When I was in college, at a party, I could throw back a shot of jagermeister like it was no big deal. As a “mature adult” I gave that up for shots of apple cider vinegar (maybe they taste the same but didn’t leave you with a headache?). I had read that apple cider vinegar was good for your digestive tract and had other healing properties. Who wouldn’t want to do things that made you feel good. We live in a society of “food fads” and so I too drank the “kool aide”. I downed a shot of apple cider vinegar every day for a few months. I did it because I read that it was good for me. But too much of a good thing is not a good thing.
Here are some ways apple cider vinegar can be harmful if done every day for too many days:
• Taking apple cider vinegar every day, especially if you don't drink enough water when taking it in tablet form or if you don't adequately dilute the liquid, can cause throat pain and make it difficult to swallow. This is not a good thing.
• Apple cider vinegar can cause potassium levels to fall.
• Apple cider vinegar can cause an increase in episodes of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, in diabetics.
• Apple cider vinegar can act as an anticoagulant, or blood thinner.
• The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar can erode the enamel on your teeth, increasing your risk of developing cavities.
Needless to say I am all for doing things that are good for you. I believe that we should all do as much as we can to feel our best. I don’t mean to sound like a party pooper, and if drinking apple cider vinegar for a week or even two weeks makes you feel better than go for it. But, just know that knowledge is power and that over time, it’s benefits get diminished and can even be harmful.