Is Balsamic Vinegar Good for You?
You know that balsamic vinegar tastes good — but are the health benefits as good as the flavor is? Read on to find out whether or not balsamic vinegar is good for you and to discover ideas for incorporating more balsamic vinegar into your diet on a regular basis.
Is Balsamic Vinegar Good for You?
The short answer is yes, balsamic vinegar is good for you. Here are the health benefits of balsamic vinegar that you should know about:
- Blood sugar: Balsamic vinegar has an anti-glycemic effect, making it a great choice for anyone who has diabetes or is otherwise watching their blood sugar. Consuming it can help manage blood sugar spikes and help you maintain a blood sugar plateau after eating.
- Digestion: The acetic acid in balsamic vinegar contains probiotics that help aid in healthy digestion. Some people also say that consuming vinegar helps reduce their heartburn and acid reflux, though this is yet to be proven thus far. If you want to try balsamic vinegar to see if it helps with your heartburn, start with smaller amounts and work your way up.
- Cholesterol: The antioxidants in balsamic vinegar help keep your bad cholesterol (LDL) low by targeting the scavenger cells that inflate it. Regular consumption of balsamic vinegar can help lower your LDL cholesterol or maintain your already low levels.
- Weight maintenance: The probiotics in vinegar can help you feel fuller for longer after you are done eating a meal. Balsamic vinegar is also low in calories while still adding a lot of flavor to your meals.
- High blood pressure: One study in rats showed that adding balsamic vinegar into the diet regularly may help lower hypertension over time. Part of this may be due to replacing fatty foods (which are known to contribute to hypertension) with healthier options such as balsamic.
- Congestion: Some people use balsamic vinegar as a home remedy for congestion. Add a couple of drops to a steam bowl to help open up your nasal passageways when you are feeling under the weather.
- Skin health: Balsamic vinegar contains several compounds that may improve your skin when consumed over time, including antioxidants, acetic acid and antimicrobial elements. While you may have heard of people applying other vinegars as a topical skin treatment, you should avoid doing this with balsamic because the strong color can stain your skin.
How to Eat More Balsamic Vinegar
Now that you know how good balsamic vinegar is for you, you are probably wondering how to eat more of it. We already put together a more thorough guide dedicated to how to use balsamic vinegar, but here are some quick highlights to get you started:
- Dressings: Balsamic vinegar is a classic salad topping for a reason. A staple ingredient in homemade salad dressing, it provides the perfect complement to crisp, crunchy vegetables and packs a lot of flavor in a small amount.
- Sandwiches: Balsamic pairs well with meats, vegetables and cheeses, all of which are common sandwich fixings. Drizzle a little bit on your sandwich to bring all the flavors together.
- Pasta and Grain Salads: If you want to quickly add big flavor to any grains you are cooking, you cannot go wrong with balsamic vinegar. It goes well with many different kinds of grains, from wheat pasta to farro to quinoa, and also pairs easily with other common pasta toppings, such as olive oil and herbs.
- Produce: Since balsamic vinegar comes from grapes, it is also an excellent complement to produce of all kinds. From covering vegetables in balsamic before roasting to using the vinegar as a finish sauce for summer fruit desserts, you cannot go wrong with a little (or a lot) of balsamic.
At Brightland, we make all our flavored vinegars, including balsamic, with the same care and quality control as our olive oil, so you can be sure that you are getting the most health benefits and the greatest flavor from all your vinegars. We also package all our products in opaque glass bottles to protect them from UV damage and prolong the shelf life. Start shopping delicious vinegars with Brightland!
