Rx: Vinegar fights diabetes and obesity

Thanks to new scientific studies on vinegar, this 2,000-year-old home remedy is back with a (sweet) vengeance. There are two main uses for white vinegar, which is really acetic acid.

First, white vinegar is a potent anti-fungal remedy. Second, preliminary studies show that vinegar can control blood sugar surges and reduce appetite, thus benefiting those with diabetes and obesity.

Moreover, vinegar has a long shelf life because of its acidic nature, and does not need refrigeration. People who can’t afford medical care may especially benefit from the ordinary and inexpensive white vinegar. Take note that the first five conditions are related to fungal infections.

• EAR INFECTION (SWIMMER’S EAR). Ear infection, called Swimmer’s Ear, is an itchy and painful infection of the outer ear. This usually occurs after swimming in dirty pools and beaches. As a home remedy, you can mix a diluted vinegar solution of one-half white vinegar and one-half clean water. Another option is to mix one-third vinegar, one-third rubbing alcohol, and one-third water. While turning your head sideways, place a few drops of this vinegar solution inside the ear. Let the vinegar stay for a minute or two before draining it out. Do this twice a day until the infection clears out. You may also apply this solution to the outer parts of the ear. Important warning: Do not do this if there is a chance that the eardrum is punctured. Consult your doctor.

• ATHLETE’S FOOT. Athlete’s foot is a flaky and scaly infection of the skin between the toes. Treatment consists of first washing the feet well with soap and water. Next, mix a cup of white vinegar and a cup of water in a basin. Soak your feet in this solution for 15 minutes, twice a day. Dry thoroughly afterwards. You may also wipe the feet with alcohol to kill any bacterial infection. Do this soaking technique for several days until the skin of your feet returns to normal.

• VAGINAL YEAST INFECTION. Symptoms of this common female infection include itchiness and a whitish discharge inside the vagina. Doctors usually prescribe an anti-fungal suppository for seven days. As a home remedy, a white vinegar douche using one tablespoon of white vinegar mixed in two glasses of warm water can also provide relief. You can use this solution as a douche inside the vagina twice a day until the burning and itching have stopped. You can also spray this solution to the external genital area. Once the infection clears out in a few days, you should stop douching because studies have shown that this can disturb the normal bacterial flora of the vagina. You can also eat a cup of yogurt every day to replenish the healthy lactobacillus in the body.

• WARTS. One home remedy for warts makes use of a cotton ball soaked in pure white vinegar. Tape the cotton ball with a band-aid over the wart overnight. Make sure that the cotton is fully soaked so that it will seep into the wart. Do this daily for two weeks or more. Slowly, the wart will swell and may become painful as it reacts with the vinegar. Then, it will turn black and will be gone in about two weeks. After the wart has fallen off, continue with the vinegar treatment for a few more days to make sure it doesn’t come back. Treatment of warts can take a long time. Wash your hands daily so as not to infect other parts of the body. But of course, you may also consult a dermatologist to treat your warts.

• DANDRUFF. Mix one cup warm water with one cup vinegar. After you have shampooed your hair, apply this solution to your scalp, massaging it near the hair roots. Let the vinegar solution stay for around 30 minutes before rinsing your hair. Do this once or twice a week until the dandruff clears out. If after a few weeks you still have dandruff, you can increase the vinegar content and lessen the water. The acetic acid of vinegar will help kill the fungus (called Malassezia furfur) that often causes dandruff and itchy scalp.

• DIABETES. A daily intake of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar (two teaspoons in a glass of water) may help control blood sugar levels. Dr. Carol Johnston from the Department of Nutrition at Arizona State University, has found that vinegar slows down the usual rise of blood sugar after a meal. In a study published in Diabetes Care in 2004, 29 people were given a high-carbohydrate breakfast meal. Two minutes before the meal, half of the subjects were given vinegar mixed with water, while the other half was given a placebo drink.

Results showed that the subjects given vinegar had a lesser increase in blood sugar after the meal. According to Dr. Johnston, “The acetic acid in vinegar may inhibit enzymes that digest starch so that carbohydrate molecules aren’t available for absorption and are eliminated as fecal matter.”

• WEIGHT LOSS. Researcher Elin Ostman, PhD, of Lund University asked a group of 12 healthy men and women to eat approximately three-and-a-half slices of bread with white vinegar. Aside from having a lower increase in blood sugar after the meal, the subjects also said they felt less hungry after eating.

In another study by Dr. Johnston, she tested whether vinegar might lower cholesterol levels in 30 men and women. She asked the subjects to take two tablespoons of vinegar with their food before lunch and dinner for four weeks. Although the results showed that vinegar did not lower cholesterol levels, Dr. Johnston was surprised to see an average two-pound weight loss in the subjects. Some even lost up to five pounds in four weeks.

The late Vermont country doctor, Dr. DC Jarvis, maintained that an overweight person could lose weight gradually by taking two teaspoons of vinegar in a glass of water before each meal. In our experience, it is more palatable to mix one or two teaspoons of white vinegar in a glass of water, with a little honey for taste.

Just a warning: Pure vinegar is very acidic. If not diluted with water or food, vinegar can damage tissues of the mouth and erode the teeth. Vinegar can also interact with certain medications such as diuretics, and increase risk of potassium loss. Don’t take too much if you’re hyperacidic.

The safest way to consume vinegar is to incorporate it in your diet, such as vinaigrette dressing for salads, balsamic vinegar and olive oil for bread, and as a seasoning for fish and rice. Don’t overdo it. A dose of one to two teaspoons (5-10 ml) with meals, once or twice a day, may be enough to decrease appetite and promote weight loss.

Good luck!