#1 Best Hidden Benefit of Apple Cider Vinegar

Summary

In this video, Dr. Ford Brewer, a preventive medicine doctor with 40 years of experience, discusses the potential benefits of apple cider vinegar (ACV). Initially skeptical, Dr. Brewer's research led him to believe that ACV can improve cardio-metabolic markers, including reducing cholesterol, body weight, blood pressure, and fasting sugar. He emphasizes ACV's role in lowering hemoglobin A1C, a key factor in arterial plaque buildup and a marker for insulin resistance. Dr. Brewer suggests ACV as a supportive addition to a healthy lifestyle, particularly a low-carb diet, to maintain clean arteries and overall cardiovascular health.

Takeaways

• 🍎 Apple cider vinegar is believed to have health benefits such as weight loss, cholesterol reduction, and blood sugar control.
• 🔬 Dr. Ford Brewer, a preventive medicine doctor with 40 years of experience, initially skeptical, found evidence supporting ACV's benefits.
• 📉 Apple cider vinegar can improve cardio-metabolic markers, including decreasing triglycerides, body weight, blood pressure, fasting sugar, and hemoglobin A1C.
• 🧠 Hemoglobin A1C is a key indicator of arterial plaque buildup, and apple cider vinegar's ability to lower A1C could contribute to cleaner arteries.
• 🍽 Lifestyle and diet are crucial for heart health, with apple cider vinegar potentially playing a supportive role in a healthy lifestyle.
• 🤔 The impact of LDL cholesterol might be overestimated, with metabolic diseases like pre-diabetes being a significant but often undiagnosed issue.
• 📈 High A1C levels are associated with increased plaque buildup, and apple cider vinegar may help in reducing A1C levels.
• 🔍 There are different ways to detect plaque, with CIMT, calcium score, and CT angiogram being more effective than stress tests.
• 💧 Apple cider vinegar may work by slowing gastric emptying and reducing the body's ability to convert starches into sugars.
• 🥗 For consumption, apple cider vinegar can be mixed with extra virgin olive oil and lime juice as a healthier alternative to commercial salad dressings.
• 🚫 Despite its benefits, apple cider vinegar is not a standalone solution; a low-carb diet and avoiding processed foods are essential for managing A1C levels.

Q & A

What is apple cider vinegar and how is it made?

Apple cider vinegar is one of the three common types of vinegar made by fermenting apples.

What role does apple cider vinegar play in improving cardiometabolic markers?

Apple cider vinegar can decrease cholesterol, triglycerides, body weight, blood pressure, fasting sugar, and most importantly, hemoglobin A1c.

Why is hemoglobin A1c a significant marker in understanding the benefits of apple cider vinegar?

Higher levels of A1c are associated with arterial plaque buildup, and apple cider vinegar helps to lower A1c, which can contribute to cleaner arteries.

How does apple cider vinegar contribute to a healthy lifestyle?

While lifestyle is paramount, apple cider vinegar can be a significant part of a healthy lifestyle when used daily.

What is the relationship between A1c and plaque buildup?

A1c is a biomarker for the process of glycation, where excess glucose leads to inflammation and plaque buildup in the arteries.

Why is it important to lower A1c levels?

Lower A1c levels indicate less inflammation and plaque, which can help prevent heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular issues.

What are the mechanisms by which apple cider vinegar lowers A1c?

Apple cider vinegar decreases gastric emptying and reduces the body's ability to turn starches into sugars, both of which can help lower A1c.

How can one determine if they have plaque buildup in their arteries?

Three better methods include carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), calcium score, and CT angiogram, which can reveal the presence and type of plaque.

What precautions should be taken when consuming apple cider vinegar?

It's recommended to mix apple cider vinegar with water or use it in a dressing to avoid potential enamel erosion from the acetic acid.

How should apple cider vinegar be incorporated into one's diet?

It can be mixed with water or used in a dressing with extra virgin olive oil and lime juice, serving as a healthier alternative to store-bought salad dressings.

What is the primary advice for reducing A1c levels beyond using apple cider vinegar?

The best way to reduce A1c is through lifestyle changes, particularly a low-carb diet that minimizes the intake of highly processed carbohydrates.