Vinegar benefits and facts

Vinegar is a sour liquid which is prepared by fermenting alcoholic liquids, and it mainly consists of acetic acid and water. The name ‘vinegar’ comes from the French words “vin” and “aigre”, which means sour wine. It was mainly produced from apples, which is why it was popularly known as apple cider vinegar, but since then it has been produced from beer, sugarcane, rice, malt, coconut, palm, dates, raisin, honey, and kiwi. The acidic content of vinegar makes it an ideal ingredient for cooking and for household purposes. It has also been used as a health tonic and has a variety of medical benefits. As a condiment and flavoring agent, it is used in pickles, vinaigrettes, marinades, sauces, and many other things and food items. Vinegar is an alcoholic liquid that has been allowed to sour. It is primarily used to flavor and preserve foods and as an ingredient in salad dressings and marinades. Vinegar is also used as a cleaning agent.

Commercial vinegar is produced either by a fast or a slow fermentation process. In general, slow methods are used in traditional vinegars where fermentation proceeds slowly over the course of a few months or up to a year. The longer fermentation period allows for the buildup of a non-toxic slime composed of acetic acid bacteria. Fast methods add mother of vinegar (bacterial culture) to the source liquid before adding air to oxygenate and promote the fastest fermentation. In fast production processes, vinegar may be produced between 20 hours to three days.

History

Vinegar has been produced and sold for thousands of years, dating back to before the 6th century. Vinegars flavored with fruit, honey, and malt was popular among the Babylonians, while Hippocrates used vinegar to manage wounds. In 10th century China, some used vinegar to clean hands and prevent infections while in the early US vinegar was used to treat fever, poison ivy, croup, edema, and much more.

Today we know that vinegar, which is traditionally made through a long fermentation process, is rich in bioactive components like acetic acid, gallic acid, catechin, epicatechin, caffeic acid, and more, giving it potent antioxidant, antimicrobial, and many other beneficial properties.

Vinegar remains popular around the globe for pickling fruits and vegetables, and it’s also commonly added to condiments and other food dishes for flavor. That being said, vinegar is developing as a functional food that not only adds interest to your meals… it may also significantly benefit your health.

Types of Vinegar

Here’s everything you need to know about some of the most common cooking vinegars:

1. Red Wine Vinegar

Red wine vinegar, as the name suggests, is made from red wine that is allowed to ferment. It’s one of the more popular vinegars with its sharp taste, making it great for vinaigrettes and salad dressings. It’s also great for meat marinades.

2. Balsamic Vinegar

Balsamic vinegar is dark brown vinegar, traditionally made in Italy from unfiltered, unfermented grape juice. Unlike all other vinegar, it is not made from fermented alcohol. It’s made from pressed grapes and is aged like wine. It can run the range from cheap to very expensive depending on the age — the older the vinegar, the sweeter and more syrupy.

3. Distilled White Vinegar

Distilled or white vinegar is the most commonly used in commercial production for making pickles, ketchup and bottled salad dressings, among other products. The vinegar is made from distilled alcohol that is fermented. White vinegar is very strong and besides for cooking, it can be used for cleaning.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is made from pressed apples that are allowed to ferment to become alcohol and then vinegar. It has a mellow flavor that’s great in recipes. Unfiltered apple cider vinegar is known to have many medicinal properties, like eliminating GI distress.

5. White Wine Vinegar

White wine vinegar is made from white wine and is mellower than red wine vinegar and can be used interchangeably in recipes, depending on the flavor you desire. It’s preferred for recipes where you don’t want to change the color.

6. Champagne Vinegar

Champagne vinegar is made from Champagne and has a lighter, fresher taste than other wine vinegars. It’s best for vinaigrettes and salad dressings, more so than cooking.

7. Sherry Vinegar

Sherry vinegar is made from sherry (a fortified wine) in Spain. It’s aged for at least six months in oak barrels before being bottled. Sherry vinegar has one of the most complex flavors of all the wine vinegars. It works well for vinaigrette as well as for cooking.

8. Rice Vinegar

Rice vinegar is most commonly produced in China and Japan from rice wine that’s allowed to ferment. It has a sweeter taste than wine vinegars and is less harsh than distilled vinegar. Use it in Asian salad dressings and stir-fries.

9. Malt Vinegar

Malt vinegar is light brown vinegar made from barley that is brewed into beer and then allowed to ferment and age briefly. It has a mellow flavor. It’s popular in England, where it’s used as a condiment for fish and chips.

Health Benefits of Vinegar

Vinegar not only tastes great on chips, dresses up a salad and makes glassware sparkle, but it is also a storehouse of important vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids and enzymes and has a host of amazing healing powers. This age-old ‘sour wine’ offers many benefits. Here are some of the health benefits of taking vinegar frequently.

1. Regulates Blood Glucose Levels

Vinegar is quite helpful for diabetics. Research was conducted on type 2 diabetic subjects. The research revealed that it had a stimulating effect on insulin in diabetics and in case of insulin-resistant people; it helped in raising insulin sensitivity. Taking 2 teaspoons of vinegar before going to bed can improve the condition of type 2 diabetes patients.

2. Improves Gut Health

Vinegar can improve the condition of your digestive tract by promoting the growth of good bacteria. It can become a natural and safe source to destroy bad bacteria preventing you from indigestion. Regular consumption of the vinegar can help enhance your immunity through proper digestion and nutrients absorption. Nutritionists suggest consuming only organic raw apple cider vinegar to maintaining the health of your gut.

3. Improves Heart Health

Vinegar is quite helpful in reducing hypertension and renin activity. Research on vinegar’s effect on blood pressure showed that using it for long durations helps in controlling hypertension due to the presence of acetic acid in it and thus improves the heart health. It also helps in reducing the risk of strokes or heart attacks.

4. Reduces Cholesterol Levels

Research has concluded that buildup of cholesterol contributes to hardening and constricting of your arteries that may affect blood flow. The condition then results in various cardiovascular problems such as stroke or heart attack. You can relieve the cholesterol buildup via apple cider vinegar. However, refrain from overdose and consume it in small quantity only after consulting with your cardiologist.

5. Weight Loss

Vinegar is quite helpful to lose weight, as it appears to have an anti-obesity effect by increasing satiety and reducing the total amount of food consumed. For instance, when volunteers consumed two tablespoons of red raspberry vinegar daily for four weeks they lost weight, while those who consumed the same amount of cranberry juice gained it.

Further, in separate research, people who consumed a small amount of vinegar along with a high-carb meal (a bagel and juice) consumed less food for the remainder of the day. Reduction equated to about 200 to 275 calories a day – an amount that would result in a monthly weight loss of up to 1.5 pounds.

6. Fights Cancer

Research on the effects of vinegar on human cancer cells was conducted. It showed that vinegar from unpolished rice, when administered to various human cancer cells ranging from the colon, lung, breast, bladder, and prostate, controlled the growth of the cancer cells. The inhibition depended on doses for each type of cancers.

7. Decreases Food Allergies

Vinegar can also be used as an additive in certain foods that some people are allergic to. Tests on foods such as eggs, chicken, and lentils mixed with small quantities of vinegar were conducted. Food extracts with vinegar were tested on people suffering from anaphylactic food allergies. Sample tests on the skin showed reduced signs of allergic reactions compared to food extracts without it. However, a doctor’s advice is recommended in such cases, as food allergies could sometimes be deadly if treatment is not given in time.

8. UTI & Kidney Stones

Taking two tablespoons of it every day can help reduce high alkalinity in the blood. Alkalinity is increased by regular metabolism, which has to be balanced by an acid, thus making it a good choice for treating kidney stones and preventing urinary tract infections (UTI).

9. Alzheimer’s disease

By reducing the amyloid formation in the brain promoting the production of protein, vinegar helps improve the cognitive function, boosts brain health, and prevents Alzheimer’s disease.

10. Reduce Acidity

Although vinegar consists of high levels of acetic acid, taking as little as 2 teaspoons a day may help to balance your body’s pH and has an alkalizing effect. Taking vinegar helps to reduce acidity and alkalize the body, which may help improve illnesses such as gout, arthritis, allergic reactions and headache pain according to the National Standard. However, these effects of vinegar have not yet been confirmed by medical research.

11. Arthritis and Varicose Veins

Rubbing a mixture of vinegar and water onto your hands and veins with a cotton ball can help decrease inflammation in your joints. When working on varicose veins, massage in upwards towards your heart twice a day.

If you have arthritis in your feet or toes, you can soak your feet in water mixed with vinegar. And, you can also take vinegar for swollen veins and joins internally by adding a few tablespoons into a few glasses of water each day. When you drink it, the vinegar will help to decrease the pressure on your joints from inside.

12. Asthma, Hay fever, and Allergies

Vinegar can help reduce the wheezing associated with asthma attacks, as well as the sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes from hay fever. It’s important to consult a doctor to make sure you have the suitable asthma treatment, and talk to him or her about using natural remedies like vinegar as a cure.

To treat the wheezing, add one tablespoon of vinegar to a glass of water and sip on it over the course of 30 minutes, then rest for 30 minutes, and drink another glass of water for another 30 minutes. By this point the wheezing should be nearly gone, but you could use another glass of vinegar water. Hay fever and allergies can be treated with a concoction of two teaspoons of vinegar added to a glass of water, taken three times a day.

13. Skin, Hair, Nails, and Teeth

Vinegar is excellent for helping to treat eczema and shingles, as well as acne breakouts. If you suffer from eczema, it’s also important to avoid salt and to make sure you are getting plenty of potassium. You can rub vinegar on the affected areas with a cotton ball as well.

If your nails are brittle or cracking, or if your hair has started to fall out, it might indicate a nutrient deficiency, and vinegar can help to balance the deficiency. It could take a few months for hair and nails to cure them, so you have to give the vinegar time to work. You can add vinegar to a bathtub of warm water to help ease sunburns.

If you suffer from dandruff, you can try applying a mix of water and vinegar to your scalp and allowing it to soak in before rinsing. Some people just let it dry that way, but it is hard to walk around all day smelling like vinegar.

Vinegar can help whiten your teeth, reduce tartar buildup, prevent tooth decay, reduce gum inflammation, and improve the strength of your teeth.

14. Natural Cough Syrup and Sinus Relief

Vinegar works as a natural cough and cold remedy. If you are suffering from colitis, coughs, hiccups, mucous buildup, migraine headaches, stuffy nose, runny nose, sinus congestion or pain, ear infections, or sore throat, you can use apple cider vinegar mixed with water as a tonic, as well as a gargle to help improve postnasal drip and sore throats. The same treatment will also help if you develop heartburn after a meal- take a drink of vinegar water once you start to feel heartburn and then for a few days before meals.

Even some of the more serious “everyday” illnesses can be cured with vinegar. A benefit of vinegar is that it helps the blood clot properly; you can stop a nosebleed, hemorrhages, and menstrual cramps by drinking some vinegar drink. Diarrhea can also be prevented and stopped because vinegar helps the body to better digest and assimilate the food you are eating. If you develop food poisoning, one thing that might help is to try drinking vinegar water. Vinegar works like an antiseptic and can interfere with the bacteria that cause food poisoning.

Other Benefits of Vinegar

Below are mentioned some of the other benefits.

Treats Jellyfish Stings

Box jellyfish are regarded as one of the most poisonous creatures on the planet. The tentacles of this creature contain venomous glands, which are activated by the slightest touch and inject one of the worst venoms that nature has ever synthesized. One of the first methods of treating this venom is with vinegar. It breaks down the venom into harmless proteins.

Natural Cleaning Agent

White vinegar is inexpensive, natural and non-toxic, and can be used instead of just about any commercial cleaning product. For example, you can mix solution of white vinegar and water to wipe down your refrigerator shelves and door. You can use it instead of rinse aid in a dishwasher. You can use it instead of disinfectant spray. And you can use it to clean and kill germs in the bathroom sink and bathtub (fully concentrated).

As A Marinade

One of the best vinegars to use in marinade sauces is red wine vinegar, because of its taste. Soaking meat in red wine vinegar adds flavor and tenderizes it. You can add olive oil, lemon juice and herbs to the vinegar for a delicious marinade, and then barbecue or grill the meat or vegetables you have marinated.

Salad Dressing

This one is predictable, but it really is one of the best salad dressing options because of the taste. Balsamic vinegar works particularly well alongside olive oil, salt and pepper for a tasty, healthy dressing. It can also be used with olive oil as a bread dip.

For Pickling

This classic fish and chips dressing actually makes a fantastic base for pickling vegetables and nuts as well. It is mainly popular when pickling walnuts, and can be combined with sugar and garlic powder for an enhanced taste. This vinegar has more of a lemon taste than cider vinegar, which is tangier.

Carpet stains removal

Mixture of 1 teaspoon of liquid detergent and 1 teaspoon of white distilled vinegar in a pint of lukewarm water will remove non-oily stains from carpets. Apply it to the stain with a soft brush or towel and rub gently. Rinse with a towel moistened with clean water and blot dry. Repeat this procedure until the stain is gone. Then dry quickly, using a fan or hair dryer. This should be done as soon as the stain is discovered.

Streak less windows

Window cleaning with vinegar will make your windows gleam and will not leave the usual film or streaks on the glass. Mix equal parts of white distilled vinegar and warm water. Dry with a soft cloth.

Washing woodwork

You can ease the job of washing painted walls, woodwork and Venetian blinds by using a mixture of 1 cup ammonia, ½ cup white distilled vinegar and ¼ cup baking soda with 1 gallon of warm water. Wipe this solution over walls or blinds with a sponge or cloth and rinse with clear water. Dirt and grime comes off easily and the solution will not dull the painted finish or leave streaks.

Water or alcohol marks on wood

Stubborn rings from wet glasses being placed on wood furniture may be removed by rubbing with a mixture of equal parts of white distilled vinegar and olive oil. Rub with the grain and polish for the best results.

Garbage disposal cleaner

Garbage disposal cleaning with vinegar cubes keeps disposals clean and odor free. Vinegar cubes are made by filling an ice tray with a mixture of 1 cup of vinegar and enough water to fill the ice tray and then freezing it. Run the mixture through the disposal, and then flush it with cold water for a minute or so.

Coffee maker cleaner (automatic)

White distilled vinegar can help to dissolve mineral deposits that collect in automatic drip coffee makers from hard water. Fill the reservoir with white distilled vinegar and run it through a brewing cycle. Rinse thoroughly with water when the cycle is finished.

Clean the microwave

Boil a solution of 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar and 1 cup of water in the microwave. Will loosen splashed on food and deodorize.

Deodorize the kitchen drain

Pour a cup of white distilled vinegar down the drain once a week. Let stand 30 minutes and then flush with cold water.

Clean the refrigerator

Wash with a solution of equal parts water and white distilled vinegar.

Clean and disinfect wood cutting boards

Wipe with full strength white distilled vinegar.

Brass polish

Cleaning with vinegar helps your brass, copper and pewter to shine. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of white distilled vinegar and stir in flour until it becomes a paste. Apply paste to the metals and let it stand for about 15 minutes. Rinse with clean warm water and polish until dry.

Ant deterrent

Ant invasions can sometimes be deterred by washing counter tops, cabinets and floors with white distilled vinegar.

Cleaning Stainless Steel Appliances

Cleaning with vinegar makes it easier to remove lines from stainless steel appliances. Apply vinegar with a soft cloth. Try in an inconspicuous place first.

Cleaner Dishes and Glasses

Pour 1 ½ cup to 2 cups white distilled vinegar in the bottom of dishwasher, along with regular dishwasher soap. Wash full cycle.

Remove Refrigerator Smells

Place 1 cup apple cider vinegar in a glass and set in refrigerator. Within 2 days, any smell is gone!

Bathtub film

Bathtub film can be removed by wiping with white distilled vinegar and then with soda. Rinse clean with water.

Shower doors

Rub down shower doors with a sponge soaked in white distilled vinegar to remove soap residue.

Toilet bowl cleaner

Persistent stains can be removed from the toilet by cleaning with white distilled vinegar and brushing vigorously. The bowl may be freshened by adding 3 cups of white distilled vinegar. Allow it to remain for a half hour, then flush.

Unclog the showerhead

Corrosion may be removed from showerheads or spouts by soaking them in white distilled vinegar overnight. This may be easily accomplished by saturating a terry cloth towel in vinegar and wrapping it around the showerhead or faucet.

Lawn/Garden

Kill grass

As an alternative to the classic string trimmer approach, you can actually use vinegar to kill grass on sidewalks and driveways, pour full strength white distilled vinegar on it.

Kill weeds

Spray white distilled vinegar full strength on tops of weeds. Reapply on any new growth until plants have starved.

Increase soil acidity

In hard water areas, add a cup of vinegar to a gallon of tap water for watering acid loving plants like rhododendrons, gardenias or azaleas. The vinegar will release iron in the soil for the plants to use.

Neutralize garden lime

Rinse your hands generously with white distilled vinegar after working with garden lime to avoid rough and flaking skin. Clean pots before repotting, rinse with vinegar to remove excess lime.

Keep Flowers Longer

Keep flowers fresh longer. Add 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons white vinegar in a 1-quart vase of water. Trim stems and change water every five days.

Plant Nutrients

Mix vinegar and water in a ratio of 1:8. Mix a separate solution of sugar and water in a mixture of 1:8. Combine the vinegar and sugar mixtures. Add to plant as long as needed.

Pets

Pest fighter

Teaspoon of white distilled vinegar for each quart bowl of drinking water helps keep your pet free of fleas and ticks. The ratio of one teaspoon to one quart is for a forty-pound animal.

Pet accident

Test the color fastness of the carpet with white distilled vinegar in an inconspicuous place. Then sprinkle distilled vinegar over the fresh pet accident. Wait a few minutes and sponge from the center outward. Blot up with a dry cloth. This process may need to be repeated for stubborn stains.

Get Rid of Odor on a Smelly Dog

Wet the dog down with fresh water. Use a mixture of 1 cup white distilled vinegar and 2 gallons water. Saturate the dog’s coat with this solution. Dry the dog off without rinsing the solution. The smell will be gone!

Miscellaneous

Bumper stickers

To remove bumper sticker residue, try cleaning with vinegar. Wipe the surface frequently with white distilled vinegar until it is soaked. In a few minutes, it should peel off easily. Test on a small invisible area of the car to ensure there will be no damage to the paint.

Frosted windows

For those rare winter mornings when there is frost on the car, wipe the windows the night before with a solution of one part water to three parts white distilled vinegar. They won’t frost over.

Furniture

Mix olive oil and vinegar in a one-to-one ratio and polish with a soft cloth. Try in an inconspicuous place first.

Cleaning Leather Shoes

Make a solution of one part water to one part white vinegar, and use it sparingly on the shoes. Dip a cloth into the solution, and dab it over the salt-streaked parts of your shoes.

May have to repeat the cleaning a few times before all the salt is removed. Salt actually can damage leather, so it’s best to clean shoes as quickly as possible. Don’t let the salt stains build up.

Worn DVDs

If you have a worn DVD that has begun to stick or suffers from the occasional freeze-frame, wipe it down with white distilled vinegar applied to a soft cloth. Ensure the DVD is completely dry before re-inserting in the DVD player.

Wine stains

Spots caused by wine can be removed from 100 percent cotton, cotton polyester and permanent press fabrics if done so within 24 hours. To do it, sponge white distilled vinegar directly onto the stain and rub away the spots. Then clean according to the directions on the manufacturer’s care tag.

Freshen baby clothes

Addition of 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to each load of baby clothes during the rinse cycle will naturally break down uric acid and soapy residue leaving the clothes soft and fresh.

Clothes washing magic

Clothes will rinse better if 1 cup of white distilled vinegar is added to the last rinse water. The acid in vinegar is too mild to harm fabrics, but strong enough to dissolve the alkalies in soaps and detergents.

Blanket renewal

Cotton and wool blankets become soft, cottony and free of soap odor if 2 cups of white distilled vinegar are added to the rinse cycle of the wash.

Deodorant stains

Deodorant and antiperspirant stains may be removed from clothing by lightly rubbing with white distilled vinegar and laundering as usual.

Keeping colors fast

To hold colors in fabrics, which tend to run, soak them for a few minutes in white distilled vinegar before washing.

Leather cleaning

Leather articles can be cleaned with a mixture of white distilled vinegar and linseed oil. Rub the mixture into the leather and then polish with a soft cloth.

Setting colors

When you are color dyeing, add about a cupful of white distilled vinegar to the last rinse water to help set the color.

Shower curtains

Add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to the rinse water when you launder your shower curtain. Do not spin dry or wash out. Just hang immediately to dry.

Unclog steam iron

Pour equal amounts of white distilled vinegar and water into the iron’s water chamber. Turn to steam and leave the iron on for 5 minutes in an upright position. Then unplug and allow cooling. Any loose particles should come out when you empty the water.

Cleaning Vintage Lace

Soak the lace in cold water, rinsing it several times. Next, hand-wash the lace gently with a wool detergent, such as Woolite. If rust spots are a problem, try removing them with a mixture of white vinegar and hot water.

Traditional uses and benefits of Vinegar

• It inhibits the growth of Cancer cells including colon, lung, breast, bladder and Prostate cancer.
• It prevents the growth of Leukemia cells.
• Anti-diabetic property helps in controlling blood sugar level in diabetic people.
• It helps in maintaining heart health, brain health and weight loss.
• It increases satiety and helps in reducing weight.
• Vinegar also has anti-cancer properties and shows promise for helping with heart health, brain health, and weight loss.

Ayurvedic Health benefits of Vinegar

• Cystorrhea: Add one tbsp vinegar in one cup of water. Add sugar to taste. Take two tbsp two times a day.
• Frizzy Hair: Wash hair with vinegar once in a week.
• Excess sweating: Dip cotton in Apple cider vinegar or white Vinegar. Rub underarms with it.
• Mosquito Bite: Apply vinegar directly on the bump formed by mosquito bite. OR Add 3 tsp of vinegar in a bucket of water. Take bath with it.
• Small Pox: Take sponge bath by adding 3 tbsp of Apple cider vinegar in ½ jug of water. Have bath once a day.
• Muscle Cramps: Add 3 cups vinegar in a bucket of warm water. Take bath with it.
• Sore Throat: Take two tbsp of vinegar in one cup of water. Gargle with it two three times a day.
• Burns: Dilute Vinegar by adding some water in it. Apply it using a piece of cloth on the burns.
• Chicken Pox: Add 100 ml brown vinegar in bathing water while bathing.
• Dandruff: Mix 5 ml vinegar in 25 ml water. Apply this mixture on the scalp using cotton. Leave it overnight. Wash
• Head Lice: Add 2 ml vinegar in a 50 ml water. Wash your hairs after shampoo.
• Hiccups: Consume 1 tsp vinegar to get rid of hiccups.
• Urticaria: Add 5 ml vinegar in same quantity of lukewarm water. Apply it on the Hives.
• Itching: Take bath with 20 ml vinegar added water.
• Joint Pain: Massage the painful joint with warm vinegar.
• Yellow Teeth: Add 50 ml vinegar in 50 ml water. Gargle with it.
• Headache: Add 30 ml vinegar in 100 ml water. Boil and inhale its steam.
• Body Lice: Take one tsp vinegar and 2 tsp of any vegetable oil. Mix. Apply it on whole body twice a day. Wash after half an hour.
• Osteoporosis: Vinegar is a good source of calcium. Better to add it in soup or you can put few drops over the salad.
• Cuts: Dilute vinegar with water in proportion of 1:3. Dab with cotton over cuts.
• Body Odor: Soak a cotton ball in Vinegar and apply it under your arms. It will keep you odor free.
• Diarrhea: Add 3 tbsp of the vinegar to a glass of water(400 ml). Drink this 3 times daily while the symptoms persists.
• Athlete’s foot: Dilute 1 cup of vinegar in 2 cups of fresh water. Soak your feet for 30 minutes especially at night to get the relief. It protects the feet from any sort of fungal infections.
• Callus: Soak a slice of bread in half cup of white distilled vinegar. In the meantime, soak your feet in the lukewarm water for 10 minutes. Wrap the soaked slice of bread over the affected area with the tape. Leave it overnight. The next morning wash off with fresh water and apply moisturizing cream over your feet. Do this daily.
• Headache: Extract the juice of chicory plant. Take one tbsp juice. Add half tsp each of Rose oil and vinegar. Have it once a day.
• Excessive sweating: Take vinegar and raw apple cider vinegar in equal amount. Take two tsp on an empty stomach.
• Arthritis: Max half tbsp ginger powder with some vinegar and take to get relief in arthritis.
• Swine flu: Take two tbsp of vinegar by adding one tbsp of honey to it. Have it with lukewarm water.
• Gum diseases: Take a piece of Alum and half tbsp of salt. Mix 1/6^th cup of vinegar. Gargle with it twice a day.
• Malaria: Dip fig in vinegar for 2-4 hrs. Give it to affected person twice a day.
• Stomach Ache: Take 2 pinches seeds of Emetic nut tree. Grind with vinegar. Heat. Apply lukewarm mixture on naval.
• Fungal Nail: Take equal amount of Vinegar and warm water. Put your affected nails into those solutions for 20-30 minutes. Dry it with a towel. Give a light massage with almond oil.
• Abscess: Mix equal amount of milk and vinegar. Add a pinch of turmeric in it. Apply it on the infected area. It helps the boils to ripe fast.
• Tonsillitis: Boil 150 ml water with 70 g crushed garlic 10 g sugar and 100 ml vinegar. Cook until it gets half. Have one tsp with honey. Use it thrice a day.
• Itching: Mix 2 tsp of Baking soda with vinegar and water to make thick paste. Apply it over the itchy area. Its regular use shows good results.
• Vitiligo: Make a paste of 2 tbsp of radish seeds powder and vinegar. Apply it on patches. Wash when it gets dry.
• Wounds, skin disease: Prepare a decoction of Carlina acaulis root with white vinegar. Use it as a wash for wounds and skin diseases.
• Acid Reflux: Mix baking soda, vinegar and water in 1: 4:2 ratio. Drink 10 ml of it.
• Gout: Add 5 g Rose petals in 10 ml vinegar. Boil till the mixture become thick. Apply it over affected areas.
• Urinary Tract Infection: Peel an apple. Cut into pieces. Dip them in vinegar. Add little salt. Mix. Eat them.
• Dark Underarms: Take glutinous rice flour. Add vinegar to make a paste. Apply it over the underarms for 15-20 minutes. Wash with warm water.
• Dandruff: Take 5 to 6 tbsp crushed leaves of stinging nettle. Add 2 cups of water and 2 cups of vinegar in it. Boil it for 4 to 5 minutes on medium flame. Let it cool. Strain well. Use it to rinse your hair after shampoo.
• Colic: Take equal quantity of cumin and caraway seeds. Add a pinch of black salt in it. Add it in vinegar. Take half tsp of it after regular interval of time.
• Frizzy Hair: Mix fuller’s earth, vinegar and chickpea flour in 4:1:4 ratio. Apply this mixture on your hair. Wash after 1 hour.
• Stings: Make a thick paste of Baking soda with vinegar. Remove the sting. Apply the mixture over sting affected area.
• Dental diseases: Take 1 tbsp vinegar, ½ tsp alum, ½ tsp black pepper. Mix all ingredients. Add one tsp honey in this mixture. Stir. Rub it on your teeth before sleeping daily.
• Bad breathe: Use Solanum Xanthocarpum mixed with some vinegar as a mouthwash.
• Ringworm: Finely chop some garlic cloves and mix with one tsp each of white vinegar and tea tree oil. Keep it away for a whole day. Then apply on the affected skin two times a day for 10-14 days.
• Bad breathe: Mix 1-2 tbsp of vinegar in ¼ th cup of solanum Xanthocarpum juice. Use as a mouthwash twice a day.
• Sore throat: Add solanum Xanthocarpum juice and vinegar in equal amounts and use for gargle.
• Toothache: Make a paste of Box Myrtle bark powder by adding some vinegar. Apply over the inflamed teeth.
• Dull Skin: Mix 4-5 drops of vinegar in 2 tbsp of yogurt. Beat the mixture for 5 minutes. Apply it over the affected area and leave it for 10 minutes. After that massage the area for further 10 minutes. Wash with water. (Use organic brown vinegar for this purpose.)
• Wasp Stings: Take one tsp of vinegar. Add 5 to 6 drops of Lavender essential oil in it. Mix well. Soak a cotton ball in this solution and dab it on the affected area. Repeat this 5 to 6 times a day to reduce the pain.
• Spider Bite: Take 1 tsp vinegar, 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil, 2-3 drops of tea tree essential oil. Mix Lavender essential oil and tea tree essential oil. Add a tsp of vinegar in it. Stir well. Soak a cotton ball in the solution. Dab it on the affected area. Repeat it 6 to 7 times a day.
• Conjunctivitis: Fill the water into a tub. Add some amount of vinegar and salt. Mix the water well. Dip your face in that water for 15 to 20 sec. Repeat this procedure once a day. It shows instant effects on Conjunctivitis.
• Onycholysis: Fill a small tub with water and add one cup of vinegar In it. Soak your feet in it for 20 minutes. Pat dry with wash cloth. Then add 4 tbsp of baking soda in it. Again soak your feet in it for 20 minutes. Pat dry with wash cloth. Repeat the process 2 times a day.
• Bad breathe: Prepare a mouthwash with vinegar, wine and alum. Rinse your mouth daily with this mouthwash.

Other Facts

• Kurosu vinegar is a type of vinegar popular in Japan.
• Vinegar mixed in water is used as a wash for food products.
• It removes harmful pesticides and bacteria from the fruits and vegetables.
• Vinegar also has some applications for pets, including cleaning ears, relief of certain skin problems, and combating fleas and ticks.
• Vinegar can also be used to control weeds in your garden.
• The name vinegar comes to us from the French, “vin aigre,” literally meaning sour wine.
• November 1st is National Vinegar Day.
• Around 5,000 BC, the Babylonians used vinegar as both a condiment and preservative; they are also credited with the practice of adding herbs and spices to flavor it.
• Commercial vinegar is produced either by fast or slow fermentation processes.
• Vinegar can be used as a substitute for fresh lemon juice.
• White vinegar can help treat sunburn. Simply put a tissue over the sunburned skin and lightly spray with white vinegar. It helps restore your skin to the correct acidity and gives a cooling effect.
• Vinegar was discovered over 10,000 years ago.
• The shelf life for vinegar is almost indefinite due to its acidic nature. It is self-preserving and does not need refrigeration.
• Diluted vinegar has been used as a strengthening and an energizing tonic by the military throughout the ages.

Precautions

• Vinegar is very acidic, making it damaging to teeth enamel, particularly if consumed undiluted.
• Vinegar may unfavorably impact your potassium levels.
• You may also experience an allergic reaction to vinegar, including symptoms such as swelling, hives and difficulty breathing.
• Unpasteurized vinegars may carry harmful bacteria or toxins.
• Do no ingest unpasteurized vinegars if you are pregnant or trying to conceive.
• Vinegars may interact with many different medications, blocking absorption of some medications or altering their effect.
• Vinegars may also interact with some diuretics, drugs that are intended to reduce swelling and inflammation.

Recipe

Citrus jerk chicken with cornmeal waffles

Ingredients

For the citrus jerk chicken

• 2 onions, finely chopped
• 6 garlic cloves, crushed
• 5cm/2in piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated
• handful fresh parsley, finely chopped
• handful fresh coriander finely chopped
• 2 limes, juice only
• 2 lemons, juice only
• 2 oranges, juice only
• 1 scotch bonnet chilli pepper, finely chopped
• 4 tbsp soy or tamari sauce
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg
• handful fresh thyme, leaves picked and finely chopped
• 1 tbsp English mustard
• 1 tsp ground allspice
• 5 tbsp rum
• 1tbsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1tbsp ground sea salt
• 2tbsp olive oil
• 10 chicken pieces, thighs and drumsticks
• 150g/5½oz runny honey

For the cornmeal waffles

• 2 tbsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp vinegar
• 500g/1lb 2oz plain four
• 500g/1lb 2oz finely ground cornmeal
• 6 tsp sugar
• 3 free-range eggs, beaten
• 500ml/18fl oz. whole milk

To serve

• handful lamb’s lettuce
• 1 orange, peeled and segmented

Method

1. To make the citrus jerk chicken, place all the ingredients, except the chicken pieces, into a large bowl and mix well. Place the chicken pieces into the marinade and cover with cling film. Leave to marinate in the fridge for at least an hour, preferably overnight.
2. Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6.
3. Transfer the chicken to a large baking tray and sit skin-side up. Roast the chicken in the middle of the oven for around 30–40 minutes; check it after 15–20 minutes and turn the pieces to make sure it’s cooking evenly. When the chicken is golden, and the juices are running clear, it is cooked. Drizzle the honey over the chicken pieces and roast for a further 10 minutes.
4. To make the cornmeal waffles, preheat a waffle maker and mix the baking powder and vinegar to a smooth paste.
5. Whisk the flour, cornmeal, sugar, eggs and milk together in a bowl and stir in the vinegar and baking powder mixture. Pour the mix into the hot waffle maker and cook for around 6 minutes, or until golden-brown. Alternatively, heat a heavy-bottomed frying pan over a medium heat, add a splash of oil and fry the batter in batches, like pancakes.
6. To serve, divide the chicken between four plates and serve a waffle with each. Garnish with some lamb’s lettuce and orange segments

Vinegar Noodles Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup uncooked spiral noodles
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced cucumber
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced onion
• 6 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 3 tablespoons vinegar
• 3/4 teaspoon prepared mustard
• 3/4 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic salt

Methods

1. Cook noodles according to package directions.
2. Drain and rinse in cold water.
3. Place in a bowl; add cucumber and onion.
4. Combine remaining ingredients in a jar with tight-fitting lid; shake well.
5. Pour over noodle mixture and toss to coat.
6. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

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