Apple cider vinegar is a natural tonic.
It brings some health benefits proven by scientific studies on humans.
However, people were also more concerned about the safety and possible side effects of apple cider vinegar.
This article will examine the potential side effects of apple cider vinegar.
Also provide instructions on how to use apple cider vinegar safely.
So what is apple cider vinegar?
Apple cider vinegar is made by combining apples with yeast.
Then the yeast converts sugar in apples into alcohol. At this time, bacteria are added to the mixture to help ferment alcohol into acetic acid .
Acetic acid accounts for about 5-6% of apple cider vinegar. It is classified as "weak acid", but is still quite acidic when concentrated.
In addition to acetic acid, vinegar contains water and other acids, vitamins and minerals in low concentrations .
Some studies in animals and people have found that acetic acid and apple cider vinegar can promote fat burning and weight loss, lower blood sugar, increase the sensitivity of insulin hormones and improve concentration. cholesterol level .
Crux: Apple cider vinegar is made from acetic acid, which can provide some health benefits such as weight loss, lower blood sugar levels and increase the body's good cholesterol.
7 side effects of using too many apple cider vinegar
Unfortunately, there are reports that apple cider vinegar can cause some side effects.
This is especially true with the use of too many apple cider vinegar.
Although taking a small amount will bring good effects and make your body healthy, drinking too much apple cider vinegar can be harmful and even dangerous to health.
1. Obstructing digestion
Apple cider vinegar helps prevent blood sugar from rising suddenly by reducing the rate of food coming out of the stomach and entering the gastrointestinal tract. This slows the absorption of nutrients into the blood .
However, this effect may aggravate the symptoms of a common condition in people with type 1 diabetes.
When gastric paralysis, the nerves in the stomach do not function normally, so the food in the stomach is too long and not digested as usual.
Symptoms of gastrointestinal illness include heartburn, bloating and nausea. For type 1 diabetic patients with gastrointestinal disease, it is difficult to quantify insulin during meals because it is difficult to predict the time of digestion and absorption of food.
A supervised study examined 10 patients with type 1 diabetes with gastrointestinal tract.
Drinking water mixed with 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (30 ml) significantly increases the duration of food in the stomach compared to normal drinking water .
Crux: Apple cider vinegar has been shown to help delay the rate of food digested from the stomach. This can exacerbate the symptoms of gastrointestinal tract and make it more difficult to control blood sugar levels for people with type 1 diabetes.
2. Side effects on digestion
Apple cider vinegar can cause gastrointestinal symptoms in some people.
Studies on humans and animals have found that apple cider vinegar and acetic acid can reduce appetite and promote satiety, leading to reduced body calories .
However, a supervised study showed that in some cases, appetite and food intake may decrease due to indigestion.
People who drink a cup containing 25 grams (0.88 oz) of apple cider vinegar have less cravings but also feel significantly more nauseous, especially when vinegar is part of an unpleasant taste .
Crux: Apple cider vinegar can help reduce appetite, but it can also cause nausea, especially when taken as an unpleasant taste.
3. Reduce the amount of potassium in the blood and reduce bone density
At this time there is no official study of the effect of apple cider vinegar on blood potassium levels and bone health.
However, there has been a case of low blood potassium levels and reduced bone density due to large doses of apple cider vinegar for a long time.
A 28-year-old woman drank 8 oz (250 ml) of apple cider vinegar diluted in water regularly every day for six years.
She was transferred to the hospital in low blood potassium levels and other abnormalities in blood chemistry .
Moreover, the woman diagnosed with osteoporosis, a brittle bone condition that is rarely seen in young people.
Doctors say that large doses of apple cider vinegar used daily lead to minerals removed from her bones to enhance the acidity of the blood.
They also note that high acid levels can reduce new bone formation.
Of course, the amount of apple cider vinegar in this case is much more than the amount most people will consume in a day, plus she did this every day for many years.
Crux: A case of low potassium and osteoporosis has been reported due to excessive consumption of apple cider vinegar.
4. Worn tooth enamel
Sour food and drinks have been shown to easily damage tooth enamel .
More extensive research has been done on soft drinks and juices, but some studies show that acetic acid in vinegar can also damage tooth enamel.
In a laboratory study, wisdom tooth enamel was dipped in different types of vinegar with pH levels ranging from 2.7-3.95. Types of vinegar lose minerals in teeth from 1-20% after four hours .
It is important that this study is done in the laboratory, not in the mouth, where saliva helps increase acidity of the acid. However, there is some evidence that a large amount of vinegar can cause tooth erosion.
Another study also concluded that the problem of serious tooth decay of a 15-year-old girl was due to drinking a cup (237 ml) of undiluted apple cider vinegar every day as a weight loss food (18).
Crux: Acetic acid in vinegar can weaken tooth enamel, leading to loss of minerals and tooth decay.
5. Burn the throat
Apple cider vinegar is capable of burning the throat.
Examining toxic liquids accidentally swallowed by children who have found acetic acid from vinegar is the most common type of acid burns.
Researchers recommend that vinegar be considered a "caustic substance" and kept in a container away from the reach of children .
There are no official cases of throat burns caused by apple cider vinegar.
However, a case report found that an apple cider vinegar caused burns after being trapped in the woman's throat. The woman said that she had suffered a sore throat and had trouble swallowing for six months after the incident .
Crux: Acetic acid in apple cider vinegar can burn the throat in children. A woman also had a sore throat after the apple cider vinegar stuck in her esophagus
6. Burns skin
Due to its strong acidity, apple cider vinegar can cause burns when used on the skin.
In one case, a 14-year-old girl found her nose eroded after applying a few drops of apple cider vinegar to purify two moles, based on a guide she had seen on the internet .
In another case, a 6-year-old boy with many health problems discovered a sore burn in his leg after his mother treated her foot infection with apple cider vinegar .
There are also some reports of direct burns caused by apple cider vinegar.
Crux: There have been reports of skin burns caused by apple cider vinegar when treating moles and infections.
7. Interaction with drugs
Diabetes drugs: People who take insulin or insulin stimulants and apple cider vinegar can be in danger because the interaction reduces the amount of sugar or potassium in the blood.
- Digoxin (Lanoxin): This medication reduces blood potassium levels. Using with apple cider vinegar can cause too much potassium reduction.
- Some diuretics: Some diuretics make the body excrete potassium. To prevent low levels of potassium, these medications should not be taken with a lot of vinegar.
Crux: Some medicines can interact with apple cider vinegar, including insulin, digoxin and some diuretics.
How to use apple cider vinegar safely
Most people can reasonably use apple cider vinegar by following these general guidelines:
- Limit intake of apple cider vinegar: Start using apple cider vinegar in a small amount and gradually increase up to a maximum of 2 tablespoons (30ml) per day, depending on your body condition.
- Minimize exposure of your teeth to acetic acid: Try diluting the water and drinking it with a straw.
- Washing mouth: Rinse mouth with water after using vinegar. To prevent tooth enamel damage, brush your teeth after 30 minutes using apple cider vinegar.
- Consider avoiding apple cider vinegar if you have stomach and intestinal pain: Avoid apple cider vinegar or limit the highest amount to 1 teaspoon (5 ml) mixed with water or salad dressing.
- Notice allergy: An allergy to apple cider vinegar is rare, but stop taking it right away if you experience an allergic reaction.
- Crux: To use apple cider vinegar safely, limit the amount of apple cider vinegar in your daily diet, dilute it and avoid using it if you have health problems.
Message for you
Apple cider vinegar can bring some health benefits.
However, to be safe and prevent side effects, it is important to monitor consumption and be careful when using apple cider vinegar.
While a small amount of vinegar is good, using more does not mean better but can even be harmful to your own health.
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