What Happens When You Soak Ginger in Apple Cider Vinegar?
Below I have tried to tackle some of the questions that have popped up around using either apple cider vinegar (ACV) or ginger for overall health (including weight loss), by taking a closer look at the actual research that has been published in scientific journals.
Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar
Gut Flora
With respect to taking apple cider vinegar for improving gut flora, consistent results have mostly been found in people who suffer from digestive disorders, such as those with anemia, hypochlorhydria, autoimmune diseases or even the elderly.
Of course, filtered ACV won’t have the same enzymes and probiotics as ‘raw’ or ‘unfiltered’ ACV, so try to find ACV with ‘mother’ in it if you are aiming to improve your gut flora.
AVC also has amino acids and antioxidants which have numerous overall health benefits.
Your body creates 25 oz (700 ml) of gastric juices after each meal, of which hydrochloric acid is the dominant acid. Hydrochloric acid is a much stronger acid than the acetic acid found in ACV (which is usually between 2 – 5%). Therefore, taking a tablespoon or two of ACV before a meal won’t significantly influence the pH in your gut. However, adding vinegar directly to starchy food can actually neutralize the enzymes in your saliva which consequently reduces your blood glucose and insulin levels, but is unlikely to have an impact on the pH of your actual gut.
Blood Glucose Levels
This study has been referenced by many websites, however, there were only 12 people tested. These 12 people were subsequently divided into 4 groups, leaving 3 test subjects per group. A little sketchy, however the results still showed that even a small serve of vinegar was able to prevent a sharp spike in insulin and blood glucose levels up to 30 minutes after eating, but only after eating a high-glycemic meal with complex starches, and only when added to the meal itself.
Other studies show that acidic foods inhibit the proteins in your saliva which interrupts the glycemic process at the early stages in your mouth, but when acetic acid is added to simple sugars, it does NOT maintain blood glucose or insulin levels.
Fat Accumulation
This is true for obese mice who were given a high dose of vinegar, and when I say a high dose, it would be the equivalent of us drinking over half a cup of vinegar every day. Low doses of vinegar (the equivalent of 1 – 2 teaspoons per day) also showed a reduction in fat, triglycerides and body mass in obese humans, but the studies are limited and very small.
Health Benefits of Ginger
Ginger is a strong anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-mutagen.
Ginger also helps with digestive problems including ulcers and nausea.
Weight Loss
A systematic review based on 14 studies with a total of 473 people revealed that ginger can help with weight loss in a number of ways, but it depended on what was being measured.
On the positive side of things, the following parameters were found to significantly decrease in people who took ginger:
- Body weight
- Hip ratio
- Fasting glucose
- Insulin resistance
But on the other hand, ginger did NOT decrease triglyceride levels, body mass index, or “Bad” cholesterol levels.
Quite a few compounds can assist in weight loss, but the main one seems to be 6-shogaol. Shogaol is a created during the degradation of gingerol but it’s a relatively unstable chemical reaction which is dependent on temperature and pH. Luckily for this remedy, shogaol dominates the reaction in acidic solutions, so soaking ginger in ACV would definitely help to stabilize the reaction, but only as long as it is warmed above 99 °F (37 °C) since both gingerol and shogaol are only weakly soluble in cold water (and vinegar is on average around 95% water).
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Ginger & ACV Recipe
Ingredients:
- Fresh ginger root (organic if possible): 1 cup, sliced or grated
- Apple cider vinegar (preferably unfiltered): 2 cups
- Glass jar
Instructions:
- Wash and scrub the ginger root thoroughly to remove any dirt or debris. If the ginger is organic, you can leave the skin on; otherwise, you may peel it. Slice or grate the fresh ginger.
- Place it in a jar and cover the ginger with ACV (preferably unfiltered ACV, but today I am making-do with filtered ACV).
- Maintain the temperature of the jar anywhere between 99 – 122 °F (37 – 50 °C) for 2 hours. Today, I placed it on our wood stove.
- Strain the mixture using a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer.
- You can store it in the fridge for up to a year. Enjoy!
How to Use
This Ginger elixir can be used in small amounts to add flavor and health benefits to various dishes, such as salad dressings, marinades, and sauces.
It can also be taken as a dietary supplement. For this purpose, mix 1 to 2 teaspoons with a glass of water or your favorite beverage.
Some people find relief from digestive issues or nausea by taking a small amount directly (1/2 to 1 teaspoon) when needed.
The Bottom Line
From aiding digestion and alleviating nausea to easing pain and addressing various conditions, the potent ginger concentrate offers a powerful way to incorporate ginger’s advantages into your daily routine effectively. Embrace this natural elixir as a valuable addition to your holistic journey and enjoy the many perks it brings.
You said slice ONE CUP of ginger and then later you said put 1 TABLESPOON of ginger into the ACV. Which is it???
Hi Jennifer,
It’s one cup, thank you for noticing. We’ve corrected the article.
Many blessings and good health!
So recently you posted an article of ginger and tumeric etc (I think… ) anyway… I’ve been doing a ‘drink’ of 8oz of water, ginger juice about 1/4cup, 1 teaspon tumeric and 1/4teaspoon of black pepper finely ground. I’m losing weight for the first time in years. Its a miracle cure. LOL. I can’t wait to try this. I have ‘gut issues’ due to old injuries which has left scarring. I suppose I could do surgery… but who wants to spend 30-40K dollars when I can do this? much better solution !! THANK YOU !!! For the ginger juice I use organic ginger and run it through the juicer leaving the peels intact.
Hi Donna,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share this! It’s amazing to hear our articles are truly helping people.
Many blessings and good health!
You never addressed this:
Thinking acid reflux can go away on its own can ruin your gut.
So stop waiting, and take this daily instead:
Very click bait-ish of you.
Hi, I bought the physical book on lost remedies and it was posted to Ireland where I live. I was trying to buy The Holistic Guide to Wellness and it said cannot deliver to Ireland. Why is that please?
Hi Rosie,
Thank you for your interest in The Holistic Guide to Wellness!
We’re afraid that for the moment this book is available in digital form only for Europe. When we ship the physical copy to Europe, we will make sure to let you know.
Many blessings and good health!
can you make your recipes printable? They are not printer-friendly.
Thank you 🙏 I bought your book a while back and I love it! I just subscribed seeing your videos and pictures make it easier to put things together. I’m in zone 9b Texas . It would be nice to learn and identify plants here. I don’t want to pull out plants from my garden thinking they are weeds when they could be edible or medicinal.
Maybe you do have this info😁
Thanks 🙏 for sharing
I will try this ginger and apple cider