Apple Cider Vinegar: A Potential Health Risk?

Along with the interest of many Americans in natural medicines to treat disease came a surge of fantastic claims surrounding folk remedies, vitamins and herbs. Such claims are usually made by individuals with a financial interest in an enterprise selling products purported to prevent or cure a disease. Although healthy eating and reliance on herbal medicine is a most powerful combination to prevent and cure disease, proceeding in this direction without knowledge may prove fatal. Modern man's forefathers knew what they were doing. It is unlikely that they understood the scientific principles behind their practice of medicine. Nevertheless, they achieved results without side effects and lived strong healthy lives into their old age.

Much of the disease with which people were afflicted generations ago was caused by the unsanitary conditions in which they normally lived, not by wrong diet and exposure to chemicals. Considering the availability of soap and water in the United States, sanitation should no longer be a problem. Now, concentration can be placed on acquiring the valuable knowledge the forefathers and ancient peoples possessed.

Proponents of apple cider vinegar, particularly of raw cider, encourage the consumption of the cloudy and brownish liquid for a variety of ailments. Supposedly, the health benefits of the vinegar include: helping to clear up skin conditions, reducing joint pain, and regulating blood pressure (The Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar). But, are there any supposed health risks associated with ingesting the vinegar? Yes, there are. Although one bad apple doesn't spoil a whole bunch, one bad apple does spoil a whole batch of apple cider vinegar. How?

In spite of the nutrition offered in apples, once they start to spoil they contain mold which endangers health. Patulin is a toxic substance that moldy apples and pears may produce. Due to its stability even at high temperatures, pasteurization doesn't destroy it (Ellen C. Hopmans, Department of Food Science & Technology). Certainly raw apple products containing moldy fruit are contaminated with this toxin and may do just as much or more harm than good.

In what way is patulin harmful to the body? According to the article "Patulin: a Mycotoxin in Apples", studies have found that the toxin damages DNA or chromosomes. Such information should be enough to cause concern. Some still encourage taking apple cider vinegar as a health potion since the process of fermentation should destroy patulin (Scott Chaussee). Nevertheless, there's the likelihood that the juice of moldy apples was added after the completion of the fermentation process.

In times past, people made cider and vinegars from fresh apples. They made it at home and knew exactly the quality of what went into the product as they themselves were the manufacturers. They know what they added and what they didn't. None of these things are ever known for a certainty when apple cider vinegar is purchased from a store. The health of some people appears to deteriorate after their attempts to lead a healthier life style. Sometimes that "healthier" life style isn't as healthy as they thought.

Works consulted/cited:

Hopmans, Ellen C. "Patulin: a Mycotoxin in Apples". Perishables Handling Quarterly Issue 91 August 1997: 5-6.

Scott Chaussee
Patulin: What Is It? How Is It Related To Apples? Is It Harmful?
All About Apples Articles

Dr. Edward Group
The Benefits of Apples Cider Vinegar
Global Healing Center