As the pace of life continues to accelerate, the health problems of the people are increasing. More than 75% of the population has one or more unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as excessive stress, improper diet, excessive obesity, drinking, etc. These bad habits will increase the risk of diabetes in modern people.
The “Diabetes Atlas” released by the International Diabetes Federation pointed out that among the adult population aged 20 to 79, nearly 10.5% of the population suffers from diabetes. It is estimated that by 2045, one in eight adults (nearly 783 million people) will suffer from diabetes. When people are frequently troubled by “sugar”, apple cider vinegar can deal with this problem well.
1. What is apple cider vinegar?
ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) is a fruit vinegar, which is made from apples or their concentrated juice (pulp) as the main raw materials and is made through secondary fermentation (alcohol fermentation and acetic acid fermentation). Apple cider vinegar contains 94% water, 5% acetic acid and 1% carbohydrates, no fat or protein, and 100 grams (about 100mL) of apple cider vinegar contains 22 calories. From a dietary perspective, apple cider vinegar can be used as a condiment and as one of the ingredients for salad dressings, vinaigrettes, preservatives, and hot and sour sauces. In addition, apple cider vinegar can be mixed with apple juice and different auxiliary materials to make apple cider vinegar drinks.
A large number of studies have found that apple cider vinegar contains a variety of nutrients such as pectin, acetic acid, and malic acid, and has multiple functions such as lowering blood sugar, promoting digestion, anti-oxidation, and enhancing immunity.
1.1 Lowering blood sugar
Research from the Cleveland Clinic shows that one of the most important properties of apple cider vinegar is that it can lower blood sugar and control diabetes. Experiments have shown that apple cider vinegar significantly reduces serum total cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) concentrations. Daily intake of apple cider vinegar may have a beneficial effect on controlling the glycemic index and blood lipid profile of patients with type 2 diabetes. In addition, the pectin in apple cider vinegar can absorb heavy metal ions without affecting the absorption of normal trace elements and minerals, which can effectively play a detoxifying role and delay the intestinal absorption of sugar and lipids, which is the main contributor to controlling blood sugar.
1.2 Reduce obesity
The World Obesity Atlas released by the World Obesity Federation in 2022 predicts that by 2030, nearly 1 billion people in the world will suffer from obesity, and apple cider vinegar can bring a certain weight loss effect. Some experts pointed out that the weight loss mechanism of apple cider vinegar is that it can prolong the retention time of food in the stomach, that is, the gastric emptying time, and effectively alleviate the fluctuation of blood sugar values after meals. In addition, the acetic acid in apple cider vinegar helps burn more fat and change the hormones that stimulate the body’s appetite, thereby promoting weight loss.
1.3 Antibacterial and sterilizing
Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid (kills harmful bacteria) and natural probiotics (improves the immune system and intestinal health). It has been proven to have strong antibacterial activity. Experiments have shown that apple cider vinegar can eliminate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and drug-resistant Escherichia coli. Apple cider vinegar also has antifungal properties against Candida species and can relieve symptoms of stomatitis patients. In addition, the acidic components of apple cider vinegar have antibacterial effects, can clean the digestive tract, and help eliminate toxins from joints, blood vessels, and organs.
1.4 Antioxidant
Apple cider vinegar is rich in vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant that can prevent cell aging and increase the body’s resistance. Apple cider vinegar is also rich in phenolic acid derivatives and other flavonoids, which have strong antioxidant and immunomodulatory abilities. Multiple cellular, biochemical, behavioral, and histopathological data have shown that apple cider vinegar has a high antioxidant potential.
1.5 Detoxification and Liver Protection
Apple cider vinegar has a protective effect on the liver, can reduce the body’s absorption of alcohol, and at the same time achieves the effect of detoxification and anti-intoxication. Studies have shown that apple cider vinegar, through its powerful antioxidant properties, is expected to reduce liver cell damage induced by several toxins. Apple cider vinegar contains potassium, calcium, zinc, magnesium, sodium, and other elements, which can soften blood vessels, inhibit alcohol absorption, and lower cholesterol.
It should be noted that although apple cider vinegar has many functions, it is not suitable for everyone to drink apple cider vinegar. For example, patients with excessive stomach acid or gastric ulcers are not suitable for drinking apple cider vinegar.
2. A wide variety of apple cider vinegar
As a regular drink, apple cider vinegar has many properties such as lowering blood sugar and antibacterial. In addition, it has a rich fruity aroma and sour and sweet characteristics, which has enabled it to quickly gain a foothold in the North American market, and related products are very popular. At present, the dosage forms of apple cider vinegar-related products include liquid drinks, soft candies, capsules, chewable tablets, and powders.
A. Liquid drinks
Liquid apple cider vinegar is a common apple cider vinegar product. The organic apple cider vinegar circulating on the market is mainly made of apple cider vinegar, honey, lemon juice, and chili (or other flavors). However, some liquid apple cider vinegar has a high concentration and strong acidity and needs to be diluted with water before drinking.
B. Gummies
Nutreebio introduces Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies with Vitamins B6 and B12 to improve digestion, support gut health and stimulate appetite. The unique apple cider vinegar flavor combined with essential vitamins makes ACV Gummies a delicious addition to a healthy diet. Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies help support cellular energy production, immune function and heart health.
C. Capsules
Apple Cider Vinegar capsules can contain more apple cider vinegar, typically 1200 mg of apple cider vinegar powder, and these vegetarian capsules provide convenience for consumers who don’t like the strong smell of vinegar but still want to get the benefits associated with apple cider vinegar.
D. Chewable Tablets
Apple Cider Vinegar Chewable Tablets are suitable for vegetarians and help support normal weight. Like Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies, Green Apple flavored chewable tablets are easier to digest and taste better than consuming apple cider vinegar directly, and can be chewed or dissolved in water.
E. Powders
Apple Cider Vinegar Powders are less common than the above forms. Apple cider vinegar powder is also rich in potassium, magnesium, and other minerals that are essential for heart health, help maintain healthy cholesterol levels within the normal range, and can also support heart health.
In addition to its edible value, apple cider vinegar is also a great beauty ingredient. According to Akanksha Shah Sanghvi, MD, due to its antibacterial properties, apple cider vinegar can be a natural skin toner to tighten pores and prevent them from clogging. Apple cider vinegar also contains alpha-hydroxy acids, which help remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin while increasing microcirculation under the skin and accelerating the skin regeneration process. These acids can also moisturize the skin and make it smooth and even. In addition, the malic acid in apple cider vinegar can be used as a bleaching agent when applied topically, which can penetrate the skin to inhibit the activity of melanocytes.
3. Apple cider vinegar still has a broad market
As people’s awareness of the potential health benefits of consuming apple cider vinegar continues to increase, the global apple cider vinegar market is in a stage of rapid growth. According to Mordor data, the apple cider vinegar market size in 2023 is about US$1.16 billion, and it is expected to reach US$1.75 billion by 2028, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.57% during the forecast period. The largest market for apple cider vinegar is still in North America, and the fastest-growing market is in the Asia-Pacific region.
In addition, the apple cider vinegar market is highly fragmented, and there are many major leaders in the apple cider vinegar market, and they are scattered all over the world.
In my country, although apple cider vinegar has achieved a certain degree of development, its actual application is not widespread. According to relevant data from Zhiyan Consulting Company, the overall market size of apple cider vinegar in China will be 8.62 billion yuan in 2022, and the apple cider vinegar industry is mainly divided into two varieties: apple cider vinegar condiments and apple cider vinegar beverages. However, the amount of vinegar used in Chinese vinegar beverages only accounts for about 2% of the total national vinegar production, while the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries account for more than 10%. And because China is a major producer (my country produces more than 40 million tons of apples annually), many of our apple cider vinegar products are sold to Europe and the United States.
There is still a lot of room for development in the international food sector for apple cider vinegar, and manufacturers can continue to enhance the value of apple cider vinegar from the aspects of popularizing health concepts and taste. As for how much other potential apple cider vinegar has in the future, it is still worth consumers to wait and see.
