Apple Cider Vinegar Salad Dressing

Vinegar can be used in various ways: pickling, cleaning windows, killing weeds, curing ailments, and also in salad dressings. There are many types of vinegars, each one with a unique taste and a particular characteristic that blends well with certain foods. Due to its numerous health benefits, apple cider vinegar is one of the most popular vinegars on the market today. Here is a simple and straightforward apple cider vinegar salad dressing recipe that is easy to remember.

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• 3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar 
• 3 Tbsp olive oil 
• Salt and pepper to taste 

Blend the ingredients together, pour the dressing on any mix of salad greens, and you have a healthy side dish to accompany your meal. In addition to the apple cider’s natural health benefits, this apple cider vinegar salad dressing boasts heart-healthy olive oil and zero carbohydrates.

What is Apple Cider Vinegar?
Vinegar is the result of fermentation - a process that occurs when the sugars in a food are broken down by bacteria and yeast. In the first stage, sugars are transformed into alcohol, then, when the alcohol is allowed to ferment further, the result is vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar is made from fermented apples. It has a distinct reddish-gold color, and a milder flavor than malt vinegar or wine vinegar. It is often used in salad dressings, marinades, coleslaws, and sauces. Apple cider vinegar salad dressing should be stored in a dark place as the vinegar is sensitive to light.

Vinegar’s Health Benefits
Although apple cider vinegar is said to be a source of potassium, it should be noted that its presence is minimal. There is 11mg of potassium in one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (women need a daily intake of 3g while men need 6g).

Most vinegars, regardless of the type, contain many antioxidant components and nutrients that are derived from the grain, fruit, or vegetable from which they are made of. For years, vinegars have been praised for their healing properties.

Some studies suggest that apple cider vinegar can help with health issues such as diabetes and obesity.

• Diabetes: Out of all the research conducted on vinegars, the most significant has been with regard to the effects of apple cider vinegar on blood sugar levels in diabetics. Studies have found that vinegar can actually help lower glucose levels. A 2007 study of people with type 2 diabetes reported that by taking 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before bedtime, the subjects had lowered their glucose levels in the morning by 4 to 6%.
• Obesity: It is believed that vinegar can help with weight loss. A study conducted in 2005 indicated that the subjects who ate a piece of bread with a small amount of white vinegar felt ‘full’ and satisfied, contrary to those who only ate the bread.