Vinegar: elixir of life? Or fool’s gold?
February 14th, 2010
Myths
Tags Food: finding the proof in the pudding

Did you know that if you hit your thumb with a hammer, putting vinegar on it will stop the pain? Well, that’s what my sister said anyway. And she read it in a magazine from the 1960’s…

I’m on a search for a more reliable source of information, because in the world of home remedies and old wives tales not only is vinegar claimed to remedy sore thumbs, but apparently it can also reduce infections and sore throats, lower cholesterol, cure acne, protect against food poisoning, fight allergies, prevent muscles aching after exercise, improve the immune system and digestion, and cure constipation. Have I missed anything? Yep! Apparently drinking vinegar also prevents bladder stones and urinary tract infections, increases stamina, alleviates pain from arthritis, increases stamina and promotes weight loss.

It appears that vinegar is not just an ingredient for salad dressing it is a magic potion from the Gods. But, who am I to poo-poo home remedies without a bit of research first?

What is Vinegar?

Vinegar is the product made after a fermentable carbohydrate source, like apples, honey or potatoes, are fermented into alcohol, and then converted into acid using bacteria.

Can it reduce the pain if you hit your finger with a hammer?

In 2006 researchers from Arizona State University in the USA analysed the scientifically proven medicinal benefits of vinegar. There was no discussion of vinegar reducing pain, or reducing inflammation. In fact, in the past 20 years there have been no studies that demonstrate vinegar’s ability to reduce the pain caused by a finger that has been hit with a hammer (or any other heavy object). Without any proper studies on the matter, I suppose I can’t poo-poo the idea. So whether vinegar actually reduces pain the caused by hitting your thumb with a hammer is still an open question. What about the other remedies this elixir is used for?

Can vinegar fix skin problems and infections?

Vinegar has been used to fight infections since Hippocrates, who lived between 460-377 BC. But that doesn’t mean it works. According to myth, vinegar, and particularly vinegar made from apples, is a natural bacteria-fighting agent that can kill off infections. In the world of evidence-based medicine vinegar doesn’t measure up so well. Unfortunately, a review of scientific studies on the benefits of vinegar published in 2006 found that vinegar is not an effective bacteria-fighting agent: not when you drink it, nor when you apply it directly to the infected area.

Studies have also shown that vinegar doesn’t eliminate lice, or treat fungus. So don’t try that either.
There is some scientific evidence that vinegar has antibacterial qualities when used for food preparation, but it did not prevent the growth of E-coli, Staphylococcus aureus, or other common bacteria. Plus researchers did not support using vinegar as a disinfectant despite its antibacterial qualities because chemical house cleaners were more effective.

Can it cure Heart Disease?

Vinegar is also claimed to prevent heart disease and lower blood pressure. This remedy might actually have some truth in it. When rats, bred to have high blood pressure, were fed vinegar, their systolic blood pressure significantly dropped when compared with the same breed of rats that were fed water instead.

Researchers thought that the drop in blood pressure was caused by vinegar reducing the amount of hormones in our blood that increase heart rate. But before you go chugging down the vinegar; there is no evidence, as yet, that vinegar ingestion alters blood pressure in humans.

What about Diabetes or Weight loss?

There have recent reports that suggest consuming small amounts of vinegar with a meal may reduce the amount of glucose your body produces after eating, and reduce insulin resistance. This can prevent diabetes.

There have also been small studies showing that vinegar increases our feeling of being full: making us feel more satisfied after a meal, and reducing subsequent hunger. But we don’t know why this happens, and it might just be because we have an acidic vinegar taste in our mouth, and don’t feel like eating.

Anti-cancer?

Drinking vinegar can reduce the growth of tumour cells in mice. In a Japanese study vinegar from sugar cane made human leukemia cells die in a process called apoptosis (where cells kill themselves). Traditional Japanese rice vinegar was also found to slow the reproduction and spread of human cancer cells in mice.

While this is an exciting area of research a lot remains unknown about why vinegar might be anti-cancerous.

What are the Side Effects of Vinegar?

From this little summary it might seem that it would be okay to guzzle down vinegar by the barrel. And whilst there are no major known side effects of drinking vinegar in moderation, there are also no studies on topic. Vinegars are acidic, and drinking acids, on a regular basis in general, can deteriorate enamel on our teeth.

This can make our teeth sensitive to temperature and give them a yellowish tinge.
While there are many myths surrounding the benefits of vinegar, western-based studies suggest that it has a few uses, but it’s best we don’t get carried away.

Vinegar might reduce our chances of getting heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

And it might make us feel fuller for longer, but if you’ve hit your finger with a hammer, you are better off grabbing something a little stronger than vinegar to reduce the pain.

How much vinegar should I be drinking?

• Two studies showed that drinking 20 mL of white vinegar as a salad dressing ingredient with a meal significantly reduced the speed that sugar was released in the body.

• Inflammation of the throat has been observed in a 39 year old leady who drank 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar, but her symptoms resolved after several days, without the need for any treatment.