Apple cider vinegar
Encyclopedia
Apple cider vinegar, otherwise known as cider vinegar or ACV, is a type of vinegar
made from cider
or apple
must
and has a pale to medium amber
color. Unpasteurized
or organic
ACV contains mother of vinegar
, which has a cobweb-like appearance and can make the vinegar look slightly congealed.
ACV is used in salad dressings, marinades, vinaigrettes, food preservatives, and chutney
s, among other things. It is made by crushing apple
s and squeezing out the liquid. Bacteria and Yeast
are added to the liquid to start the alcoholic fermentation
process, and the sugar
s are turned into alcohol
. In a second fermentation process, the alcohol is converted into vinegar by acetic acid-forming bacteria (acetobacter
). Acetic acid and malic acid give vinegar its sour taste.
(the active component in ACV), upregulates the expression of genes for fatty acid oxidation enzymes in the liver causing a suppression in body fat accumulation.
In a double-blind experiment, obese Japanese were assigned to three different groups based on similar body weights, body mass index
es (BMI), and waist circumference. Each group drank a 500 ml drink containing either 30 ml, 15 ml, or 0 ml of vinegar daily for 12 weeks. Those in the 30 ml and 15 ml groups had lower BMI, visceral fat area, waist circumference, serum
triglyceride
, and body weight than the control group of 0 ml. The 12-week weight losses were modest: 1.2 kg in the 15 ml group and 1.7 kg in the 30 ml group. These two groups consumed fewer calories than the control group, so the effect may have been due to an impact on appetite. It was concluded that consumption of vinegar might reduce obesity.
Apple cider vinegar tablets can also be taken, although there is much evidence against there being value in taking the tablet version, as ACV pills are not well regulated, and may vary dramatically in terms of vinegar content from brand to brand.
can lower potassium
levels in the body as well as reduce bone density
(osteoporosis); excessive intake of Cider Vinegar has been described to cause hypokalemia
, hyperreninemia, and osteoporosis
. It is suggested that people who have diabetes should talk to their doctors before using ACV. ACV is highly acidic; in one recorded instance, a woman received esophageal burns after an ACV pill got caught in her throat.
Vinegar
Vinegar is a liquid substance consisting mainly of acetic acid and water, the acetic acid being produced through the fermentation of ethanol by acetic acid bacteria. Commercial vinegar is produced either by fast or slow fermentation processes. Slow methods generally are used with traditional...
made from cider
Cider
Cider or cyder is a fermented alcoholic beverage made from apple juice. Cider varies in alcohol content from 2% abv to 8.5% abv or more in traditional English ciders. In some regions, such as Germany and America, cider may be termed "apple wine"...
or apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
must
Must
Must is freshly pressed fruit juice that contains the skins, seeds, and stems of the fruit. The solid portion of the must is called pomace; it typically makes up 7%–23% of the total weight of the must. Making must is the first step in winemaking...
and has a pale to medium amber
Amber (color)
Amber is an orange-yellow color that got its name from the material known as amber. Due to this, amber can refer not to one but to a series of shades of orange, since the natural material varies from nearly yellow when newer to orange or reddish-orange when older.-Amber:Amber is a pure chroma color...
color. Unpasteurized
Pasteurization
Pasteurization is a process of heating a food, usually liquid, to a specific temperature for a definite length of time, and then cooling it immediately. This process slows microbial growth in food...
or organic
Organic farming
Organic farming is the form of agriculture that relies on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and control pests on a farm...
ACV contains mother of vinegar
Mother of vinegar
Mother of vinegar - also called Mycoderma aceti Mother of vinegar - also called Mycoderma aceti Mother of vinegar - also called Mycoderma aceti (a New Latin expression, from the Greek μὑκης (fungus) plus δἐρμα (skin), and the Latin aceti (of the acid) - is a substance composed of a form of...
, which has a cobweb-like appearance and can make the vinegar look slightly congealed.
ACV is used in salad dressings, marinades, vinaigrettes, food preservatives, and chutney
Chutney
Chutney is a a condiment used in South Asian cuisine that usually contains a spice and vegetable mix.Chutneys are wet or dry, having a coarse to fine texture. The Anglo-Indian loan word refers to fresh and pickled preparations indiscriminately, with preserves often sweetened. At least several...
s, among other things. It is made by crushing apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
s and squeezing out the liquid. Bacteria and Yeast
Yeast
Yeasts are eukaryotic micro-organisms classified in the kingdom Fungi, with 1,500 species currently described estimated to be only 1% of all fungal species. Most reproduce asexually by mitosis, and many do so by an asymmetric division process called budding...
are added to the liquid to start the alcoholic fermentation
Fermentation (food)
Fermentation in food processing typically is the conversion of carbohydrates to alcohols and carbon dioxide or organic acids using yeasts, bacteria, or a combination thereof, under anaerobic conditions. Fermentation in simple terms is the chemical conversion of sugars into ethanol...
process, and the sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
s are turned into alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
. In a second fermentation process, the alcohol is converted into vinegar by acetic acid-forming bacteria (acetobacter
Acetobacter
Acetobacter is a genus of acetic acid bacteria characterized by the ability to convert ethanol to acetic acid in the presence of oxygen. There are several species within this genus, and there are other bacteria capable of forming acetic acid under various conditions; but all of the Acetobacter are...
). Acetic acid and malic acid give vinegar its sour taste.
Weight loss
Vinegar (and other acidic liquids) have long been proposed as agents to enable weight loss, one proposed mechanism is that it prolongs the sensation of satiety after eating. A 2009 study on mice showed that consuming acetic acidAcetic acid
Acetic acid is an organic compound with the chemical formula CH3CO2H . It is a colourless liquid that when undiluted is also called glacial acetic acid. Acetic acid is the main component of vinegar , and has a distinctive sour taste and pungent smell...
(the active component in ACV), upregulates the expression of genes for fatty acid oxidation enzymes in the liver causing a suppression in body fat accumulation.
In a double-blind experiment, obese Japanese were assigned to three different groups based on similar body weights, body mass index
Body mass index
The body mass index , or Quetelet index, is a heuristic proxy for human body fat based on an individual's weight and height. BMI does not actually measure the percentage of body fat. It was invented between 1830 and 1850 by the Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet during the course of developing...
es (BMI), and waist circumference. Each group drank a 500 ml drink containing either 30 ml, 15 ml, or 0 ml of vinegar daily for 12 weeks. Those in the 30 ml and 15 ml groups had lower BMI, visceral fat area, waist circumference, serum
Serum
Serum may refer to:*Blood serum, a component of blood which is collected after coagulation.**Antiserum, blood serum with specific antibodies for passive immunity*Serous fluid, any clear bodily fluid*any drug derived from an animal's blood or serous fluid...
triglyceride
Triglyceride
A triglyceride is an ester derived from glycerol and three fatty acids. There are many triglycerides, depending on the oil source, some are highly unsaturated, some less so....
, and body weight than the control group of 0 ml. The 12-week weight losses were modest: 1.2 kg in the 15 ml group and 1.7 kg in the 30 ml group. These two groups consumed fewer calories than the control group, so the effect may have been due to an impact on appetite. It was concluded that consumption of vinegar might reduce obesity.
Apple cider vinegar tablets can also be taken, although there is much evidence against there being value in taking the tablet version, as ACV pills are not well regulated, and may vary dramatically in terms of vinegar content from brand to brand.
Health risks
Long-term, high dosage intake of any acetic acidAcetic acid
Acetic acid is an organic compound with the chemical formula CH3CO2H . It is a colourless liquid that when undiluted is also called glacial acetic acid. Acetic acid is the main component of vinegar , and has a distinctive sour taste and pungent smell...
can lower potassium
Potassium
Potassium is the chemical element with the symbol K and atomic number 19. Elemental potassium is a soft silvery-white alkali metal that oxidizes rapidly in air and is very reactive with water, generating sufficient heat to ignite the hydrogen emitted in the reaction.Potassium and sodium are...
levels in the body as well as reduce bone density
Bone density
Bone density is a medical term normally referring to the amount of mineral matter per square centimeter of bones. Bone density is used in clinical medicine as an indirect indicator of osteoporosis and fracture risk.This medical bone density is not the true physical "density" of the bone, which...
(osteoporosis); excessive intake of Cider Vinegar has been described to cause hypokalemia
Hypokalemia
Hypokalemia or hypokalaemia , also hypopotassemia or hypopotassaemia , refers to the condition in which the concentration of potassium in the blood is low...
, hyperreninemia, and osteoporosis
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease of bones that leads to an increased risk of fracture. In osteoporosis the bone mineral density is reduced, bone microarchitecture is deteriorating, and the amount and variety of proteins in bone is altered...
. It is suggested that people who have diabetes should talk to their doctors before using ACV. ACV is highly acidic; in one recorded instance, a woman received esophageal burns after an ACV pill got caught in her throat.
See also
- Food additiveFood additiveFood additives are substances added to food to preserve flavor or enhance its taste and appearance.Some additives have been used for centuries; for example, preserving food by pickling , salting, as with bacon, preserving sweets or using sulfur dioxide as in some wines...
- Acetic acidAcetic acidAcetic acid is an organic compound with the chemical formula CH3CO2H . It is a colourless liquid that when undiluted is also called glacial acetic acid. Acetic acid is the main component of vinegar , and has a distinctive sour taste and pungent smell...
- Mother of vinegarMother of vinegarMother of vinegar - also called Mycoderma aceti Mother of vinegar - also called Mycoderma aceti Mother of vinegar - also called Mycoderma aceti (a New Latin expression, from the Greek μὑκης (fungus) plus δἐρμα (skin), and the Latin aceti (of the acid) - is a substance composed of a form of...
- United States v. Ninety-Five Barrels Alleged Apple Cider VinegarUnited States v. Ninety-Five Barrels Alleged Apple Cider VinegarUnited States v. Ninety-Five Barrels Alleged Apple Cider Vinegar, 265 U.S. 438 , was a case in which the Supreme Court of the United States held that apple cider vinegar is mislabeled when that vinegar is made from dried apples. The label at issue indicated that the vinegar was made from "selected"...