By Dr. Anthony Policastro
There is a song written by Peter Allen called “Everything Old is New Again”. It was featured in the movie All That Jazz.
That sometimes applies to medical items. When I was in college, I had to do a term paper on the benefits of honey and apple cider vinegar.
As one would expect from the two ingredients, it has been around for a very long time. It started being used in Greece and the Middle East in about 400 BC. Over the last few months, I have seen multiple ads advocating for its benefits.
One of those is digestive health. Apple cider vinegar contains probiotics like yogurt. These may improve the gut microbiome. Honey offers prebiotics. These feed good bacteria in the gut. So in theory, the combination should be good for gut health. There is no proof for that as yet.
A second purported benefit is helping immunity. Both items have effectiveness against microbes. Both have antioxidant properties. How much effect they actually have on immunity is still unclear.
A third benefit is helping with sore throats. Honey does tend to help with coughing. Apple cider vinegar could help thin mucus. So this too, might be a benefit.
The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar can break down carbohydrates. That might make blood sugar levels more even. There is some evidence that it also may provide some help with cholesterol and blood pressure in the long term. So those benefits have a little more scientific background.
The more recent reason for the combination being touted again is the possibility that it can cause weight loss. In theory, it may promote a feeling of fullness and help cause cravings. That may be true. However, it is likely to differ from person to person. And it certainly will not cause a weight loss of 12 pounds in a single week, as the ads I have seen indicate.
Those are the proposed benefits. However, as with all remedies, there are side effects that may also occur.
The first is related to the fact that high acidity can erode tooth enamel. For that reason, it is recommended that it be diluted in a full glass of water and that you wait 30 minutes before brushing. Another reason for diluting the preparation is that undiluted vinegar can burn the esophagus.
Taking it too often (even as often as daily) can lower blood potassium levels. That could lead to muscle weakness. Individuals taking water pills for blood pressure might be more prone to potassium wasting through associated kidney loss of potassium. Individuals with heart disease are more sensitive to potassium levels. Laxatives also cause potassium loss so that is an issue.
While the acetic acid component can make blood sugar levels more even, the honey can raise blood sugar. Apple cider vinegar can interact with diabetic drugs. Thus, these are potential issues for individuals with diabetes.
Individuals with bee allergies need to be careful about honey causing allergic symptoms. Infants under 12 months of age can develop botulism from the honey.
As with any kind of treatment, there are always both benefits and risks. That is true for this approach as well. If you see the ads suggesting honey for weight loss, just remember it is not as easy as the ads say. However, since this has been around since 400 BC, Everything Old is New Again.