Apple cider vinegar has long been praised for its many health benefits, with everything from killing bacteria to improving skin health. It is also one of the most exciting topics to explore when considering its impact on blood sugar levels and insulin levels, if we can control these, we can start to possibly reverse insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

Apple cider vinegar is made from crushing down apples, squeezing out the liquid, and adding yeast which ferments the natural sugars to alcohol. Bacteria is then added that ferments the alcohol to acetic acid or vinegar.

Although apple cider vinegar has a unique and strong acidic taste, you don’t have to consume it in raw form to benefit from its amazing properties. Some of these beneficial properties include raw enzymes and the advancement of positive bacteria in the gastrointestinal or digestive tract.

Consider a few of the lesser known ways that apple cider vinegar can help you.

Halitosis – The awful taste most people experience in their mouth upon waking up in the morning is mostly due to excess bacteria in your mouth. Drinking one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with eight ounces of water and a slice of lemon before bed will keep that bacteria at bay and has been well known to let you wake up more refreshed.

Lower blood sugar and restless nights – Some people have difficulties sleeping because of a peak in their blood sugar levels in the middle of the night. This is one of the leading causes of insomnia and impedes the body from burning fat. Research shows drinking apple cider vinegar following a meal may actually help to lower your blood sugar levels. These studies have shown that when people consume a high starch meal and follow it with some apple cider vinegar the blood sugars after eating these meals may not go up as much compared to a placebo.

Consumption of a small amount of apple cider vinegar has been shown to delay the release of food from your stomach into your intestinal tract. This is where your body breaks down starches like pasta into sugars and as a result, those sugars will not be absorbed as quickly. When you don’t absorb sugars as quickly, insulin levels tend to stay lower and better regulated, and as such your blood sugar won’t rise as much and as quickly. To summarize, apple cider vinegar lowers blood sugar levels because it increases insulin sensitivity.

This means that when we consider insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, we consider that both conditions are a result of the body not managing blood sugar effectively. Insulin resistance starts long before you see any change in your fasting blood sugar causing it often to go undiagnosed. If we can identify and address insulin resistance early, we can stop it before it inevitably leads to type 2 diabetes. The implication of apple cider vinegar in the field of diabetes or even prediabetes can be a game changer!

Hiccups – This very handy life hack helps to override nerves in your throat that are responsible for hiccups. If these nerves must deal with the powerful taste in apple cider vinegar, hiccups become less of an issue. A recent study examined alternative treatments for relieving hiccups in advanced heavily treated cancer patients. The study found and proved a hypothesis that the sour compounds in apple cider vinegar have molecular and physiological effects in treating hiccups.

Sinus relief – If you suffer from sinus and a blocked-up nose because it’s pollen season, don’t forget about apple cider vinegar! Rather than shopping for a pharmaceutical over-the-counter decongestant, rely on the vitamin B to work with the potassium and magnesium in apple cider vinegar, to open up your sinuses and ease your breathing. The gigantic amount of essential nutrients present in apple cider vinegar helps by balancing out the pH and clears the cavities that build up mucus. Furthermore, the antifungal and antibacterial properties of apple cider vinegar assist in fighting a sinus infection.

Losing unwanted pounds – Apple cider vinegar has increased in popularity amongst athletes and the general population as it is being incorporated more and more into most weight loss regimens. Apple cider vinegar has been proven to aid in weight loss, as mentioned above, lowering blood sugar levels affects how your body breaks down and processes food. Studies also show an improved ability of the muscles and liver to take up sugar from the blood.

The same study also showed that acetic acid in apple cider vinegar reduces the ratio of insulin to glucagon, which will favor fat burning. Another study done on rats being exposed to the same acetic acid over time showed elevated levels of AMPK, which boosts the body’s natural fat-burning and decreases fat and sugar excess production by the liver.

Studies done on mice fed with a high-fat diet, supplemented with acetic acid found a significant increase in genes known to be responsible for fat burning, leading to less of a build-up of body fat. These studies showed a lot of potential and future growth in the study of substances such as apple cider vinegar that can be the healthier alternative to many of the over-the-counter drugs, we have become so reliant on.

Not getting an adequate night’s sleep – This can also be associated with being overweight. Research shows that apple cider vinegar inhibits the body when it tries to convert starches into calories, moreover it reduces your appetite. The pectin that it contains actually makes you feel more satisfied, so when it’s time to go to bed, and you are hungry, a small amount of apple cider vinegar will make you feel satisfied and give you better sleep.

Reflux Remedy – When your stomach is vacant of adequate amounts of acid, it tends to cramp and move around to do the job that regular stomach acid would easily do. When that happens, some acids can sneak up the esophagus and burn your throat. Apple cider vinegar helps to replace that stomach acid and balance your intestinal tract and the pH content inside your stomach.

Sore throat – Apple cider vinegar is also a powerful anti-bacterial. Its acidity helps kill bacteria that live in the back of your throat.

Restless legs – If you have restless legs or are often plagued with leg cramps in the middle of the night, it’s probably a sign that you are not getting enough potassium in your diet. By adding a concentration of apple cider vinegar, you can quickly boost your potassium levels and avoid these annoying issues.

Upset stomach – A simple remedy like apple cider vinegar can settle an upset stomach. Again, by helping restore the pH levels in the digestive tract, you can rid yourself of excess gas and even stomach cramping.

Following some of the tips and benefits laid out above by using apple cider vinegar to its full potential, it might provide a healthier alternative treatment to many of our daily struggles. Apple cider vinegar should be in your daily supplement regime.

The many benefits of this product can be condensed into an easily consumable pill or even gummy form preventing you from actually having to drink the sour tasting vinegar. Prometheuz Health offers apple cider vinegar gummies that fully encapsulate the benefits by adding pomegranate and beetroot juice extract in them. This allows not only for better taste, but also has the added health benefits of Beetroot and Pomegranate.