Vinegar is responsible for some amazing health benefits, but be careful in how you take it.

This video was originally published on NutritionFacts.org and republished with permission. NutritionFacts.org

 Condiments and flavor enhancers aren’t normally associated with great health. Take ranch dressing or barbecue sauce. Though many consider them tasty, few rational people would argue they are great for your health. However, there is a condiment out there that you likely already have in your pantry that can bestow some wonderful health benefits. Just be careful, because as wonderfully as vinegar helps heal the body, if taken incorrectly, can cause damage as well.

One of the main benefits of adding just two teaspoons of vinegar to a meal is that it has the ability to stifle blood sugar spikes by about 20%, according to research.  Obviously this is a boon to those suffering from type 2 diabetes or other blood sugar issues. So how does this effect come about? Researchers had several ideas, testing hypotheses like vinegar causes the stomach to empty into the bowels quicker or that it can nullify the effects of glucose, but these avenues became dead ends. The study that finally nailed it showed that when ingested, vinegar helps remove sugar from the blood faster and lowers insulin resistance, which is the cause of type 2 diabetes.

Despite the benefits of adding vinegar to your diet, there are some things about this wonderful substance to be aware of. Firstly, due to the fact that vinegar is indeed an acid, be careful not to drink it straight as it can burn the esophagus or cause third degree burns if left on the skin for too long. This burning quality has led some to believe it’s an effective cure for head lice as well, but not only is it ineffective but puts you in danger of having it drip into the eyes. So while it is definitive that vinegar helps heal the body, dosage and method are definitely to be taken into account. To play it safe, ingest no more than two tablespoons a day.