Category Archives: vinegar

Should You Care About Alkaline Beverages?

by drinks, health, vegetables, vinegar, , ,
Because the first thing you drink every day is really important why not start with something that's going to be good for your health?
 
When working with clients, I regularly remind people to start their day with an alkalizing beverage.  This invariably brings up the question, "What is an alkalizing beverage and why do I need to drink it?"
 

Second question first. Your body does better when it is in a more alkaline state. If you happen to remember from your high school biology class, a pH of 7.0 is base or neutral. You should be somewhere between 7.2-7.4 in order to be healthy.  When your body is in a more acidic state you can potentially be prone to illness.  

 

Effects of PH imbalance 

 

Maintaining an acidic body state for a long period of time can cause a wide variety of illnesses such as headaches, inflammation, bloating, acne, hair or nails that break easily, and other symptoms.

Because the body seeks balance, if it is too acidic it will pull minerals from your bones and from muscle tissue.  Eventually, you can experience a significant depletion of minerals.

 

How to maintain PH balance

 

However, simply drinking alkalizing beverages isn't enough. You actually need to consume a more alkaline diet.

Our modern American diet tends to be highly acidic, especially when it's high in processed foods and animal products. So in order to shift away from high acidity, it's a good idea to include more alkalizing foods in your diet. 

Ideally, most people appear to do best when they consume a diet that is 60-70% alkalizing foods.  This includes:

In addition to making sure you add alkalizing foods to your diet, it can be a good idea to start the day with an alkalizing drink. 

However, it's important to know that just drinking alkaline water isn't going to alkalize your body.  Studies indicate that drinking alkaline water does not increase body pH.

That doesn't mean there aren't any benefits though.  Drinking naturally alkaline water may help decrease the enzyme that can cause acid reflux. Other research seems to indicate that drinking alkaline water may be beneficial for people with conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and/or high blood pressure.

 

What is an alkalizing beverage? 

 

Rather than simply drinking alkaline water, consider having a glass of water with 1-2 tablespoons of lemon juice or raw apple cider vinegar. If you're not used to the tartness of either of these you may have to work up to it by starting with 1 teaspoon in a glass of water and increasing a teaspoon at a time.   

Adding a greens powder to water or a morning smoothie is another way to get an alkalizing beverage into your day.  Another option would be to drink kombucha or water kefir, either plain or adding a healthy slug to water glass.  This can be a great start to the day and one that has the added benefit of probiotics to further support gut health.

 

Vinegar and lemons are acidic so how can they be alkalizing?

 

 It's one of the odd properties of acid-alkaline balance.  Yes, we do consider them to be acidic however their ash, or residue after they have been broken down, is alkaline.  That makes them alkalizing food.  This alkalizing effect is also found with limes and grapefruits however not with oranges.

If you want to test to see whether your specific body state is more alkaline or more acidic you can purchase a First Morning Urine Ph Kit.These strips test either urine or saliva (urine is generally considered to be a better indicator).  If you are interested in changing your diet you could also consider getting a copy of The Joy in Living The Alkaline Way.  Both the pH Test Kit and the book are available online at Better Lab Tests Now. 

Simply enter the word Alkaline into the search bar to get a free copy of the book, order the test kit, plus find more information about alkalizing.

So yes, it's a good idea to start your day with an alkalizing beverage and drink for your health. And then evaluate your diet to add more alkalizing foods.

 

Sources

 

 

"Alkaline Water: Better Than Plain Water?". Mayo Clinic, 2021, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/alkaline-water/faq-20058029. 

Koufman, Jamie A., and Nikki Johnston. "Potential Benefits Of Ph 8.8 Alkaline Drinking Water As An Adjunct In The Treatment Of Reflux Disease". Annals Of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology, vol 121, no. 7, 2012, pp. 431-434. SAGE Publications, doi:10.1177/000348941212100702.

"Preliminary Observation On Changes Of Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar And Blood Lipids After Using Alkaline Ionized Drinking Water--《Shanghai Journal Of Preventive Medicine》2001年12期 ". En.Cnki.Com.Cn, 2021, http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-SHYI200112005.htm.

Michelle Liew, B.A. "15 Signs Your Body Has Too High Acidity Levels And How To Fix It". Life Advancer, 2016, https://www.lifeadvancer.com/body-high-acidity-levels/. 

 

 

 

 

Raspberry Vinegar

by fruit, pantry, preserving, vinegar, , ,

Raspberries are coming in to season.  Their fragrant luscious aroma greets me every time I walk into the produce section of my local grocery store.  And their plump juicy red fruit temps me.  I love raspberries and truly miss the raspberry bed I had in Connecticut.  It was stocked with four different varieties each bearing at a different time pretty much ensuring a summer full of fresh flavorful berries.

Sadly the drought here in Texas has done a number to my fruit bushes.  The trees seem to be holding their own but the elderberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and goji berries are all shriveled and I'm not sure they're going to make it.

Raspberries are such a wonderful fruit because not only are they tasty, they're so versatile.  They go great in fruit salads, eaten fresh, baked into scones or crumbles, on top of oatmeal, in a smoothie, the list goes on.  Plus a little as one half a cup provides 4 g. of fiber, over 25% of your daily value for vitamin C and just over 20% of your daily value for manganese. One of my favorite, extravagant ways to use raspberries is to make a raspberry vinegar.  This way I can enjoy that fragrant summer flavor all year long.

This is my favorite recipe using raspberries from Fancy Pantry which is one of my best-loved preserving cookbooks.

Raspberry Vinegar

By Fancy Pantry cookbook
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 8 C. raspberries, cleaned, rinsed and drained
  • 3 C. white wine vinegar

Instructions
 

  • The recipe calls for the raspberries to be used in two portions.  You can freeze 4 C. for later.
  • Crush 4 C. raspberries and place them in a sterilized, heatproof 2 quart jar
  • Add vinegar and and cover the jar
  • Set the jar in a deep saucepan and fill with water to come halfway up the jar
  • Set over medium heat and bring the water to a boil
  • Reduce the heat and keep the water simmering for 20 minutes
  • Remove the jar and set aside, uncovered to cool the contents
  • When cool, add a lid to the jar and set it aside
  • Shake the jar every day for 2 weeks
  • Strain the jar to remove old raspberries, it is okay to lightly press the berries to extract all the juice
  • Crush 4 C. raspberries and pour infused vinegar over them
  • Repeat the scalding as done above
  • Let the vinegar rest for two weeks, shaking every day
  • Strain the vinegar discarding the fruit, it is okay to lightly press the berries to extract all the juice
  • Line a funnel with an unbleached coffee filter and place in a sterilized bottle
  • Filter the vinegar into the bottle
  • Cap or cork the bottle and store in a cool dark pantry

Notes

The vinegar may develop sediment as it stands, this is okay but the vinegar can be re-filtered if you wish

Windows And Weeds

by environment, holidays, questions, recipes, vinegar

My friend Tracy asks, “I'm looking for a natural window cleaner as well as a natural weedkiller. Do you have any proven concoctions you would like to share? I'd love to give up the Windex and pulling weeds around the pool patio — well, let's just say there must be a better way!!” There is a better way, and believe it or not you use the same thing for both (with some disclaimers).

Windows first. That good old standby vinegar and water works great. I use 1/4 C. white vinegar and 2 C. water in a spray bottle. Mirrors, glass and chrome come out streak-free and clean. There are a lot of wonderful household cleaners that you can easily make yourself with common ingredients. To get some good recipes visit Women's Voices for the Earth. You'll find recipes for all-purpose cleaner, drain opener, and more.

Weeds are a little more difficult. There was a study done by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Horticulture that showed that vinegar (acetic acid) works well as a weed killer. But what worked the best was a 20% solution (the stuff we buy for home use is typically only 5%) which is not easy to purchase for household use. I have successfully used vinegar mixed with liquid soap and water as a weed killer but only in areas such as a brick path because the spray will affect almost any plant that it touches. A single application will kill the plant; the exception seems to be plants with fuzzy leaves, for some reason they are not as affected by the solution. Plants with thick roots, like dandelions, usually have regrowth, however multiple applications appear to weaken the plant and, in some cases, completely kill it. I use a formula of 1 part dish soap, 2 parts vinegar, 2 parts water. So for a small batch you would make up a solution of 1/2 C. dish soap, 1 C. vinegar and 1 C. water.

It's a good thing to be able to use ingredients that do the job without relying on harsh chemicals that aren't good for you or for the environment.

The Many Benefits Of Using Vinegar

by vinegar

Vinegar has been around for thousands of years and it’s used in many different cultures - primarily as a condiment or to preserve other foods. Made by fermentation, vinegar is made up of acetic acid; natural vinegars may also contain additional acids such as citric acid. In addition to the vinegars that we are most familiar with, such as distilled, apple cider, balsamic or various wine vinegars, there are other types that include coconut, date, beer, and honey. 

 

Household uses for Vinegar

Household uses of vinegar can include a wide variety of things.  Just a few of the ways to make use of this wonderful ingredient that has no harmful fragrances or chemicals include:

  • glass cleaner
  • surface sanitizer
  • cutting through grime and grease
  • cleaning the coffee maker
  • deodorize your garbage disposal (hint this also works for your fridge)
  • clear clogged drains
  • remove shower soap scum
  • cleaning windows
  • polishing silverware, brass, and copper
  • removing glue marks from stickers and price tags
  • sanitizing glass jars and vases
  • removing mold and mildew

 

Using vinegar for your health

In terms of your health vinegar has a number of different uses both topically and internally. One of my favorites is to use it as a fruit and veggie wash; according to an article from NPR a solution of three-parts water to one-part vinegar removed 98% of the bacteria from the outside of the fruit being tested. 

There are also an impressive number of health uses for vinegar.  There are numerous studies and reviews that have shown how vinegar can improve our overall health when consumed regularly. A 2016 review on the therapeutic effects of vinegar states that many areas of the body can benefit from it. Healthy uses of vinegar include:

  • For headaches studies indicate a compress soaked in a 50/50 solution of warm water and vinegar may be be helpful in reducing or clearing the pain. 
  • Vinegar also makes a great gargle for a sore throat, combine 1 teaspoon vinegar in 8 oz of water. 
  • It is widely believed to be helpful in easing the pain of sunburn; simply spritz vinegar from a spray bottle on the sunburn, being careful not to spray on broken skin. 
  • To alleviate muscle pain, you can add one to two cups to your bath water.
  • Vinegar has been shown to suppress fat accumulation. It has been used since the late 18th century to reduce obesity. Ingestion of vinegar may decrease the glycemic effect of a meal through providing fullness thus reducing the total amount of food consumed. Apple cider vinegar has been found to reduce blood glucose levels and alleviate insulin resistance and increase insulin production. Thus, improving diabetic markers. 
  • Your heart can also benefit from vinegar. Vinegars contain polyphenols that may inhibit oxidation of LDLs and improve health by preventing cardiovascular diseases.
  • Additionally there is also an antihypertensive effect with vinegar. This appears to be due to the acetic acid content

The Journal of Food Science also did a review of various benefits of vinegar. They found that the bioactive substances found in various vinegars can defend against oxidative stress. These antioxidants may reduce the effects of various degenerative illnesses such as accelerated aging, cancer, and brain disorders. Kurosu is a Japanese rice vinegar that has been shown to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells in the colon, lung, breast, bladder, and prostate. One study even concluded, “ACV can have powerful anti-microbial effects directly on resistant E. coli and MRSA. These in vitro results highlight the antimicrobial capacity of ACV. ACV could form the core ingredient of a contemporary pharmacological antimicrobial against MRSA and rE. coli.”

Boosting your vinegar with herbs

Frequently vinegars are enhanced by adding herbs to them. The healing effects of the herbs combine with the benefits of the vinegar. For example, tarragon is noted for helping with digestion and vinegar, being high in acetic acid, helps the body to absorb minerals. 

Infusing garlic, ginger root, rosemary, and thyme to vinegar can be one way to make a great immune boosting tonic. 

There is also the use of hibiscus vinegar which may help with allergy symptoms. Edible hibiscus (and not all of them are) is very high in quercetin which has beneficial properties for those dealing with allergies. To protect your tooth enamel, it is best to dilute vinegars with water when drinking them as a tonic.

There are many vinegar folk remedies that have been used for a variety of benefits as mentioned above. Fortunately vinegar is easily available and not a pharmaceutical.  The use of food to improve our overall health is always a great investment with little to no side effects.

 

Sources

 

 

Budak, N.H., Aykin, E., Seydim, A.C., Greene, A.K. and Guzel-Seydim, Z.B. (2014), Functional Properties of Vinegar. Journal of Food Science, 79: R757-R764. https://doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.12434

 

Samad, Anuar et al. "Therapeutic Effects Of Vinegar: A Review". Current Opinion In Food Science, vol 8, 2016, pp. 56-61. Elsevier BV, doi:10.1016/j.cofs.2016.03.001.

 

"NPR Cookie Consent And Choices". Npr.Org, 2022, https://www.npr.org/2007/09/20/14540742/what-does-it-take-to-clean-fresh-food.

 

Yagnik, Darshna et al. "Antibacterial Apple Cider Vinegar Eradicates Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus And Resistant Escherichia Coli".  Scientific Reports, vol 11, no. 1, 2021.  Springer Science And Business Media LLC, doi:10.1038/s41598-020-78407-x.