Most people know that consuming vinegar can reduce fatigue, aid digestion, relieve aches, and alleviate body acidity, but not many people understand the mechanism behind this. In 1953, a British scientist, Professor Hans Adolf Krebs won the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine with his discovery that is now called the Kreb's Cycle Theory. This marked the beginning of the understanding of how vinegar can enhance health by improving digestion, breaking down and converting food into energy. According to Kreb's theory, the starch and sugar in the food we eat is converted into glucose, the fats are converted into fatty acids, the protein in meat and beans is converted into more than 20 types of amino acids. All these nutrients must be combined with acetic acid (from vinegar) before they can enter the citric acid cycle. In this citric acid cycle, these nutrients are converted into energy (adenosine triphosphate, ATP) that can be utilized by the body. During the conversion process, the food is continuously converted into citric acid, which is then converted into cis-Acotinate, isocitrate, ά – ketoglutarate, succinate, fumarate, malate and oxaloacetate. The cycle repeats itself when the acids are converted back to citric acid.

Maintaining this citric acid cycle is very important, but the cycle cannot function properly if the body is tired or restricted by an improper diet. When the nutrients are not fully synthesized, the incomplete combustion residue will be converted into pyruvate, which will break down into lactic acid when exposed to hydrogen ion. The accumulation of lactic acid in the body results in muscle aches, pain in the nerves and lethargy. The accumulation of lactic acid in the blood stream results in an acidic body; which is a magnet for chronic diseases.

A person who regularly consumes food that is high in calories and mainly consists of fat and protein, has inadequate physical exercise and high stress levels at work, is likely to have a sluggish citric acid cycle and a huge accumulation of lactic acid in the blood stream. This person is also highly susceptible to obesity, muscle aches, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. He might have to rely on medication if he does not start adjusting his diet, exercise, and lifestyle soon. However, he can easily bring his health back on the right track by improving his citric acid cycle with the introduction of natural acetic acid (vinegar) into his diet.

Vinegar - the firewall against disease

1. Eliminates fatigue & reduces muscle aches

Lactic acid tends to accumulate in the body after strenuous exercises or from consuming too much meat. This build up of lactic acid causes tiredness, fatigue, stiff shoulders, natalgia / sore lower back, inflammation of the joints and shoulders, sciatic nerve pain / pelvic pain, neuralgia / aching nerves, knee neuralgia / sore knees, shoulder neuralgia / spinal aches, etc. Lactic acid also causes poor blood circulation, resulting in blood acidity, which is one of the main causes of neuralgia. Lactic acid combines with protein to form lactic protein, which causes shoulder soreness and natalgia / lower back pain, as well as arterial hardening if it is allowed to accumulate in the blood.

2. Transforms an acidic body

All patients suffering from chronic diseases and cancer have an acidic body, which is also the case for those who consume a large amount of meat in their diet. This is probably why people who consume large amounts of meat are more prone to cancer. The risk of disease is reduced when we reduce acidity in the body. Vinegar might taste sour (acidic) but it becomes alkaline once it enters the body, and taking it frequently will make the blood slightly alkaline which is the body's healthy and natural state.

3. Revitalizes cells, supports blood flow

The poly amino acids in vinegar cause red blood cells to be more flexible and able to pass smoothly through narrow capillaries to transport oxygen to all parts of the body, aiding cell revitalization. Smooth blood flow can help prevent high blood pressure, heart diseases and stroke. It also alleviates oedema and varicose veins that are caused by poor blood circulation.

4. Cleanses blood, prevents arthritic pain

Clean blood is slightly alkaline and lower in viscosity. When we consume a lot of meat, our blood and body fluids become acidic and more waste products are produced during metabolism and energy output. This increase in waste matter puts additional stress on the kidneys and can lead to uremia in serious cases. Arthritic pains happen when there is too much uric acid in the blood stream; the waste increase in the blood also leads to higher blood viscosity which can result in hardened arteries. V inegar helps maintain a healthy alkaline level by preventing uric acid build up and body fluid acidification. It also promotes the excretion of deposited uric acid, reduces the burden on kidneys, prevents gout and solves each kind of fearful cardiovascular disease.

5. Relieves gastrointestinal discomforts

Nowadays, people often suffer from autonomic nerve abnormalities due to extreme pressure. Autonomic nerve abnormality results in an over production of gastric acid which lead to intestinal mucosal membrane injury, stomach wall haemorrhage, and gastric and duodenal ulcers. Acetic acid (also found in vinegar) is mildly alkaline so taking acetic acid can neutralize strong acids and alleviate ulcers caused by excessive gastric juice.

In times of low gastric acid production, the acetic acid in vinegar can play the role of gastric acid and help in the digestion and absorption of food. At the same time, its antibacterial properties promote the healing of the affected areas.

6. Facilitates calcium absorption

The smell, taste and composition of vinegar can stimulate alimentary organs / digestive system and enhance digestion and the absorption of nutrients from food. Vinegar also improves the breakdown of food into its nutritious components for easy absorption by the body. For example, calcium and vinegar can combine into calcium acetate that is easily absorbed by the body. In this way, vinegar helps the body absorb more calcium. The citric acid in vinegar enters the body and promotes the full utilisation of calcium by the body; the results are stronger bones, less mood swings, and a better night's sleep.

Most weight loss medications on the market fight obesity by suppressing the absorption of calories, but this can lead to poor nutrient uptake and have adverse effects on health. Consuming vinegar assists calorie burning while maintaining adequate nutrient intake. When food is consumed, the digestion process converts sugar into glucose, oil and fat into fatty acids, and protein into amino acids. These nutrients require acetic acid (available in vinegar) to act as a catalyst before they can enter the citric acid cycle to be converted into energy for the body. In the absence of acetic acid as a catalyst, these nutrients will turn into fat and be stored in our body. Consuming vinegar not only improves digestion and nutrient absorption, but it also boosts metabolism and caloric expenditure for optimised energy – so no excess calories are left to be converted to fat.

8. Eases constipation

Vinegar improves metabolism and promotes the excretion of waste from the body. It also supports intestinal elasticity and the production of carbonic acid that facilitates bowel movement. Some people who consume highly concentrated vinegar are even known to excrete oil from their body during bowel movement, and this phenomenon can be attributed to the ability of vinegar to break down fats.

9. Beautifies the skin and improves complexion

Lipid peroxidation refers to the oxidative degradation of lipids. It is the process whereby free radicals "steal" electrons from the lipids in cell membranes, resulting in cell damage and causing signs of ageing . Vinegar helps prevent lipid peroxidation, promote skin metabolism and prevent the production of brown spots, keeping skin fair, young, and healthy.