What are the ingredients in vinegar? Which one is good, traditional or synthetic vinegar? Are fruit flies necessary for vinegar production? Do vinegars contain alcohol? What are the substances used to balance vinegar temperament? Along with the properties of apple cider vinegar.
According to traditional medicine scholars, vinegar is considered the best and most superior among sour foods.
Vinegar is obtained from various sweet substances or sweet fruits such as grapes (Zante currant), apples, dates, honey, cane syrup, grape syrup, etc.
What is vinegar?
Vinegar is an ancient condiment derived from almost any food substance containing sugar. This magical liquid is, in fact, an acidic substance obtained from the fermentation of ethanol and contains acetic acid. It has various benefits, from aiding in the long-term preservation of vegetables to its disinfectant properties.
Vinegar is used in various dishes, salads, and sauces, leaving its footprint in culinary cultures worldwide. People across the globe utilize different ingredients to make vinegar; for instance, white grapes in Iran, rice in East Asia, red grapes in Italy, and dates in Arab countries.
Vinegar is an aqueous solution of acetic acid and trace compounds that may include flavorings. Vinegar typically contains 5–20% acetic acid by volume.
Acetic acid is usually produced by fermenting ethanol or fermenting sugars with acetic acid bacteria.
Natural vinegars contain less tartaric acid and citric acid compared to ordinary vinegar.
Additionally, regular vinegar, besides natural antibiotics, develops biological amino acids through fermentation process, a component lacking in synthetic vinegars.
Traditional vinegar or industrial vinegar?
For traditional vinegar, they mash a fruit rich in sugar or carbohydrates, pour it into a container with some water, and let it ferment in cool air with the container slightly open. However, for industrial vinegar, they don't use the fruit itself but extract vinegar from fruit and juice waste. Sometimes, it's made solely from alcohol derived from beet molasses. This difference gives traditional vinegar a better aroma and taste. Also, be aware that when reading about the benefits of vinegar, they are referring to traditional fermented vinegar, not factory-made(synthetic) vinegars!
What are the constituents of vinegar?
Vinegar contains potassium, phosphorus, magnesium chloride, sodium chloride, sulfur, and vitamins B and D, promoting cell vitality. In the table below, you'll become more familiar with the components and nutritional value of vinegar per 100 grams:
|
Constituent |
Amount per 100 grams |
|
Calories |
18 kilocalories |
|
Carbohydrates |
0.04 grams |
|
Protein |
0 grams |
|
Fat |
0 grams |
|
Water |
94.78 grams |
|
Fiber |
0 grams |
|
Sugar |
0.04 grams |
|
Cholesterol |
0 grams |
Types of vinegar production methods
Vinegar is produced through two methods: slow and fast.
- In the slow method, over several months and through the activity of acid-producing bacteria, ethanol is converted to acetic acid.
- In the fast method, by adding vinegar mother (a culture medium containing acid-producing bacteria known as the mother culture) to the fermentation environment, vinegar is produced. The oxidation process is carried out by the Acetobacter discovered by Louis Pasteur in 1864.
What are the two methods to produce vinegar?
- In the first method, vinegar is made using the fruits themselves. Fruits used for vinegar production should have high carbohydrates, meaning either their starch content is high, or they are sweet enough. For this reason, to produce industrial or traditional vinegar, they mostly use fruits like apples, dates, or grapes.
- In the second method, which is more commonly used in vinegar production industries, factories prefer to start the process by using alcohol.
What is industrial vinegar?
Industrial vinegar is a highly acidic liquid used for flavoring in the food and pickling industries, obtained through the oxidation of ethanol in water from grapes, apples, or other substances. Typically, 3 _ 5 percent of the vinegar volume is composed of citric acid. However, natural and organic vinegar contains less tartaric and citric acid.
How was vinegar made traditionally or homemade?
In the home or traditional method, fruits are first chopped and placed in a container. The container's lid is tightly closed for a while to allow alcoholic fermentation by yeasts. After yeasts convert carbohydrates into alcohol under anaerobic conditions, the container must be opened to introduce air into the alcoholic environment of the fruits. In aerobic conditions, acetobacters come into play, consuming alcohol to produce vinegar. (To turn grapes or other fruits into vinegar, they first convert to alcohol and then vinegar. When pouring grapes or other fruits into a container to make vinegar or using alcohol to assist in this process, vinegar-producing microorganisms, such as acetic acid bacteria or acetobacters, consume it after the alcohol production period and transform it into vinegar.)
The vinegar-producing microorganisms, namely acetic acid bacteria or acetobacters, consume and transform alcohol into vinegar after a period following alcohol production.
Usually, individuals making homemade vinegar rely on experience to know when to open the container; however, the optimal time for this is when the fruits ferment and bubbles form on the surface of the container and in-between them.
In this case, we realize that alcohol has been produced. The fermentation and bubbles result from the release of carbon dioxide from fruits that have remained in anaerobic conditions for a while. If, after opening the container, a spoonful of vinegar is added to its contents, the necessary conditions for vinegar production will be well established.
Benefits of Vinegars
The acetic acid concentration in culinary vinegars available in the market, mostly used in kitchens, ranges from 4 to 8 percent, while vinegars used for pickling can go up to 18 percent.
Natural vinegar also contains small amounts of tartaric acid, citric acid, and other plant acids. Vinegar has been used since ancient times and is a crucial ingredient in cooking in both Europe and Asia.
1. Potential Reduction of Cholesterol and Blood TriglyceridesIn the year 2006, a significant reduction in cholesterol and blood triglycerides was observed in laboratory mice with vinegar consumption. Similar experiments on humans have also been conducted, showing a reduction in mortality in some heart-related diseases with the consumption of vinegar in volunteer individuals. The possibility of the vinegar's effect in the mentioned cases in humans exists.
2. Blood Sugar Control in Diabetic Individuals
Before the production of blood sugar-lowering medications, individuals with diabetes used vinegar to reduce blood sugar. Consuming approximately 20 milliliters or two tablespoons of vinegar with meals or throughout the daily regimen can lower the blood sugar of diabetic and healthy individuals. Vinegar consumption in some individuals may reduce their blood sugar by up to 30 percent.
Many believe that apple cider vinegar, due to its ability to stabilize glucose and prevent a sharp increase in blood sugar, is an effective tool for diabetic patients. However, while it holds various benefits for individuals with insulin resistance or for future diabetes prevention, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that this substance can replace insulin and other essential diabetes medications.
3. Dietary control
A series of experiments have shown that consuming vinegar with meals leads to a feeling of fullness and, consequently, a reduction in food intake.
4. Infections
Vinegar, as an antiseptic, has been used since the time of Hippocrates, who lived between 377 and 460 BC. This scientist recommended vinegar for alleviating persistent coughs. It is widely believed that vinegar possesses disinfectant properties. While vinegar can be used as an antimicrobial agent for cleaning kitchen surfaces and washing areas, studies have shown that its oral and topical consumption does not have significant anti-infective, antifungal, or anti-lice properties.
5. Weight Management
Apple cider vinegar reduces sugar absorption, promotes improved fatty liver conditions, and lowers levels of bad cholesterol, contributing to weight loss.
6. Reduction of Swelling
Vinegar is highly penetrating and drying, so it is extensively used topically for penetrating tissues and alleviating swelling, inflammation, and secretions.
7. Bleeding Control
When a piece of cloth soaked in vinegar is applied to a wound or acute injury, it not only stops bleeding but also prevents swelling. This method is highly beneficial in averting infection, swelling, and the spread of toxins in areas bitten by reptiles and stinging animals such as snakes, scorpions, and spiders. It's worth noting that Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, employed vinegar for wound cleaning over 2000 years ago.
8. Skin Exfoliation and Cleansing
Approximately five to six percent of apple cider vinegar is composed of acetic acid, making it the best exfoliator and a potent skin cleanser. Additionally, apple cider vinegar contains a significant number of alpha-hydroxy acids in its composition, playing a crucial role in removing dead skin cells.
9. Mouthwash
Rinsing and gargling with apple cider vinegar, especially if accompanied by a bit of salt or honey, strengthens teeth and gums. It also helps remove secretions and firm layers adhered to the throat and tonsils or eliminate white, foul-smelling masses present in the tonsil cavities.
10. Treatment of Olfactory Disorders
Inhaling vinegar vapors (at room temperature or slightly heated) over the head and face leads to thinning of secretions and opening of blockages formed in the nasal passages, Eustachian tubes (connecting the throat and middle ear), and sinuses. Consequently, it helps prevent and treat various types of earaches, hearing loss, ear and nose congestion, sinusitis, and olfactory disorders.
11. Aid for Headaches
Topical application (placing a cloth soaked in vinegar on the forehead) helps alleviate headaches caused by warm temperament, especially when combined with flower oil.
12. Internal Organs Protection
Vinegar prevents the deposition of excess substances and pathogenic agents in vital internal organs of the body (such as the liver, heart, lungs, and stomach), thus providing protection to these organs. Particularly in warm seasons, vinegar eliminates the sharpness and heat of bile and blood, softening and thinning phlegm secretions in the body and its passages. These residual and hardened phlegm substances in the body are often implicated in common and localized obesity, blockages, and dysfunction of organs such as the liver.
13. Loss of Appetite Treatment
Vinegar helps stimulate appetite and aids in digesting heavy foods, particularly for individuals with a warm temperament, children with reduced appetite due to elevated body temperature, and those affected by heat.
14. Neutralizing Toxic Substances in the Body
The presence of vinegar in food combinations ( such as” Sekbaj” is a type of vinegar-based soup in Iran , typically made with vinegar, honey, salt, and specific herbs, and may also include lamb meat.) contributes to the gentleness and easy digestion of the meal. Drinking heated vinegar helps expel the harmful effects of toxic substances, especially narcotic drugs like opium and hemlock, thus aiding in addiction recovery.
15. Anti-Cancer Properties
Vinegar is a body stimulant and is considered an antagonist for some drugs, such as atropine sulfate.
In the past, vinegar was considered a carcinogenic agent, but now it is somewhat regarded as a combatant against cancer-causing substances (carcinogens).
16. Suitable for Diets
In low-salt diets (avoiding salt), consuming vinegar is suitable because it stimulates and increases the salt content in fruits, promoting its elimination through sweating. It also acts similarly in meat-based diets, except for those with liver disease. Vinegar is beneficial for preventing obesity, promoting weight loss, and is useful in anti-diabetic diets. Additionally, Iranians use it for pickling purposes.
17. Aid in Digestion
Natural vinegar regulates body metabolism by increasing saliva secretion. Saliva, from a biochemical perspective, contains a significant amount of proteins (albumin) that enhance the breakdown and digestion of food. Additionally, the interaction of vinegar with saliva helps protect teeth from decay.
18. Improvement of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal condition associated with irregular menstrual cycles, elevated levels of androgens, ovarian cysts, and insulin resistance. A three-month study indicated that the hormone levels of women with PCOS, who consumed one tablespoon (15 milliliters) of apple cider vinegar diluted in 100 milliliters of water immediately after dinner, improved, leading to more regular menstrual cycles.
19. Good for Cleaning
White vinegar is commonly used as a household cleaner. This is due to its acidic properties, allowing it to dissolve mineral deposits on glassware, kettles, teapots, coffee makers, and smooth, polished surfaces. Generally, vinegar should be diluted with water to prevent damage to the surfaces of these items. Vinegar is one of the best solvents for cleaning epoxy resins, even the toughened varieties. The traditional method of using newspaper soaked in vinegar for cleaning glass and mirrors, especially when they are greasy, is still in use in the UK. Vinegar can be used to clean and shine bronze (brass) objects. Recently, vinegar is introduced as an eco-friendly solution for cleaning various household items. It is used, for example, to clean pet urine stains or as a weed killer.
20. Disinfecting surfaces with white vinegar
By combining this vinegar with baking soda, you can easily remove old stains from tiles and ceramics.
Vinegar is a neutral and inexpensive cleaning agent that occurs naturally and is formed from minimal chemical substances, causing no harm to the environment. White vinegar is commonly used to eliminate pollution and stains. Mixing vinegar with water can be used for cleaning glass. Vinegar is produced by adding vinegar to apple juice or similar substances. The oxidation process is carried out by Acetic acid bacteria, discovered by Louis Pasteur in 1864.
Other Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar
It acts as an astringent, a desiccant, a tenderizer for various foods, a stomach tonic, aids digestion, detoxifies the body from toxic substances, is effective in treating skin acne and opening its pores, relieves cold and warm temperament headaches, removes subcutaneous blood clots, strengthens gums, is anti-arthritic and alleviates joint and spinal pain, alleviates inflammation and throat infections, relieves constipation, and prevents premature aging. 
How is alcohol used in the industry to produce vinegar?
In the method of vinegar production with alcohol, they use fruit juices or waste from fruit juice factories, which have high carbohydrates, and process them to produce vinegar. Sometimes vinegar factories also make their product using alcohol derived from beet molasses. In the traditional process of vinegar production, alcohol is initially extracted from fruits, and then this alcohol is transformed into vinegar. Generally, using alcohol in industries is much easier and less troublesome than producing it directly from fruits.
Is the use of alcohol in the production of industrial vinegars allowed?
Yes, in the vinegar production process, this alcohol gradually transforms into vinegar. Even individuals experienced in making homemade vinegar know that fruits, when used to make vinegar, initially convert to alcohol and then eventually turn into vinegar. So, when pouring grapes or other fruits into a container for vinegar production or using alcohol for this purpose, vinegar-producing microorganisms, such as acetobacter, consume it after a certain period beyond alcohol production, transforming it into acid, or vinegar.
Does the presence of small flies mean the vinegar is spoiled?
No. Actually they are tiny flies called Drosophila that, during the conversion of alcohol to vinegar, hover around the container and consume a bit of the vinegar. The presence of these flies indicates the vinegar formation process, and they do not pose any problem in terms of taste or health for your product.
Vinegar Preservation
It is better to store vinegar hygienically in glass containers. Since the vinegar environment is acidic and antimicrobial, its shelf life is practically unlimited. Some believe that older homemade vinegars develop a better aroma and taste. For this reason, vinegars aged seven years (7-year old vinegar) or more have many enthusiasts. Ultimately, it is recommended to store vinegar in a dry and cool place, away from direct sunlight.
Side Effects of Excess Vinegar Consumption
Vinegar has numerous proven positive effects on humans in scientific studies. However, excessive and prolonged consumption can be harmful and dangerous.
- Apple cider vinegar may lead to unpleasant digestive symptoms in some individuals.
- Consuming large amounts of apple cider vinegar long-term might lead to problems such as low potassium. There has been one report of a person who developed low potassium levels and weak bones (osteoporosis)
- Acidic foods and drinks soften tooth enamel, which makes teeth sensitive and vulnerable to damage, such as cavities.
- Due to its strong acidic nature, vinegar may cause burns when in contact with the skin.
- Due to its high penetration ability, vinegar easily penetrates organs such as the central nervous system and lungs. Therefore, its excessive consumption, especially by individuals with a cold temperament or those suffering from neurological issues (depression, memory disorders), nervous disorders (sensory disturbances, paralysis), and respiratory problems (asthma, chronic cough), can have adverse effects. Additionally, if consumed excessively, it may lead to visual impairment, weakness, emaciation, erectile dysfunction, and reduced sexual fluids.
Side effects of consuming vinegar during pregnancy
Despite the unique nature of each pregnancy, experiencing stomach acidity in the second and third trimesters is normal. As you know, vinegar is acidic and can exacerbate the condition of stomach acidity. Mothers should immediately stop consuming vinegar in case of irritation or increased stomach acidity, and overall, vinegar consumption during pregnancy should be balanced and accompanied by its modifier substances.
Side effects and harms of apple cider vinegar consumption
Excessive consumption of apple cider vinegar, alongside its benefits, can lead to adverse effects in the body.
- It is not suitable for everyone, especially for individuals with specific conditions such as stomach weakness or gastric ulcers. They should avoid using apple cider vinegar or use it in moderation and with its modifier substances .
- Apple cider vinegar is not recommended for individuals with low blood pressure and blood sugar, as it can cause dizziness.
- Consuming excessive apple cider vinegar can lead to tooth enamel erosion.
- Applying undiluted apple cider vinegar on the skin can cause skin irritation.
- Be cautious about the method and amount of apple cider vinegar consumption. Excessive intake can lead to a decrease in blood potassium levels.
- In some individuals, consuming apple cider vinegar may cause allergies and throat irritation.
- Avoid combining apple cider vinegar with laxatives, blood thinners, and medications related to heart and diabetes.
- Additionally, it is used to eliminate body odor and enhance the taste of various foods as a condiment. It is widely utilized in pickling various foods.
More about Apple Cider Vinegar
- Research indicates that apple cider vinegar can aid in treating varicose veins by improving blood circulation.
- It has been shown to reduce abdominal and thigh fat, assisting in cellulite treatment.
- Apple cider vinegar can be used to treat warts by applying a small amount daily with a cotton ball until the wart disappears. Similarly, soaking a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar and leaving it on a wart overnight can help eliminate it.
- Apple cider vinegar possesses strong antibacterial properties and acts as a natural deodorant. Apply a small amount under the armpits and massage well.
- If you have dry and damaged hair, use apple cider vinegar to treat hair dryness.
- Apply some to your hair, massage well, and then rinse with water. Apple cider vinegar balances the pH of the scalp and is known as a natural remedy for dandruff.
- Apple cider vinegar, due to its high acidic content and potent antiseptic properties, can help eliminate lice eggs and treat head lice.
- It may reduce symptoms of stomach reflux and gastric ulcers, promoting gastrointestinal health.
- Apple cider vinegar is beneficial for colon detoxification, improving digestion, and enhancing the absorption of nutrients from the intestines.
- Studies suggest that it can contribute to appetite reduction, aiding in calorie intake reduction for weight loss.
- Daily consumption of apple cider vinegar has been shown to reduce abdominal fat. It is useful for liver detoxification and may help treat fatty liver.
- Apple cider vinegar can prevent kidney infections and the citric acid present in it is beneficial for preventing and treating kidney stones. Mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with a cup of water and drink it two to three times a day.
- Apple cider vinegar contains beneficial bacteria that can strengthen the immune system, helping prevent colds and flu. Consuming apple cider vinegar with honey is useful for treating colds and coughs.
- Research findings suggest that apple cider vinegar, as a simple component of the diet, is nearly as effective as statins in reducing undesirable blood lipid levels and treating hyperlipidemia. While verjuice also somewhat reduces cholesterol levels, their effect is significantly less than that of apple cider vinegar.
Vinegar Modifier Substances
If vinegar is consumed excessively, it can lead to weakened vision, overall weakness, body emaciation, disturbances in reproductive functions, and reduced sexual fluids. Vinegar modifier includes sweeteners like sugar or honey, saffron, generally sweet or fatty substances.
The best way to consume vinegar is in the form of 'Sirk-e Angabin' or Honey Vinegar Syrup.
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