Apple Cider Vinegar, known simply as ACV, is the latest superfood recommended for our health and wellbeing due to its many different benefits. In fact it has become so popular that it is now one of our best selling products alongside our honey, so we have created three different flavours of Apple Cider Vinegar all made with 300 MGO Manuka honey for you to choose one that best suits your healthcare needs.

Here’s a roundup explaining the benefits of taking Apple Cider Vinegar, and the extra benefit of adding Manuka Honey.

But first, what is Apple Cider Vinegar?

Apple Cider Vinegar is made from fermenting apples which turns them into acetic acid; the active ingredient in the vinegar. Our Apple Cider Vinegar is unfiltered, giving it a cloudy appearance due to the presence of a cobweb like substance known as ‘the mother’ containing proteins, enzymes and friendly bacteria for extra health benefits.

Alongside our original Apple Cider Vinegar with Manuka honey, we have now created two new flavours:

• Apple Cider Vinegar with Manuka honey and ginger
• Apple Cider Vinegar with Manuka honey, turmeric and long pepper

Why add turmeric and long pepper to Apple Cider Vinegar?

Everything that is added to our Apple Cider Vinegar has individual health benefits. Turmeric contains the compound Curcumin which acts as an anti-inflammatory agent that has a therapeutic benefit to aid digestion and can benefit disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease¹. Long pepper also has health benefits, but it is added in conjunction with turmeric as it contains Piperine which enhances the absorption of Curcumin increasing its therapeutic effects².

Why is Manuka Doctor’s Apple Cider Vinegar different to other brands?

Not only do we use unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar, but we also add our own special ingredient; 300 MGO rated Manuka Honey. Methylglyoxal, known simply as MGO, is a naturally occurring compound found in Manuka honey and is derived from DHA (dihydroxyacetone) which is naturally present in the nectar of the Manuka Bush. Manuka Honey is widely known for its special antimicrobial properties that fight and kill certain types of bacteria.

Our Manuka Doctor Raw Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother and Manuka Honey has a mild acidity of vinegar but with the added sweetness of honey.

"I've just started using tt, but love the taste and smell. Very good to make a healthy drink or add to the salad."

The benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar has been used for centuries to fight coughs and colds, but there is emerging scientific evidence surrounding the benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar.

It may help to improve digestion

The human gut contains a large number of microorganisms including bacteria known as the gut microbiota, and these microorganisms are important for our overall digestive health³. Like other fermented foods such as yoghurt, our raw unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar can be considered a probiotic as it contains healthy bacteria which help to maintain a healthy gut microbiome, and Apple Cider Vinegar is particularly beneficial as apples contain pectin which has been shown to aid digestion^4,5.

"Apple cider vinegar is also great to include for digestive health. To get the full digestive benefits, it is important to consume raw and unfiltered apple cider vinegar as this will still contain something called the ‘mother’. The ‘mother’ is incredibly rich in nutrients including enzymes supporting the breakdown of food, as well as friendly bacteria which helps to support a healthy gut environment."

It may help support your immune system

Our gut microbiome is not only important for our digestive health, as recent research has found it to be closely linked to our immune function⁶. One of the main functions of our microbiota is to protect our intestine from harmful pathogens and bacteria that enter our gut, and maintaining a healthy gut microbiota helps our gut immune system to fight harmful pathogens efficiently⁷.

It may help to reduce blood glucose levels

The main component of Apple Cider Vinegar is acetic acid, and this has recently gained a lot of interest as it has been found to be effective in reducing blood glucose levels⁸. Apple Cider Vinegar may therefore be able to help in the daily management of type 2 diabetes, as well as reducing the risk of obesity which is frequently associated with diabetes⁸.

Apple Cider Vinegar and weight loss

A daily teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar could aid weight loss, a study suggests.

Researchers recruited 120 people aged 27-34 who were overweight or obese to test ACV's potential as a weight loss aid.

Participants were divided into four groups and took either a 5, 10 or 15ml dose or a placebo (dummy product) first thing in the morning for three months.

The Apple Cider Vinegar drinkers lost more weight, shedding on average 6-8kg, with those on the highest amount seeing the largest losses.

While the placebo group saw much smaller improvements, losing less than 1kg.

The study’s authors said the effects could be due to acetic acid in Apple Cider Vinegar slowing the production of glucose and fat, and increasing fat breakdown.

Commenting on the findings, Professor Helen Truby, an expert in nutrition and dietetics at Australia’s University of Queensland, said more work was needed on this benefit of Apple Cider Vinegar.

"What a great product, the taste is fine and it’s helped with my weight loss"