Does Apple Cider Vinegar Aid Digestion?
Learn how apple cider vinegar can help with a variety of aliments and aid digestions from our expert dietitians.
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If you do an internet search for apple cider vinegar, you’ll find plenty of claims for its ability to cure everything from acne and dandruff to heart disease and diabetes. Very little research has been conducted on apple cider vinegar, so most of what you read is anecdotal. Taken before meals, apple cider vinegar can help stimulate HCl (hydrochloric acid) production in the stomach, which helps break food down, thus improving digestion.
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Before each meal, take 1 tablespoon of vinegar in 2 to 4 ounces of water. Look for raw, unpasteurized, organic apple cider vinegar that contains the “mother” – a cloudy looking mass at the bottom of the jar, which is the bacterial culture that’s used to make the vinegar. Shake the jar to disperse the mother before pouring. If you can’t tolerate the vinegar before a meal, try incorporating it into your salad dressing or marinade, or deglaze the pan with it so that you can still reap its benefits.
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Registered dietitians Tiffani Bachus and Erin Macdonald are the co-founders and creators of URockGirl.com, a website dedicated to promoting wellness and a healthy, balanced lifestyle.