How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar to Lower Blood Sugar

by Dr. Nick Zyrowski November 07, 2022

If you have issues with high blood sugar, you’ll want to read this to learn how a common household product can help. Many people visit their doctors every year and get labs as part of their annual checkups. Later, they may find that they’re verging on having type 2 diabetes. So, why is that such a big deal?

When you have high blood sugar frequently for long periods, it can cause you permanent damage. Your kidneys, eyes, and blood vessels can all be affected. (1) You can see how having high blood sugar can get serious pretty fast.

Some people get prescription drugs to lower their blood sugar, but these also may come with some nasty side effects. If you’re experiencing high blood sugar and you want natural methods to treat it, there are some easy tips you can use to bring your blood sugar down quickly. One of the methods we’ll talk about is incorporating apple cider vinegar.

Benefits of apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a popular home remedy with good reason. It has been used for centuries in natural medicine, and many people swear by it. So, what are the benefits of apple cider vinegar?

For starters, it has antimicrobial properties and strong antioxidant effects on the body. (2) There’s also evidence to suggest it can help with issues such as:

  • Reducing cholesterol
  • Weight loss
  • Lowering blood sugar levels
  • Improving diabetes symptoms
  • Alleviating cold symptoms

There are abundant benefits to using apple cider vinegar. Studies are showing some of these benefits, and we’re sure there will be more research in the future.

Why it helps with blood sugar

Proponents of apple cider vinegar believe that lactic acid or acetic acid is responsible for lowering blood sugar. The acid helps by storing glucose in the liver. That process reduces the body’s production and absorption of glucose. (3)

In testing, blood glucose levels were measured one to two hours after a participant ate a meal. The subjects were insulin-sensitive and insulin-resistant. That means the insulin-sensitive group had normal blood sugar responses, while the insulin-resistant group was in the pre-diabetic range.

They were required to drink apple cider vinegar or water with a sugar substitute before eating a high-carb meal. The pre-diabetic group that consumed the apple cider vinegar before their meal had increased insulin sensitivity an hour after eating. The results from the test showed a significant improvement in blood sugar levels from using apple cider vinegar. The American Diabetes Association also reported vinegar decreased hyperglycemia in type 1 diabetics. (4)

How to incorporate ACV

If the thought of apple cider vinegar doesn’t seem appealing, don’t worry. You won’t have to drink copious amounts of it each day to reap the benefits. Some people enjoy the taste as a refreshing treat. Here’s how to incorporate apple cider vinegar into your daily routine to lower your blood sugar and reap all the other great benefits.

  1. Fill a glass with cold water. 8-12 ounces is plenty.
  2. Add some ice.
  3. Pour two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into the water and stir.

That’s all you have to do, but if you want to take things up a notch on lowering your blood sugar, add a teaspoon of cinnamon to the mixture. Cinnamon can lower blood sugar by up to 29 percent. (5) If you still can’t tolerate the taste, add a few drops of liquid stevia. That’ll sweeten things up and make this more of a treat than something to endure. You may even think it tastes similar to apple pie!

Modern medicines

If you’re wondering why not simply get a script from your doctor for the latest pharmaceutical, you should know these drugs don’t come without risks. There is a definite lack of attention by the medical community to the dangerous side effects of these medications. Some of them are too aggressive and may lead to patients having dangerous hypoglycemia that could lead to death in some cases. (6) When left untreated, hypoglycemia can result in the following:

  • Blurred vision
  • Confusion
  • Seizure
  • Loss of consciousness

When considering the risks associated with these drugs, it makes sense to try a more natural approach. Pharmaceutical companies will push these drugs because it makes them money. Selling them is often not about YOUR health, it’s about THEIR wealth.

Natural health

Other natural health sources can help you lower your blood sugar in addition to apple cider vinegar. Before you take a prescription pill, you may want to give these healthy alternatives a try.

Berberine

Berberine is a plant compound that’s been used as a medicine for centuries. It’s referred to as a natural metformin alternative for diabetes. (7) It is one of the most effective nutrients you can use to naturally bring down your blood sugar. It may also help you maintain healthy body weight and improve heart health.

Fenugreek

Fenugreek is an herb that has anti-diabetic properties. It can improve insulin sensitivity which helps the cells use glucose more effectively. That will result in lower blood sugar.

The role of diet and lifestyle

Before you beat yourself up about not eating a perfect diet, it’s crucial to realize that no one is perfect. If you mess up and eat too many carbs, simply get back to a healthier approach. You don’t need to be hard on yourself when you haven’t maintained the diet you want. We are all human.

To keep your blood sugar low, you want to eat low-carb to reduce those insulin spikes. Eliminating sugar is also crucial. Now, if you still want a sweet treat from time to time, there are some incredible substitutes out there that taste great, and you won’t even miss the sugar. This kind of diet will reduce inflammation and promote stable blood sugar levels. You can find natural sweeteners like erythritol, allulose and monk fruit that give baked goods and even your morning coffee that sugary taste you may be craving.

Strategies for balancing blood sugar

Apple cider vinegar is easy to use and is also an inexpensive way to lower your blood sugar. It comes with other health benefits that you can enjoy every day. As we’ve discussed, there are natural methods to lowering blood sugar that won’t come with the side effects you may find from costly pharmaceuticals.

High blood sugar can lead to diabetes. That’s one of the reasons it’s critical to control your blood glucose levels, so you can prevent all the complications that can come from this disease. When you make simple but effective lifestyle changes, you can keep your blood sugar levels in check.

There are herbs and supplements that help relieve the symptoms and lower your risk of high blood sugar. The Glucose Balance Packhas a combination of nutrients and herbs that work together to reduce blood sugar levels. If you need more information on lowering your blood sugar, we have other resources and videos that review tons of health strategies. Subscribe to our YouTube channel or consider becoming a Wellness Warrior member to get exclusive content!

 

 

References :

https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/blood-and-lymph/hyperglycaemia-high-blood-sugar#:~:text=Regularly%20having%20high%20blood%20sugar,doctor%20or%20diabetes%20care%20team.

https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/diabetes

html https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/6-proven-health-benefits-of-apple-cider-vinegar#4.-May-aid-weight-loss

https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/33/2/e27/27189/Vinegar-Decreases-Postprandial-Hyperglycemia-in

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6425402/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8051261/

https://medshadow.org/dangers-of-diabetes-drugs/

https://www.everydayhealth.com/type-2-diabetes/potential-benefits-berberine-type-2-diabetes/

https://www.bensnaturalhealth.com/blog/diabetes-health/natural-metformin/

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/can-fenugreek-help-manage-diabetes#fenugreek-uses

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34187442/

Dr. Nick Zyrowski
Dr. Nick Zyrowski



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