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Apple Cider Vinegar

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D

Diastard

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Type 2
Has anyone tested using "with the mother" Apple Cider Vinegar to help with BG control?
I've seen suggested that by improving gut health it can help reduce spiking if taken before a meal.

I'm currently testing it, so far I can only report that it is like drinking scrumpy that's gone off.
 
I reckon somebody somewhere has got a load of dodgy cider and has had little option but to turn it into vinegar. Now they are looking for a market for it because it is not much of a substitute for other vinegars in dressings and on chips.
 
Docb said:
I reckon somebody somewhere has got a load of dodgy cider and has had little option but to turn it into vinegar. Now they are looking for a market for it because it is not much of a substitute for other vinegars in dressings and on chips.
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You've accurately described exactly what it is. A similar sort of thing is what brought Marmite into our world.
 
It is OK I suppose - I have bought it when there was no white wine vinegar but it is very harsh with delicate flavours. Not too bad with cabbage and fresh beetroot though.
Don't use it on fish if you like fish.
 
I’d be interested to know how it can improve gut health, it’s just a mild acid, far less than the acidity produced in the stomach (which is the same acidity as car battery acid). Even theoretically, it can’t affect spiking, so it isn’t a free card for eating fish and chips.
 
mikeyB said:
I’d be interested to know how it can improve gut health, it’s just a mild acid, far less than the acidity produced in the stomach (which is the same acidity as car battery acid). Even theoretically, it can’t affect spiking, so it isn’t a free card for eating fish and chips.
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Supposedly more than just a mild acid, the variety I am talking about is "with the mother" which claims to contain live cultures.

I am impressed with the way red wine flattens my spikes if I consume with a meal, and I am presuming this is due to some alcohol processing mysterious goings on in the liver. As much as this is a happy situation I still often need to use my car so I'm seeking another option now. Giving this one a trial.

It's pretty disgusting stuff to drink compared to red wine though... .🙂
 
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Are you drinking it neat??? I have ACV "with the mother" every morning in my fibre drink but only about 10mls in a tall glass of water and I usually add a dash of balsamic too as I love the flavour of balsamic. The fibre (psyllium husk and chia seeds) probably do more for my gut health than the ACV but I am quite into probiotic foods at the moment so I am sticking with the ACV along with kefir, kimchi and sauerkraut.
I currently have a personal best Time in Range on my Libre of 96% for the past 7 days with just 2% above and 2% below, so maybe all these probiotics are helping a bit.
 
No not neat, I couldn't handle that! I have about 4 teaspoons diluted in a glass of water, and now I'm using very chilled water to take the edge off the taste.
 
Diastard said:
No not neat, I couldn't handle that! I have about 4 teaspoons diluted in a glass of water, and now I'm using very chilled water to take the edge off the taste.
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I have nothing against cider vinegar.
My only reservation is acid can damage your teeth enamel.
The normal suggestion is use a straw (not sure on that), but clean your teeth afterwards. That I can understand.
 
Don't clean your teeth after eating anything acidic, as the acid can soften enamel and make it easier to remove.
Swishing water around your mouth several times is probably the best thing to do, diluting and removing any residue.
 
Drummer said:
Don't clean your teeth after eating anything acidic, as the acid can soften enamel and make it easier to remove.
Swishing water around your mouth several times is probably the best thing to do, diluting and removing any residue.
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Erm, ok.
You do know toothpaste is an alkaline?
And water isn't?
But they are your teeth to do as you want to, but just saying.........
 
travellor said:
Erm, ok.
You do know toothpaste is an alkaline?
And water isn't?
But they are your teeth to do as you want to, but just saying.........
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But toothpaste is an abrasive paste - if you dissolved it in water and swished it around your mouth it might be slightly more effective than a single swishing of water, but swish with water three times and it should do the job.
Start scrubbing at softened enamel and it will be worn away quite quickly.
 
Tried this some time ago, did nothing for gut health whatsoever, ended up throwing bottle out after few weeks.
 
After some experimentation and side by side comparison, it seems to be that *for me* drinking this stuff 20-30 minutes before a meal seems to flatten off the top of the BG curve and extends the tail. This is useful information for me, but not ideal as I like to make sure I'm in the low 5s before I go to sleep.

So in practical terms, a high carb meal that I would expect to spike my BG to 9.x and be back in the low 5s in about 4 hours, with the ACV will just about reach 8 but still be between 6 and 7 in four hours. I've repeated this pattern, trying very hard to replicate conditions, at least 6 times and it's consistent. I have no idea how it works, maybe something in the head, or maybe a very big coincidence.

As for gut health, I've no idea if it helps, how would I even know?
 
I find it works best for me to use it in the morning before breakfast and with my fibre supplement (psyllium and chia seeds). Not sure I would want to use it more than once a day.

I haven't done extended tests but I had a few days off from it last week and definitely didn't feel so good. Gut was not so happy/regular and mentally I didn't feel great and BG levels were more volatile. Not exactly scientific, but I stocked up on it when I was shopping yesterday. If you are interested, Lidl have just got some in stock (Organic with the mother) and very reasonably priced @ £1.79 for 475mls
 
@rebrascora, that's interesting, I think I might try switching it to mornings instead of prior to a main meal.

My source is the Kirkland variety from Costco, organic "with the mother", three x 1 litre bottles for £8.19.
 
That's good value but I don't have a Costco membership.
I find that I am most insulin resistant in the morning so spiking can be a much bigger issue. I now rarely go above 8 with 35g carbs. This morning I timed it really well and didn't go above 6.
I usually have balsamic with my ACV as I love the flavour of it and it just provides a bit of sweetness with the tartness. I am pretty sure that acidic foods in general are improving my health. I read an article recently which mentioned that stomach acidity diminishes with age and that more acidic foods can therefore be beneficial. That rings true with what I am experiencing and contrary to some of the posts above, my teeth feel stronger than they have for years. I eat pork crackling far too frequently 😱 , so they get well tested and they are not discolouring from enamel erosion, so I really don't think that is a concern.
 
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