Is Plant-Based Apple Cider Vinegar Good For Your Stomach?

Alright, we know it can look a bit scary looming at you from the shelf, and some people say it smells like old sports socks… BUT, we are here to tell you about the wonders of vegan apple cider vinegar benefits for your health. 

Sharp and stringent it may be (we actually love the powerful flavor!) there are plenty of ways to ingest vegan apple cider that are easy on the palette and great for your stomach. Delve a little deeper into apple cider vinegar and how it can be good for your stomach!

What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?

Often shortened to the catchy ‘ACV’, apple cider vinegar is basically fermented apple juice. Apples are pulverized and yeast and bacteria are added to kick start the fermentation process. The apples turn their sugars into ethanol, which is then turned into acetic acid, causing it to taste ‘vinegary’.

Used all over the world as a healing treatment for a wide plethora of ailments, this intriguing liquid has been reportedly used as far back as 3300 B.C. to treat wounds, infections, and general ill-health. 

You can find vegan apple cider vinegar in a variety of forms: sweet gummies, filtered and unfiltered in bottles, drops, capsules, powder, as well as in topical treatments. 

Is Apple Cider Vinegar Vegan?

Don’t be confused by all this talk about ‘the mother’ - apple cider vinegar is absolutely 100% vegan! You’ll be happy to know that no animal products or by-products are used in the making of this magical liquid.

‘The Mother’ refers to the thick, strange-looking skin which tends to float around inside the bottle like the ghost of apples past. Granted, it looks a bit creepy, but don’t be put off, ‘The Mother’ has been proven to be packed with nutritious bioactive substances. It is comprised of acetic acid bacteria and forms on the surface of the vinegar. 

You’ll find apple cider vinegar with ‘The Mother’ intact if you go for organic or unpasteurized options. Check the label!

The only thing you’ll want to watch out for is apple cider with additional honey. Pretty rare though it seems, it’s not completely unheard of for people to take the edge off ACV’s sourness with a drop of honey. If someone has prepared an ACV drink for you, just make sure you ask if they’ve added any honey. 

Is Apple Cider Good For You?

In short, yes. There’s a plethora of apple cider vinegar benefits for the stomach and the rest of the body. Here are some of the important nutrients and vitamins that this elixir contains:

• Pectin
• Vitamin B1
• Vitamin B2 
• Vitamin B6
• Folic acid
• Biotin
• Niacin pantothenic acid
• Vitamin C

Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits

As you can see, ACV is heaving with vitamins and nutrients. Following are some of the health issues that vegan apple cider has commonly been used to treat, although the scientific research is currently in its infancy on this subject:

• Preventing inflammation and hypertension
• Lowering cholesterol
• Reducing blood pressure
• Enhancing calcium absorption 
• Decreasing the glycemic index of carbohydrate foods for those with and without diabetes
• Controlling sugar levels in the blood
• Treatment of arthritis 
• Relieving stomach aches

It’s clear that this liquid is some pretty special stuff. No wonder cultures have been using it as an alternative medicine for thousands of years! 

Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits For The Stomach 

People swear by the power of ACV for relieving bloating, stomach aches, and other gastrointestinal complaints. The scientific evidence is slowly catching up with anecdotal reports, but there is some solid evidence out there of the benefits of vegan apple cider vinegar for the stomach and digestive system in general. 

Because of the process to make plant-based apple cider, the liquid possesses the dazzling powers of fermented food/drink. Research has found that ingesting fermented foods or drinks such as vegan apple cider is found to be significantly positive for your gut health. This is due to the improvement that fermented foods make to the balance of intestinal permeability and barrier function. 

In layperson terms, this means that fermented foods and drinks may help to strengthen the walls of your intestine and fight against harmful bacteria more effectively. 

The importance of gut health, we believe at PlantX, can’t really be overstated. As elucidated in this study, our gut health has been strongly linked to our mood, energy levels, behavior, immunity, cravings, hormone balance, and overall wellness and health. 

In other words, it’s pretty important!

The Best Vegan Apple Cider Vinegar:

Bragg - Organic Apple Cider Vinegar

We’ve got to admit, Bragg’s really rules the roost when it comes to apple cider vinegar. You’ll probably recognize this age-old classic ubiquitous in health food shops, and increasingly spotted in average grocery stores and supermarkets. 

There’s a reason why Bragg’s is the best. Made from organically grown USDA certified apples, this organic apple cider vinegar is raw and unfiltered, and always contains ‘The Mother’ for maximum injection of nutrients. 

Fire Cider - Apple Cider Vinegar Wellness Tonic Shots 

The snazzier of the AVC products, Fire Cider have gone all out with these sensational wellness shots. Imploding with natural goodness in the form of ginger, lemons, turmeric, garlic, habanero pepper, and black pepper, these shots certainly pack a punch and harbour many apple cider vinegar benefits for the stomach. 

Including ‘The Mother’, these flavorsome shots embody apple cider vinegar benefits for the stomach, gut health and general immune system strength. One of these a day and you will be unstoppable! 

Ora - Appley Ever After: Organic Apple Cider Vinegar Tablets

Want all of the apple cider vinegar benefits without the strong taste? Ora has got you covered with these convenient vegan apple cider vinegar tablets. Containing 500mg of organic ACV extract per tablet, incorporate one of these little tablets into your daily routine and reap the apple cider vinegar benefits for the stomach and much more!

How Do I Drink Apple Cider Vinegar?

Glugging it straight from the bottle is a little hardcore for most, as the taste is undeniably rather strong and sour. Well, it’s vinegar after all! 

We recommend a healthy slosh (a couple of spoonfuls) in your morning/evening glass of water. If you can hack the taste, feel free to add more! 

You may want to add your ACV to warm water for maximum hydration or have it cold with summer berries. We bestow full creative license to you!

Vegan Apple Cider Vinegar? Sign me up!

We’ve explored the myriad health benefits of the wonder food that is apple cider vinegar. Hopefully, you feel more informed about apple cider vinegar's benefits: it’s a potent liquid!

Trusted as an alternative medicinal source from many cultures and for hundreds of years, this marvellous elixir sourced from the humble apple is a must-have in your cupboard for everyday use. 

A little dash in your daily glass of water - either first thing in the morning or last thing before bed - will do wonders for your gut health and in turn your general immune system. Now, who can argue with a good immune boost?

We’ve seen from scientific research the tremendous apple cider vinegar benefits for the stomach. Especially ACV with ‘The Mother’ is an excellent tonic for your stomach, digestive system and intestinal strength. 

So much of our general health is dependent on the state of our gut, it would be silly to not introduce vegan apple cider vinegar as part of your daily rhythm and enjoy the rewards! 

So, remember, avoid apple cider vinegar that has added honey (it won’t be vegan), and aside from that, go forth and gulp to your heart’s content!