Health Benefits of Vinegar

Vinegar is a versatile food product to have in the home. You can use vinegar to clean just about anything but did you also realize that vinegar has many health benefits?

Vinegar has been used since Hippocrates' time as a medicine and an antiseptic.

An old home remedy that your grandmother probably used was a daily dose of apple cider vinegar and honey to ease arthritis pain.

Vinegar can be used to soothe insect bites and bee stings. As well it helps to soothe sunburn.

Apple cider vinegar helps to relieve digestion problems and as well prevent stomach ulcers.

Vinegar works to get rid of warts and is much more gentle than using salicylic acid.

As little as 5% vinegar added to liquid will kill about 99% of bacteria, 82% of mold, and 80% of germs or viruses.

Got the hiccups? Try taking a teaspoon or two of vinegar.

A great headache cure is taking two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and honey mixed with a cup of hot water.

Adding apple cider vinegar to your bath water helps to relieve urinary tract infections.

Apple cider vinegar has so many health benefits including helping with skin conditions such as eczema to aging brown spots.

The next time you are adding vinegar to one of your favorite salad dressings or another recipe, remember that there are also some health benefits that go along with this versatile food product.

When buying apple cider vinegar, look for vinegar that is made from crushing fresh, organically grown apples and then allowing them to mature in wooden barrels, much like how wine is aged. Once the vinegar has aged, it contains a dark, cloudy, web-like bacteria called the mother. This type of vinegar contains more enzymes and minerals than regular white vinegar found in the supermarket.

Tangy Salad Dressing
1/3 cup raw honey
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar with the mother
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
Combine vinegar, garlic and mustard in a bowl. Stir or whisk to mix well. Add honey and whisk again to incorporate into the vinegar mixture. Add the olive oil, and whisk to mix together. Toss into your favorite salad.

Balsamic vinegar was originally made in an area of Italy called Modena. The vinegar is made from the unfermented juice of the white Trebbiano grape.

It is aged in wooden barrels, similar to wine aging, for between six and ten years.

The very best quality balsamic vinegar can be aged for more than 100 years. Balsamic vinegar is often combined with olive oil for a tangy salad dressing.

A Short History of Balsamic Vinegar

Up until about twenty-five years ago, Balsamic Vinegar was relatively unknown outside of Italy. It is produced in two regions: Modena and Reggio in Italy.

Although it has been made for over a thousand years, it was never used commercially but remained a guarded family secret.

Families would pass it on as an heirloom or give it away in small vials to friends or even be part of a daughter’s dowry.

It is reported that a bottle of Balsamic Vinegar was given to Emperor Enrico III around 1046 as a gift.

Focaccia or other crusty bread
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar
Small plate

If you are making this recipe for a dinner party then use a Foccaccia round. However, if you want to spoil yourself you can make it for one.

Just add Caesar salad and a glass of wine and you will be eating like a king or a queen.

If you like your bread warmed up place it in the oven or a toaster first. Cover the base of the plate with a liberal amount of olive oil.

Make a small puddle of balsamic vinegar in the center of the oil.

Tear off a piece of bread and dab it at the center to coat with olive oil and slight glazing of vinegar. Enjoy!