Apple cider vinegar


Apple cider vinegar, or cider vinegar, is a vinegar made from fermented apple juice, and used in salad dressings, marinades, vinaigrettes, food preservatives, and chutneys. It is made by crushing apples, then squeezing out the juice. Bacteria and yeast are added to the liquid to start the alcoholic fermentation process, which converts the sugars to alcohol. In a second fermentation step, the alcohol is converted into vinegar by acetic acid-forming bacteria. Acetic acid and malic acid combine to give vinegar its sour taste. Apple cider vinegar has no medicinal or nutritional value. There is no high-quality clinical evidence that regular consumption of apple cider vinegar helps to maintain or lose body weight, or is effective to manage blood glucose and lipid levels.

Nutrition

Apple cider vinegar is 94% water, with 1% carbohydrates and no fat or protein. In a 100 gram reference amount, it provides 22 calories, with negligible content of micronutrients.

Processing

Commercial

Apples are brought onto a processing belt where they are crushed, pressed, and the juice separated. The material is most often stored in a submerged tank where the first fermentation process begins through which oxygen is supplied. To achieve alcoholic fermentation via the bacterial strain acetobacter, then the ethanol produced yields acetic acid and vinegar. The "mother" is an undefined microbial culture left in the vinegar prior to distilling and pasteurization.

Folk medicine

Despite its history of use in traditional medicine, there is no clinical evidence to support any health claims - such as for weight loss or skin infections - and its use is not recommended for any indication in medical guidelines of major public health organizations or regulatory agencies.

Safety concerns

Although oral use of small quantities of apple cider vinegar is considered safe, ingestion of apple cider vinegar in tablet form poses a risk of injury to soft tissues of the mouth, throat, stomach, and kidneys. Irritation and redness are common when the eyes come into contact with vinegar, and corneal injury can occur. Using vinegar as a topical medication, ear cleaning solution, or eye wash, is hazardous. Due to its acidity, exposure of teeth from consuming undiluted apple cider vinegar may damage tooth enamel. Although small amounts of apple cider vinegar may be used as a food flavoring, it may be unsafe for use by pregnant and breastfeeding women and by children. Different commercial brands of apple cider vinegar were found to have inconsistent acid levels, with some contaminated by molds and yeast.
If used as a homemade cleaning agent, apple cider vinegar should not be mixed with chlorine bleach, the combination of which may release chlorine gas and irritate airways, eyes, nose and throat.

Adverse reactions

People with allergies to apples may experience adverse reactions to apple cider vinegar. Topical use of apple cider vinegar to treat skin diseases may cause burns. The use of apple cider vinegar may cause interactions with prescription drugs, such as insulin or diuretics.