Page 21 - Florida Sentinel 3-19-21

Health
ACNE AND OTHER CHRONIC SKIN ISSUES
Apple cider vinegar may help to dry out pimples when a solution is dabbed onto pimples. It should be diluted be- fore applying it to the face as it can cause skin injury if it’s not sufficiently diluted. The concentration of acetic acid in apple cider vinegar varies widely and is not standardized, making it difficult to judge how much to dilute it to be safe as a skin toner or for other purposes.
IMPROVED HAIR HEALTH
Apple cider vinegar is a com- mon ingredient found in natural shampoos. This may be because it contains acetic acid, which helps
to naturally lower pH. Research has found benefits of lower pH for hair health, and the antimicrobial benefits of ACV are well documented. All that to say, ACV may help to balance and clarify your hair—and it could also potentially help hair to fight off bacteria, which may be harming the health and appearance of your locks.
REDUCED HEART RISKS
ACV can help reduce cholesterol and triglyc- eride levels, which are known to in- crease the risk of heart disease when they are too high. Additionally, alpha-linolenic acid (which ACV is high in) has also been found to reduce the risk of heart disease in women. And vinegar has been shown to reduce blood pressure in hypertensive rats—good news, seeing as high blood pressure is linked to cardiovascular dis-
ease and increased mortality rates.
LOWER CHOLESTEROL LEVELS
Two small studies found that consum- ing apple cider vinegar could reduce total choles- terol, triglyc- erides, and LDL cholesterol. An animal study echoed this finding. ACV had similar cholesterol-reducing properties in rats. And it doesn’t even appear to take that long to take effect—most of the research took place over the course of just a few
months.
While more research is needed to see
if these results are generalizable to a larger population, it’s fair to say ACV may be a good complementary option for those treating high cholesterol. That doesn’t mean you can skip your prescribed statins.
WEIGHT LOSS
Proponents claim that con- suming vinegar before or with a meal may have a satiating ef- fect.
A 12-week
study from
Japan reported
that people who had consumed up to 30 milliliters (roughly 6 teaspoons) of vinegar per day experienced a modest one- to two- pound reduction in body weight. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, triglycerides, and visceral fat were also slightly reduced.
People tend to consume greater than normal amounts of apple cider vinegar when using it for weight loss purposes, with some even taking it in supplement form.
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