoms, prevention of cardiovascular diseases and increased vigor after exercise can be noted. "

1. Antimicrobial action

Vinegar is one of the most effective natural cleansers, mainly, due to its antimicrobial properties... When added to food, organic acids in vinegar (especially acetic acid) penetrate cell membranes and kill bacteria.

Vinegar fermented foods have a natural arsenal of antimicrobial organic acids, including acetic, milk, ascorbic, lemon, apple, propionic, amber and tartaric.

Acetic acid is harmful even to bacteria, according to one study. E. coli O157: H7, and other scientific studies have shown that substances such as acetic acid, citric acid, or a mixture of lemon juice and vinegar are effective against salmonella.

2. Antioxidant action

Antioxidants are a class of molecules that can slow the oxidation of other molecules. Antioxidants play an important role in maintaining your health, because they can slow down the aging process by destroying free radicals that cause oxidative stress.

The polyphenols and vitamins in numerous vinegar species help prevent oxidative stress through their powerful antioxidant properties. The antioxidants found in apple cider vinegar include, for example, catechin, epicatechin, and gallic, caffeic, and chlorogenic acids.

3. Antidiabetic effect

Vinegar is believed to have a hypoglycemic effect and has a beneficial effect on blood sugar levels. There is reason to believe that the acetic acid in vinegar may lower blood glucose by interfering with the complete absorption of complex carbohydrates, which is achieved either through accelerated gastric emptying, or due to increased absorption of glucose by the tissues of the body.

There is a theory, according to which vinegar probably blocks the activity of certain digestive enzymes that break down carbohydrates into sugars thus slowing down the conversion of complex carbohydrates in food into sugar that reaches your bloodstream. This gives your body more time to remove sugar from the blood and prevent a spike in glucose levels.

A large number of studies also support the use of vinegar as a cure for diabetes. One such study found that treatment with vinegar increased insulin sensitivity in 19% of patients with type 2 diabetes and 34% of those with pre-diabetes.

4. Cancer

Kurosu vinegar has been shown to inhibit the growth of various cancer cells, including cancer cells of the colon, lungs, mammary glands, Bladder and prostate.

Based on the results of studying cellular processes, Japanese Kibizu Sugarcane Vinegar inhibits the growth of cells that cause leukemia while consuming vinegar may even lower your risk of developing esophageal cancer.

5. Slimming

Vinegar May Help You Lose Weight since he appears to be prevents obesity by increasing satiety faster and reducing total food intake... For example, volunteers who drank two tablespoons of red raspberry vinegar daily for four weeks lost weight, while those who consumed the same amount of cranberry juice, on the contrary, gained weight.

Moreover, in another experiment, people who consuming a small amount of vinegar with food high in carbohydrates(bagel and juice), ate less during the rest of the day... Food consumption has decreased by 200-275 kcal per day - which is equivalent to dropping about 680 g per month.

6. Heart disease

Vinegar can keep your heart healthy in a variety of ways... How this fact was explained in the magazine JournalofFoodScience:

"Polyphenols like chlorogenic acid, which are abundant in apple cider vinegar, can slow the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins and improve health by preventing cardiovascular disease."

It also helps lower blood pressure. In one experiment, vinegar was able to lower cholesterol levels in laboratory rats, and in another experiment with rats, their blood pressure was reduced using acetic acid in vinegar.

7. Heartburn andsour belching

Sour burps are usually caused by too low acid content in your stomach. You can easily replenish your stomach acid deficiencies by taking one tablespoon of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar in a large glass of water daily.

8. Wounds

Thin, cobweb-like film of amino acids on the surface of untreated, unfiltered vinegar called "mother" has antibacterial properties which can promote healing of burn wounds. Intake of acetic acid bacteria can also help muscle tissue to heal after fatigue-related inflammation.

9. Diseases of the brain

It has been suggested that consuming vinegar may improve the mental capacity of a person... Research results have shown that acetic acid bacteria actually produce substances called "sphingolipids" which are chemical precursors of important structural elements brain tissue.

10. Increased absorption of nutrients

Vinegar contains acetic acid in large quantities... Like other acids, acetic acid can help increase your body's ability to absorb important minerals from food you eat.

Thus, it is likely that by drinking a light aqueous vinegar tonic immediately before meals, the absorption of key minerals found in foods can be improved. Plus, adding vinegar to your salad dressing can help your body absorb more nutrients from the juicy greens.

Choose cloudy over refined vinegar

Purified white vinegar is indispensable for cleaning and washing, but for medicinal purposes, its perfectly transparent varieties on store shelves that promise "clean to shine" will not work.

Vthe place for this needs to be looked for organic, unfiltered, unprocessed vinegar- it is usually cloudy. If you look at the light through it, you can see a cobweb-like film floating on its surface... It is called "mother" and indicates that this vinegar is of high quality.

The reason manufacturers choose to cleanse vinegar is to remove this cloudy substance, which most people would find unattractive and would refuse to buy. But in this case, you need exactly this turbid matter. As with any food, the more you process it, the less nutrients it will retain, and this is also true for most types of vinegar.

Ironically, the first vinegar came from an ancient coincidence. A long time ago, someone overexposed a keg of wine (presumably, loosely closing the lid, which caused oxygen to get inside). When those wishing to drink eagerly opened it, they found an acidic liquid instead of wine. The English name for vinegar "vinegar" comes from the French phrase "vin aigre", which means "sour wine".

Safe ways to consume vinegar

If you like vinegar, it is definitely worth including in your diet.... However, from my point of view, if you take vinegar in medicinal purposes, then it would be much more reasonable to consume large quantities of fermented foods to obtain beneficial acids, because in this case you will also contribute to the colonization of your digestive system with healing bacteria. Although vinegar is easier to take and, of course, safer, so you can start with it.

There are no official guidelines for taking vinegar by mouth. Some people take one to two teaspoons a day, mixed with a glass of water or juice, in the morning or on an empty stomach, and report noticeable improvements. The risk of taking small amounts of vinegar is quite low.

If you prefer to consume it with food, apple cider vinegar will make a particularly flavorful salad dressing. You can even try making a coleslaw salad with vinegar instead of a greasy salad with mayonnaise as you usually do.

If you are going to take it medicinally, there are a few things to keep in mind:

Vinegar is acidic. Its main ingredient is acetic acid, which has a very pungent taste. Always dilute with water before swallowing. Clean, undiluted vinegar can damage tooth enamel or tissues oral cavity and pharynx. (Incidentally, there was a reported case of prolonged esophageal damage in one woman after a food capsule of apple cider vinegar was stuck in her throat.)

Long-term abuse presumably can disrupt acid-base balance and negatively affect bone density and.

Apple vinegar may theoretically interact with diuretics, laxatives and antidiabetic agents, and medicines for heart disease... If you are registered with a doctor and want to start a course of taking apple cider vinegar, discuss this with your healthcare provider first to make sure the vinegar does not interfere with the medications you are taking this moment accept.

What else is vinegar good for?

Once you realize the full benefits of vinegar, it will surely become an integral part of your household. In general, you can use refined white vinegar for cleaning and fruit vinegar made from fermented fruits like apples for consumption.

Vinegar, by the way, is actually one of the best natural remedies for removing certain types of pesticides and bacteria from fresh food.

Try diluting 10% to 90% vinegar with water and soaking fresh food in this solution for a while. Simply dip vegetables and fruits in there, rinse and rinse thoroughly (do not apply this product to soft fruits such as berries, as they can absorb too much vinegar through the thin skin and spoil). Here's how you can use vinegar:

Apple cider vinegar since ancient times used as a natural hair care product... Its acidity is close to that of human hair. It is good for cleansing and conditioning hair and killing germs.

Using vinegar also you can take care of pets: clean their ears, relieve the symptoms of certain skin inflammations and fight fleas and ticks.

Some horse owners claim that apple cider vinegar is an excellent natural remedy for horsefly scaring and hoof care.

Vinegar is wonderful universal cleaner for all surfaces- from kitchen countertops to windows. A solution of vinegar in water is, for example, an excellent glass cleaner, and vinegar in combination with hydrogen peroxide does a great job of disinfecting.

Today there is hardly a person who would not know what vinegar is. This product has been used not only in cooking, but also in medicine since ancient times. Vinegar appeared thanks to winemaking and now it is widespread in all countries of the world. How big the benefits and harms of vinegar, and which vinegar is considered the best, you will learn from this article.

The benefits and harms of vinegar

Vinegar It contains not only acetic acid, which has antibacterial properties, but also a lot of other useful substances, such as potassium, fluorine, pectin, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and B vitamins, as well as malic, ascorbic and lactic acids. Vinegar has a good effect on metabolism, and also helps the breakdown of carbohydrates and fats in the body, which is why it is so popular among those who want to lose weight.

Ancient vinegar used as an antibiotic and used it in the treatment of various serious illnesses... There is information that they even tried to treat the plague. And the beautiful inhabitants Ancient Greece used vinegar to maintain their health and beauty. Experts say that eating vinegar in moderation can only be beneficial, but they also urge you to pay attention to the fact that such vinegar must be of natural origin, and it is best if it is also apple cider and unrefined.

Apple cider vinegar is especially beneficial. It is often used not only in the preparation of chic dishes, but also for healing. For example, apple cider vinegar has a good effect on the human digestive system, however, you need to use it with caution so as not to overdo it, otherwise all its advantages will sharply turn into disadvantages.

In addition, those who suffer from stomach ulcers should be very careful with any kind of vinegar. Also apple cider vinegar helps the body fight infections, kills putrefactive bacteria in the intestines, and partially neutralizes toxins, thereby helping the liver. Its antibacterial properties, as well as the fact that it enhances intestinal motility, make it popular for food poisoning... Well, besides all of the above useful properties, vinegar has one more thing - it perfectly relieves hiccups and belching.

Wine vinegar has similar properties and is made from wine that turns sour in the open air. For example, Italians know not only what to drink wine with, but also how you can get high quality vinegar from it, rich in nutrients.

The harm of vinegar

Real vinegar, made from natural raw materials, is practically does not have a harmful effect, if you use it within the normal range, that is, at the rate of no more than a teaspoon per day per person. But that product with a pungent pungent odor and transparent color, which most often appears on the shelves of our stores, is most likely chemically prepared, and therefore, even in small quantities, it can be harmful to the body.

Another harmful property vinegar is his increased acidity ... When using vinegar, it is very easy to completely ruin the enamel of your teeth, so you should be careful and rinse your mouth after each meal to which the vinegar has been added.

By the way, the benefits and harms of vinegar when eating it have not yet been fully studied by specialists, but nevertheless, almost all of them agree that this unique product has a very good effect on the human digestive tract.

There is no mistress in the world who has never used vinegar. This clear liquid with a pungent smell and taste is used in the preparation of a wide variety of culinary products. But few people thought about how this product affects the human body. Therefore, today we will condemn how vinegar is useful and whether there is any harm from it.

Main varieties

Vinegar can vary in composition, type and preparation method. Some types of acid are harmful to the body, while others can be beneficial.

The most common types of vinegar are:

• synthetic;
• wine;
• apple;
• rice;
• balsamic.

Synthetic product

This type is used very widely. It is used in the preservation of food, as well as in the preparation of salads, dressings and sauces. Is vinegar harmful? Although a synthetic product is significantly inferior in quality and useful components to other types, its use in small quantities is permissible and will not have a significant effect on the body. Vinegar is often used when pickling some vegetables and making baking powder.

Apple variety

Apple cider vinegar has the least pungent taste and aroma. And, of course, it is more useful than synthetic. Its use is allowed even by those who suffer from diseases of the digestive system. The natural components that make up such a product have a positive effect on the body and, in small quantities, do not affect the acidity of the stomach. Interestingly, this type of product is used in the manufacture of some types of puff pastry.

Wine variety

It is made from natural raw materials and can be white or red. Such a product is obtained by fermenting wine or grape juice. This vinegar gets its characteristic smell as a result of long aging in oak barrels... It is widely used as a seasoning, and also used in the manufacture of sauces and marinades.

Rice

Rice vinegar is not widely available, but its mild flavor has won over many foodies. It can be used as an excellent dressing in salads, especially in Japanese and Chinese cuisine. Having a light aroma, it will not interrupt other foods in the dish.

Balsamic vinegar

Balsamic vinegar is one of the most expensive varieties. It is distinguished by a more complex preparation process, since after fermentation it is aged for at least 12 years. In the process of aging, it significantly loses in volume, since an average of 6% of the volume evaporates during the year. For example, if after fermentation 100 liters were poured into the barrel, then by the end of the aging period only about 31 liters of product will remain. Unsurprisingly, the cost of balsamic vinegar is so high.

The balsamic look is used as a seasoning in Italian cuisine, it is even added to ice cream. It is black in color and resembles tar in consistency. V national cuisine such a product is considered the most refined seasoning.

In fact, there are many more varieties of vinegar. We have discussed only the most famous and common types.

Positive effect on the body

If you want to benefit from the vinegar you eat, choose natural, unrefined foods. Such vinegar will have excellent properties, namely:

• have an antibacterial effect;
• facilitate the digestion of food;
• lower blood pressure;
• lower body temperature when used externally;
• promote weight loss;
• have a beneficial effect on the immune system;
• protect the body from the effects of free radicals.

Regular consumption of natural vinegar - in small amounts of course - will promote vascular health. The acid contained in the product helps to get rid of cholesterol, thereby cleansing the vessels from the inside. By including vinegar in your diet, you won't know what blood pressure drops and heart problems are.

Wide application

Acetic acid is used not only in cooking. It can have an amazing effect on the skin. To make sure of this, add a few tablespoons of any natural vinegar to a warm bath and sit in it for 15 minutes. You will notice how your skin will be renewed and whitened after the procedure.

To quickly get rid of the high temperature, you can dilute a small amount of vinegar in water and apply a compress or rub down. This procedure will help relieve the condition and quickly reduce the temperature without chemical medication.

A vinegar solution can also be used when you need to get rid of a pimple urgently. Rub the problem area with a cotton pad soaked in the product and very soon you will see how the problem disappears.

It will not be news to anyone that vinegar was already known to our ancestors. Then it was used as a solvent and antiseptic. Nowadays, table vinegar is in great demand among consumers. This is especially true for the period of time when housewives close various kinds of conservation.

Useful properties of table vinegar

Before starting a conversation about the benefits of table vinegar, you need to pay close attention to those substances that are in its composition and their Chemical properties... It is with their help that vinegar has become such a popular product that is used both in cooking and in folk medicine.

Currently, table vinegar quite often acts as one of the components in the manufacturing process of a particular drug. Moreover, it is added both to medicines for animals and to products for people. Also, detergents and cleaning products, which also include vinegar, cannot be discounted.

In addition to all of the above, this substance is used for dietary nutrition. This is due to the fact that table vinegar is able to reduce appetite, remove accumulated toxins from the body, and also quench the emerging thirst. Thus, weight loss occurs in a completely natural way.

In order to saturate your body with useful substances, it is recommended to take a drink consisting of a glass of water, tbsp. honey and vinegar.

Many traditional healers claim that table vinegar is an irreplaceable remedy in the fight against asthma, migraines, arthritis and alcoholism.

It is also worth mentioning that water in combination with vinegar is an excellent remedy for colds and intestinal infections.

Harm and contraindications

It's no news to anyone that vinegar is a great drying agent. Based on this fact, using this tool, you must be extremely careful. As mentioned above, vinegar is of undoubted benefit for people who are trying to reduce their weight. As for thin people, vinegar is completely contraindicated for them, because its use can lead to fatal thinness.

Table vinegar is best off the list. medicines the elderly, as well as those suffering from arthritis.

If you add vinegar to dishes on a regular basis, you can get blurred vision and yellowing of the face.

Doctors agree that with frequent constipation, sexual weakness and prostatitis, table vinegar should be completely excluded from the diet.