by Beth Hanggeli
Vinegar is good for more than salad dressings. Believe it or not, unadulterated
balsamic vinegar is not
only delicious, but it has great health benefits! Vinegar has been
valued for thousands of years for its astringent and disinfectant properties,
not to mention as a preservative and flavoring agent.
Historically, balsamic
vinegar was considered to be something of a miracle cure. It’s believed that the word originated
from the Italian word for balm, meaning an aromatic resin as well as a soothing
and healing agent. It was used to treat everything from a mild headache to
labor pains. Its antibacterial and antiviral properties made it ideal for
disinfecting wounds and infections. A tonic mixture of balsamic vinegar can even
be used on nail infections and acne!
All balsamic
vinegar is not created equal,
however. In spite of their beautiful bottles and labels with slick advertising
copy, some of the balsamic vinegar that you buy in the supermarket contains caramel and sugar, which are cheap fillers that corrupt the flavor and
nutritional value of the balsamic. Be sure you’re getting the real thing.
Balsamic vinegar has a
wealth of benefits that go far beyond these uses.
Helps You Lose
Weight
Balsamic
vinegar is low in fat, cholesterol and sodium. Use it instead of salad dressing or marinade. At 5 calories per teaspoon, it’s far less caloric than a
1-teaspoon serving of olive oil, which has 45 calories.
When combined
with food containing carbohydrates, balsamic vinegar keeps your sugar level
stable and helps avoid food cravings. It’s a rich
source of potassium, manganese, calcium and iron, which are vital for the
body’s function and contribute to maintaining a healthy body weight. Potassium
also helps reduce appetite. The
acetic acid in balsamic vinegar also slows down the passage of food through your
gastrointestinal tract, keeping hunger
pangs at bay.
A Good Source of Antioxidants
Balsamic
vinegar contains polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants that protect the body from
heart disease. They are proven cancer fighters since they enhance the immune system, fight cell damage and
make blood platelets more flexible. Thy are also kn own to prevent heart and circulation
problems. Balsamic vinegar also contains a bioflavonoid called quercetin that has considerable anti-inflammatory
and antioxidant properties. Adding
balsamic vinegar to your diet can help prevent and postpone signs of aging like
loss of skin elasticity and wrinkles.
Helps Digestion
The
polyphenols contained in balsamic vinegar trigger the release of pepsins, important
digestive
enzymes that break down proteins into amino acids and speed up
metabolism, thereby aiding digestion.
Balsamic
vinegar is also rich in acetic acid, which stimulates the secretion of salivary
and gastric juices that break down foods into simpler forms, making it easier
to digest them. It also establishes proper pH levels in the digestive tract and
induces the stomach to stop producing large quantities of hydrochloric acid, which reduces the
occurrence of gastritis. In the
Modena region in Italy where balsamic vinegar is produced, small amounts are
often taken before or after meals to neutralize acid reflux, relieve heartburn,
and help digestion.
Diabetes
Balsamic vinegar
improves insulin sensitivity, which promotes blood sugar regulation. This can
often reduce the unpleasant side effects associated with diabetes. Balsamic
vinegar is low on the glycemic index, a system that categorizes foods based on
how much they affect your blood sugar. Low glycemic index foods cause your
glucose to rise slightly and then slowly drop. High-glycemic foods causes a
sudden spike in your glucose, then it drops sharply to below its original
level. Even though balsamic vinegar is a low-glycemic food it does contain
sugar, so if you’re diabetic, you should watch your portion size.
Bone Health
Pepsin and acetic acid
help improve absorption of crucial minerals into the body such as calcium and
magnesium, which are vital for healthy, strong bones.
Cholesterol
Balsamic
vinegar is beneficial for stabilizing your blood cholesterol levels.
Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol is the bad cholesterol that blocks
arteries, causing hardening and clogging. Polyphenols from balsamic vinegar
inhibit oxidation of LDL cholesterol, which minimizes the risk of damage to cells.
Drizzling balsamic vinegar on your salad at lunch can help keep your
cholesterol within a healthy range.
Blood
Pressure
Blood
pressure is the amount of force your blood places on arterial walls. Since
balsamic vinegar
reduces atherosclerosis and hardening of arteries, it can also
help normalize blood pressure levels. Regular vinegar consumption has been
shown to lower systolic blood pressure (the number on top of your blood
pressure reading, which measures blood pressure during heartbeats).
I'll bet you thought that balsamic vinegar was only good on salad. All in
all, balsamic vinegar is tasty, delicious and full of health benefits. Why not
use it to regularly flavor your dishes as well as season your salad? Have you ever tried
it with strawberries? What’s your favorite way to use it? Let us know!