Antioxidants in Balsamic Vinegar Support Overall Health
Many people are unaware that flavored balsamic vinegars exist, and that most balsamic vinegars sold in grocery stores are not authentic. Moreover, many do not know that flavored balsamics, such as the Olive Basket’s Dark Espresso Balsamic Vinegar, provide several unknown health benefits.
In fact, beyond flavored balsamic vinegars’ diverse flavors and the common misconception about their authenticity, academic research suggests that balsamic vinegars are rich in antioxidants, may help balance blood sugar levels, and aid in digestion.
Antioxidants Support Overall Health
Our authentic 12-year aged Italian balsamic vinegars are the real deal. We use only natural sugars from the production process and flavor them with essential oil extracts, ensuring that no added sugars are used whatsoever. This means you get delicious flavors and beneficial antioxidants in every drop!
The antioxidant properties of fruit vinegars, such as balsamic vinegars, are recognized for their health benefits, including their ability to suppress obesity-induced oxidative stress, regulate lipid metabolism, and reduce liver damage.
“Fruit vinegars offer a natural source of dietary antioxidant polyphenols and organic acids,” say researchers in the 2019 study, “Antioxidant Activities, Phenolic Profiles, and Organic Acid Contents of Fruit Vinegars.” “Antioxidants and organic acids are two important components of the flavors and health benefits of fruit vinegars.”
Balancing Blood Sugar Levels
Several studies have found that vinegar may reduce blood sugar levels when eaten in moderation with foods like white bread or as part of a Mediterranean diet, such as vinegar and oil.
The following excerpts highlight many of the findings:
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“In…patients who had consumed [a food] placebo, blood glucose levels raised postprandially, reaching a peak after 60 minutes, whereas after the consumption of vinegar, postprandial glucose spikes were decreased,” researchers Mitrou, Panayota et al. said in their 2015 article, “Vinegar Consumption Increases Insulin-
Stimulated Glucose Uptake by the Forearm Muscle in Humans with Type 2 Diabetes.” “As a result, vinegar compared to [the study’s] placebo reduced total blood glucose levels[.]” -
“...[V]inegar can be effective in reducing postprandial glucose and insulin levels, indicating it could be considered as an adjunctive tool for improving glycemic control,” researchers Farideh Shishehbor, Anahita Mansoori, and Fatemeh Shirani said in their 2017 article, “Vinegar Consumption Can Attenuate Postprandial Glucose and Insulin Responses: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Clinical Trials.”
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“Supplementation of a meal based on white wheat bread with vinegar reduced postprandial responses of blood glucose and insulin, and increased the subjective rating of satiety,” researchers E. Ostman et al. said in their 2005 article, “Vinegar
Supplementation Lowers Glucose and Insulin Responses and Increases Satiety After a Bread Meal in Healthy Subjects.” “There was an inverse dose-response relation between the level of acetic acid and glucose and insulin responses, and a linear dose-response relation between acetic acid and satiety rating.”
How Balsamic Vinegar Supports Digestive Health
Balsamic vinegar may support digestive health by slowing carbohydrate breakdown, possibly delaying gastric emptying, and enhancing feelings of fullness. However, lab studies show balsamic vinegar slows carbohydrate digestion in simulated models; human
data are not yet available to confirm this in people with real meals.
In a 2021 lab study by Eleonora Urbinati, et al., “The Effect of Balsamic Vinegar Dressing on Protein and Carbohydrate Digestibility is Dependent on the Food Matrix,” for example, researchers found that balsamic vinegar slowed down how quickly certain digestive enzymes worked. The dark vinegars reduced the ones that break down proteins
and starches, but it boosted the one that helps digest fats. Regular vinegar (acetic acid) only slowed starch digestion and didn’t change the others.
For best digestive health results, try adding a drizzle of The Olive Basket’s Espresso Dark Balsamic Vinegar over starch-rich foods: Potatoes, grains, or greens, to maximize the benefits.
