Balsamic vinegar is one of the types of vinegar. It is made from unfermented red grapes, which gives it its dark brown color. It can be kept in storage barrels for years. This type of vinegar has become a common ingredient in food because of its pungent taste, so it can be used on salads or pickles. . Some tend to use it in a heart-healthy diet, as people believe that it contributes to lower cholesterol, weight loss, brighter skin, and many other benefits that we will discuss in this article.

Benefits of balsamic vinegar

Benefits of balsamic vinegar include:

Improve skin health

As it contains antimicrobials, acetic acid, and antioxidants, these ingredients are what help improve a person’s complexion over time, but applying it directly to the skin may cause spots; Therefore, it is preferable to take it with food, which will make your skin brighter and clearer with time.

Lowering blood sugar

It also helps regulate blood sugar levels when consumed as part of a meal. Some scientific studies have found that balsamic vinegar has an anti-glycemic effect when consumed. This means that your blood sugar will rise less after a meal. Studies have found that it helps stabilize blood sugar levels for up to 5 hours after a meal.

Aiding in digestion

Acetic acid is one of the main components of balsamic vinegar, which contains types of probiotics, which in turn play an important role in aiding digestion, maintaining intestinal health, and supporting the immune system in general.

Lowering cholesterol level

May help lower cholesterol; Because it contains antioxidants that help protect the body from toxic cells that help raise cholesterol levels, as a study including rabbits found that consuming balsamic vinegar led to keeping cholesterol levels low.

Lose weight

The presence of probiotics in balsamic vinegar helps people feel fuller for longer, and some research indicates that people tend to consume fewer calories when adding vinegar to their morning meal.

Wound treatment

It is also used over time in the treatment of wounds, as some believe that it has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties, but these theories have not been scientifically proven yet.

Reduce high blood pressure

A study involving experimental mice proved that balsamic vinegar can help lower high blood pressure, as the research suggested that adding it to food may reduce high blood pressure over time, and some believe that replacing butter and oils with vinegar helps reduce the amount of fat consumed in general.

Reducing stuffy nose

Some use it to relieve a stuffy nose; By adding a few drops of vinegar to hot water and inhaling the resulting steam.

improve blood circulation

it contains polyphenols, which have a role in the cardiovascular system; Because it is made from unfermented red grapes, which have been scientifically proven to prevent blood clots and help maintain a healthy heart and circulatory system.

There are many benefits of balsamic vinegar, but doctors and scholars unanimously agree that it should not be applied directly to the skin or taken directly in the mouth, but taken through a meal. What are the recipes that we can use?

Balsamic vinegar uses

There are many ways to use balsamic vinegar to benefit from its benefits, including:

Caprese salad

Caprese salad is considered one of the nutritious meals for the body because it contains antioxidants, vitamin C and vitamin K.

the components:

• 2 to 3 large tomatoes
• 500 gm of mozzarella cheese
• 2 to 3 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
• 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil
• Fresh basil leaves
• sea ​​salt

How to prepare:

1. Cut the tomatoes into thick slices
2. Cut the mozzarella cheese into slices, then place it between the tomato slices
3. Basil leaves are placed on top of tomato slices and mozzarella cheese
4. Olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and sea salt are added to the dish

balsamic sauce (balsamic sauce)

Balsamic vinegar is famous for its pungent taste, which will be difficult to accept in meals when added directly to it, so there is a better way to add it and at the same time maintain the enjoyment of the meal, which is by preparing a balsamic vinegar sauce.

the components:

• Half a cup of sugar
• Teaspoon salt
• A bottle of balsamic vinegar

How to prepare:

1. Put about half a liter of balsamic vinegar into an empty container
2. Then add sugar, then salt
3. Place the pot over medium heat, stirring, until boiling
4. Leave to cool, then it is ready to use

Damages of balsamic vinegar

Balsamic vinegar is used on many occasions for its benefits that were previously mentioned, but on the other hand, there are sometimes some risks that one should beware of, namely:

• upset stomach
• Sore throat
• Damage and problems in the esophagus

Most of these risks are due to consuming a large amount of vinegar; Therefore, it is preferable to use about two tablespoons of it or less to avoid these symptoms.

Balsamic vinegar is a healthy addition to meals. Because it contains a small amount of calories, sugar, and fat-free, and with this wonderful nutritional value, it helps in brighter skin and better health, but care should be taken when consuming a large amount of it so that it does not cause serious symptoms.