We all know about the great amount of properties of apple cider vinegar, but slowly, another kind of vinegar is creeping into our kitchens, thanks to its many health benefits. We're talking about Umeboshi Vinegar, a type of vinegar that has been used for centuries in Asian countries such as China and Japan.
Also known as Ume Su or plum vinegar, this alkalizing food has great properties that have been used by Japanese Samurais and as home remedies too. Keep on reading this oneHOWTO article if you'd like to know about the health benefits of Umeboshi Vinegar.
What is Umeboshi Vinegar?
The first thing we need to ask ourselves is how Umeboshi vinegar is made, as many of its properties come not only from its ingredients, but from its preparation too.
Umeboshi is a type of Japanese plum which is more similar in characteristics to an apricot. Though many Asian people eat Umeboshi dehydrated to enjoy their benefits, the vinegar is made by getting the Japanese plums and mixing them with shiso leaves and sea salt. These ingredients go through a one year process of lactic fermentation, which is why you will also be able to enjoy the benefits of fermented foods if you consume this product.
Antimicrobial properties
The first of the health benefits of Umeboshi vinegar we'd like to mention is that, thanks to the Shiso leaves and riboflavin content, this type of vinegar is great to combat conditions such as diarrhea and minor infections. In fact, this vinegar was used in rice dishes to fight any possible bacteria found in the rice. Therefore, if you want to counteract the effect of pesticides or get rid of possible microbes found in lettuce or other orchard produce.
Controls blood pressure levels
The strong taste of Umeboshi vinegar plays a great part in its benefits, especially with people with high blood pressure. Though one teaspoon of it contains 420mg of sodium, which is still less than the amount that table salt contains, its tangy taste means you only need to add around four drops of this product in order to enjoy its taste, thus making it ideal for people who need to control their sodium intake.
Benefits digestion
Due to its acid-reducing properties, Umeboshi is great to boost your metabolism. Moreover, it is also great to fight morning sickness (especially in pregnant women), indigestion and general nausea. It has also been used as a home remedy to get rid of a hangover too.
Energy booster
Ume Su is rich in iron, thus improving hemoglobin production and reducing levels of stress. Thiamin is another component found in this vinegar that will also improve the function of the neurosystem and fighting fatigue, giving you a great kick start to your day.
Cancer prevention
Several studies have found that the Phenols in Umeboshi have the capacity to protect our bodies from free radicals and get rid of toxins, thus helping prevent cancer. The amount of Riboflavin in this product also creates antibodies that are great to fight infections too.
This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to Health Benefits of Umeboshi Vinegar, we recommend you visit our Healthy living category.
- If you purchase Umbeboshi vinegar, make sure it contains no artificial coloring, as the increasing demand of this product has made some brands use artificial ingredients to reduce costs.