We saw an interesting study that found that a daily dose of red date vinegar helped adults with blood sugar concerns lower their blood sugar and cholesterol in 10 weeks. The study was published in Frontiers in Nutrition.
Fruits and vegetables with high levels of bioactive compounds have promise to aid blood sugar and heart health. Red dates contain polyphenols, flavonoids, vitamins and dietary fiber. Fermenting the fruit into vinegar makes bioactive compounds more readily absorbable into the body.
People in the study took 20 milliliters a day of either red date vinegar or a placebo. The placebo drink had the same acidity but none of the bioactive compounds. People taking the vinegar had significant reductions in fasting blood sugar. They also saw reduction in total cholesterol and “bad” cholesterol levels and an increase in “good” cholesterol. The people in the control group had higher blood sugar by the end and very minimal reductions in their cholesterol levels. The vinegar did not appear to impact triglycerides.
Upon reading this interesting study, our first thought was, “What is red date vinegar?” Until this study, we never heard of the red date or the vinegar you make from it. It can be bought on Amazon.
The red date is also called a Chinese date or jujube fruit. While it looks like a date, it contains seeds, unlike a date that has a pit. It is completely edible and is low in calories. It is enjoyed in South and East Asia as fresh fruit or a dried snack. People also drink it as a juice and make it into tea. When fresh, it tastes like an apple. But, when dried, it becomes much sweeter and does have a flavor similar to a date.
In alternative medicine, the fruit is used to help inflammation, sleep and digestive health. It’s high in vitamin C and often used to shorten the length of a cold. The phenolics, flavonoids and triterpenic saponins found in the red date can act as natural sedatives and may soothe the nervous system and promote sleep. It has also been used as a traditional antianxiety and antidepressant in some parts of Asia.
We love learning about new foods and new options for aiding our health. Many people swear by apple cider vinegar. It’s unsurprising to hear that another fruit-based vinegar is helping people. Before making any changes in your diet, you should always speak to your doctor to be sure the change is healthy for you.
