Have you ever wondered if apple cider and apple cider vinegar are different? See a detailed comparison of apple cider vs apple cider vinegar in this article.
Apple cider and apple cider vinegar are similar liquids with slight differences. These differences may seem insignificant, but they greatly influence the outcome of your dish.
Apple cider is a popular beverage, and apple cider vinegar is frequently recommended as a cure-all for anything from acid reflux to warts.
Continue reading to see full details.
What is apple cider?
Apple cider, also called sweet cider, or non-alcoholic cider, refers to the unpasteurized apple juice gotten from freshly crushed apples. It has a refreshingly sweet and crisp taste and can be enjoyed warm or cold.
It is a raw and unfiltered apple juice that does not last long because it still contains bacteria that speed up spoilage. Apple cider is sold fresh in grocery stores and is in high supply during fall when apples are abundant.
However, you can refrigerate or freeze this apple juice to make it last longer. Furthermore, apple cider is not apple juice. The difference between the two is the filtration process apple juice goes through.
Benefits of apple cider
Apple cider in its purest form is the juice from chopped and mashed apples. Apple cider contains polyphenols, an antioxidant that can help improve your health and lower the risk of developing certain illnesses.
Other benefits include:
It reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease
The phytonutrients in apple cider can help to prevent the oxidation of harmful cholesterol, which contributes to plaque accumulation in your arteries. This plaque raises your risk of heart disease.
It relieves constipation
Non-filtered drinks like apple cider retain some pectin, a soluble fiber that aids digestion.
It reduces the risk of some types of cancer
The polyphenols in apple cider act as antioxidants and can help your body fight off free radicals and lower your risk of developing cancers such as colon, prostate, and breast cancer.
What is apple cider vinegar?
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is fermented apple cider. Apple cider is the base and a starter is added to ferment it through two steps.
The first step of fermentation converts the sugars to alcohol, and the second fermentation process converts the alcohol to acetic acid and malic acid. These acids are responsible for the sour taste of ACV.
Also, it is used in cooking and salad dressings and has been used as medication.
Benefits of apple cider vinegar
ACV provides various health and nutritional benefits, which includes:
It can help kill harmful bacteria
ACV can clean, disinfect, and cure infections like warts, lice, nail fungus, etc.
ACV is a food preservative
Also, ACV can help you preserve food naturally and prevent pathogens such as E. coli from growing in and spoiling your food.
It can help manage diabetes
Drinking ACV or adding it to your foods and drinks can help lower blood sugar levels. It is an effective and natural remedy for hyperglycemia. ACV also helps in the management of type 2 diabetes.
It can aid in weight loss
Drinking ACV can make you feel fuller. This naturally reduces your calorie intake and makes it easy to lose weight.
Promotes skin health
ACV has antibacterial properties and is naturally acidic, which can help improve your skin and prevent skin infections. You can dilute this vinegar with water and use it as a face toner.
Differences between apple cider and apple cider vinegar
Although they smell alike and are made from the same source, there are a few key distinctions between them. They include:
- Apple cider vinegar is made by fermenting alcohol from apple cider into acetic acid, apple cider is a pure apple juice that has neither been filtered nor processed.
- Another difference is that apple cider vinegar can effectively treat skin infections because it is highly acidic. Apple cider, on the other hand, is just a beverage.
- Also, apple cider vinegar is fermented to produce natural sugar alcohol and fermented further to produce acetic acid. On the other hand, Apple cider is less processed and has a far higher nutrient retention rate.
- Finally, apple cider vinegar can last two years or even more. Apple cider, in contrast, is only good for a few days or for as long as you refrigerate or freeze it.
FAQS
Does apple cider help you stay hydrated?
Yes, it does.
What are the side effects of apple cider vinegar?
Consuming excessive amounts can harm your teeth, throat, and stomach due to its firm acidity.
What can you use in place of apple cider vinegar?
You can use white wine vinegar as they both have similar acidity levels. Also, you can add a dash of fruit juice to sweeten it up.
Conclusion
The main difference between apple cider and apple cider vinegar is that the former is a fermented juice of crushed fruit, while the latter is fermented apple juice.
Apple cider is more general, while apple cider vinegar is specific. In the apple cider vs apple cider vinegar comparison for which is better, no one wins because each serves different purposes.
However, they can be used as substitutes for each other in some dishes. Use a cup-for-cup substitution when using one in place of the other.
Thank you for reading.
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