Long life expectancy often comes down to the lifestyle one adopts. Eating the right kinds of food, exercising and avoiding smoking and binge drinking will all help to ensure a long and healthy life. There are a few other methods and tricks one can include in their daily lives to help with boosting your longevity.
Reduce diabetes risk
In a study published in Diabetes Care, vinegar to improve insulin sensitivity to a high-carbohydrate meal in subjects with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes was investigated.
The study found that vinegar can significantly improve postprandial insulin sensitivity in insulin-resistant subjects.
Acetic acid has been shown to suppress disaccharidase activity and to raise glucose-phosphate concentrations in skeletal muscle; thus, vinegar may possess physiological effects similar to acarbose or metformin.
The study concluded that vinegar has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity during a high-carb meal by 19 to 34 percent, and to significantly lower blood sugar and insulin responses.
READ MORE: Diabetes type 2: Out of control blood sugars could cause the Somogyi effect – what is it?
Reduce cholesterol and heart disease risk
In a study published in the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, acetic acid found in apple cider vinegar and how it can reduce cholesterol in rats was analysed.
The study used rats to see the potential capabilities of vinegar in lowering cholesterol and therefore reducing the risk of heart attacks and heart disease.
The acetic acid-fed group had shown significantly lower values for serum total cholesterol and triacylglycerols after the study.
“In conclusion, dietary acetic acid reduced serum total cholesterol and triacylglycerol: first due to the inhibition of lipogenesis in liver; second due to the increment in faecal bile acid excretion in rats fed a diet containing cholesterol,” said the study.
Helps with weight loss
When it comes to losing weight, several human studies have shown vinegar can increase feelings of fullness.
Feeling full can lead to eating fewer calories and weight loss.
One study found that taking vinegar along with a high carb meal led to increased feelings of fullness, causing participants to eat 200-275 fewer calories throughout the rest of the day.
Another study involving 175 people with obesity showed daily apple cider vinegar consumption led to reduced belly fat and weight loss.
Apple cider vinegar has been shown to have various healthful properties, including antimicrobial and antioxidant effects.
What’s more, evidence suggests it may offer health benefits, such as aiding weight loss, reducing cholesterol, lowering blood sugar levels, and improving the symptoms of diabetes.
Health experts recommend having one to two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar – mixed with water or made into a tonic or added to a salad dressing a day to gain these benefits.