A Better Look At the Health Benefits of Balsamic Vinegar?
Balsamic vinegar is a popular ingredient in salad dressings, marinades, and many other foods. It is has a distinctive flavor that is often described as daring, tart, and complicated.
Some research suggest that balsamic vinegar has additional health benefits, ranging from improving a person's complexion to reducing cholesterol and aiding weight loss.
In this article, we look at the potential health benefits of balsamic vinegar and the scientific research that may give them weight.
Ten health benefits of balsamic vinegar
The health benefits of balsamic vinegar may include the following:
Enhancing skin health with Balsamic Vinegar
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, nevertheless, so should not be applied directly to the skin
Reducing blood sugar
Studies suggest that this popular salad dressing ingredient has a number of health benefits.
Balsamic vinegar helps regulate blood sugar eaten as part of a meal.
1 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 drastically after a meal.
The review indicated that vinegar might help create a blood sugar plateau for a time of up to 5 hours following a meal.
Promoting healthy digestion
Acetic acid is the active compound in balsamic vinegar. This acid contains strains of probiotics that aid digestion.
The enzymes found in acetic acid can help promote decent gut health and digestion when supporting overall immune function.
Lowering cholesterol
Balsamic vinegar may help reduce cholesterol. The antioxidants in balsamic vinegar assist block poisonous cells within the body that can raise cholesterol levels.
According to a study, between rabbits with elevated cholesterol, it is likely that swallowing balsamic vinegar can help lower or maintain already reduced cholesterol levels.
Losing weight
The probiotics in balsamic vinegar can also help make a person feel full for longer.
Some research indicates that individuals may consume fewer calories during the day once they add vinegar for their morning meal.
Treating wounds
Balsamic vinegar has been used for many years to help treat wounds. It is implied that balsamic vinegar has antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. These claims have not been well studied, however.
Slimming hypertension
Consuming balsamic vinegar may help a person feel fuller for longer.
One study, although again involving rats, determined that balsamic vinegar may help lower blood pressure. This research suggested that regularly adding balsamic vinegar to foods could help reduce high blood pressure with time.
This may be true if a person replaces fatty foods, such as butter and oil, together with vinegar, thus lowering the total amount of fats they consume.
Allergic congestion
Some people today use balsamic vinegar to help treat congestion. To do this, a person can add a few drops of vinegar into steaming water and breathe in the vapor.
Reducing acid reflux
People can try using balsamic vinegar to decrease 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 check whether it makes symptoms better or worse.
Boosting 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. Researchers are exploring how polyphenols aid in blood circulation, however, the evidence is inconclusive so far.
Risks Of Consuming Too Much Balsamic Vinegar
Consuming too much balsamic vinegar may cause an upset stomach.
There are few risks to using balsamic vinegar, as it is generally safe to consume till a person has an allergy. Possible risks include:
- Upset stomach from swallowing too much
- Inflammation of the throat
- Damage to the food pipe from drinking too much
A person should limit their intake to about two tablespoons or less, as drinking too much can cause an upset stomach and other issues.
People must pay careful attention to the label of the balsamic vinegar they buy. Genuine balsamic may be expensive but does not contain added sugars. Other brands may contain additional sugars that will help match the taste of real balsamic vinegar.