A recent review of an ebook on vinegar remedies revealed some rather extraordinary claims. While the author stated that vinegar isn’t a cure-all, the list of ailments it supposedly fixes was extensive, matched only by the dubious reasoning behind these supposed benefits.
The ebook implies that modern health problems stem from prioritizing ‘debased’ taste buds over wholesome nutrition. It suggests turning to ‘natural resources’ used before the time of Christ as an antidote to the ‘unnatural chemical compounds’ plaguing us. Ironically, our ancestors, who relied on such resources, had significantly shorter lifespans than we do today.
While nutrition undeniably plays a role in health, it’s an oversimplification to attribute all illnesses to poor dietary choices. Even individuals with healthy lifestyles get sick. The answers are rarely simple and aren’t always found in glorified folk remedies or misinterpreted traditional medicine. This isn’t to dismiss the potential value of traditional practices for specific conditions.
However, presenting herbal or folk remedies with a veneer of pseudoscience is misleading. The ebook claims that ‘outstanding authorities’ have proven apple cider vinegar’s therapeutic value for conditions ranging from obesity to arthritis, without citing these authorities. The primary justification for apple cider vinegar’s alleged benefits is its purported composition: Phosphorus, Chlorine, Potassium, Sodium, Magnesium, Calcium, Sulfur, Iron, Fluorine, Silicon, and various trace elements, including potassium.
While apple cider vinegar does contain some of these elements, the quantities are often insignificant. For instance, it contains roughly 15mg of potassium per tablespoon, compared to 159mg in an apple or 288mg in 10 rings of dried apple. It contains negligible sodium and magnesium, and only trace amounts of calcium and phosphorus. Despite this, the book promotes apple cider vinegar for improving vein and capillary health, thus boosting heart health and lowering blood pressure. It even suggests it aids blood clotting, without explaining how. This logic is flawed and exaggerated.
Apple cider vinegar may have potential as a natural cleaner and might offer some health benefits. However, its capabilities are vastly overstated. Linking it to every conceivable ailment trivializes herbal remedies. It’s important to approach such claims with skepticism and base health decisions on evidence-based information.