"Vinegar for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Treatment"
The use of vinegar for weight loss dates back to the 1700’s.
I did a whole chapter about it in my book How Not to Diet
entitled Amping AMPK, the fat- controller enzyme in the body,
which appears to be the mechanism behind the multitude
of beneficial metabolic effects.
In my 21 tweaks to accelerate weight loss I recommend 2 teaspoons
with every meal, which is considered safe,
though it should be added to food or diluted in water,
never consumed straight, and diabetics should make sure
the vinegar doesn’t make their blood sugars go too low.
But that’s one of the benefits of vinegar,
blunting the blood sugar and insulin spikes after a meal in both
healthy individuals and those with blood sugar disorders like diabetes.
In a systematic review and meta- analysis of interventional trials
of the effects of vinegar consumption
on blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes, vinegar improves
both short-term and longer-term measures of blood sugar control
and as like a little side bonus resulted in
a remarkable reduction in cholesterol to boot.
And it didn’t seem to matter whether it was apple cider vinegar or not.
All vinegar by definition has the active ingredient, acetic acid.
So, what are the implications for clinical practice?
Well, clinicians could incorporate vinegar consumption
as part of their dietary advice for patients with diabetes
with the caution that it can work a little too good
and so you have to monitor closely to make sure diabetic patients
aren’t overmedicated and bottom out their sugars.
In my video on water purification, I talked about this study
showing that the cheapest and best way to disinfect your toothbrush
so you don’t have to keep buying new ones maybe to soak it
for 10 minutes in 50% white vinegar and water.
So what about a vinegar sock soak for athlete’s foot or toenail fungus?
Foot soaks in half vinegar/half water can help antifungals work better,
but inconvenience of tub soaks limits compliance.
So, how about pouring vinegar and water on the toes of your socks
and then just like putting your feet up for a little while.
Not sure how that would be any more convenient,
but seemed to work in this clinician’s practice.
Instead of vinegar for just an athlete’s foot,
what about vinegar for the whole athlete?
“The Eﬀect of Vinegar Supplementation on
High-Intensity Cycling Performance.”
They randomized people to do 2 tablespoons of diluted vinegar,
or sugar, or both, or neither and the vinegar did nothing.
Is there anything else vinegar does help with?
The Intake of a Vinegar Beverage Is Associated
with Restoration of Ovulatory Function in Women
with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
For those of you unfamiliar, PCOS is a major cause
of irregular menstruation,
and since insulin resistance has been suggested to be
one of the causes of polycystic ovaries,
and we know vinegar can improve insulin resistance,
researchers decided to study the effect of vinegar by giving
seven patients seeking a non-pharmacological treatment
for PCOS, a beverage containing a tablespoon
of apple cider vinegar daily for a few months.
The insulin resistance did improve in most,
but did their cycles return?
Yes, in 4 out of 7.
Before the study they were either only having their period
every 50 days or so or none at all or just not ovulating,
but most resumed within 40 days on the vinegar.
Now, this doesn’t prove anything, but it’s at least sufficient
to indicate the possibility that it may help.
And what’s the downside?
A tablespoon of vinegar would cost less than 10 cents a day.
Just remember, never drink vinegar straight, as it can cause
second degree caustic burns down your throat.