Rice Vinegar – A Brief:
Derived from either rice or rice wine, rice vinegar is used as a condiment in Asia and other continents extensively. Since its acidity quotient is lower than other types of vinegar, it is not suitable for preserving and pickling foods. However, it is used extensively as a condiment with salads and several meat based dishes. Rice vinegar adds a subtle flavour to the dishes, but it also offers you a number of health benefits. It is available in several varieties. Broadly speaking, there are two types of rice vinegar – unseasoned and seasoned. For maximum benefits, you need to use the unseasoned variant. There is a sweet rice wine named mirin that contains alcohol, but it is different from rice vinegar.
Benefits Of Rice Vinegar
Following are the top 9 rice vinegar benefits:
1. May Improve Digestive Health
There is a good amount of acetic acid in rice vinegar. This acid may aid in boosting your digestive health (1). It also helps your body absorb in more nutrients from the foods you eat. Thus, your body would be able to absorb more calcium, potassium, and vitamins from foods, which are beneficial for health. You can use 1-2 tablespoons of rice vinegar in your salad dressings, meat marinades, or vegetable pickles to make the most of its benefits.
2. Has Antiseptic Properties
The Brown rice vinegar is used widely in making antiseptic medicines. It can eliminate detrimental bacteria upon contact and hence is used in several native medications to treat myriad health conditions (2).
3. May Act As A Liver Tonic
One variant of Japanese rice vinegar named kurozu, made by fermenting brown rice, reportedly has protective benefits for human liver (3). This has been corroborated by a 2011 study published in the coveted “Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition”. The researchers are of the view that it has the potential to thwart the onset of liver tumors.
4. May Help Beat Fatigue
Rice vinegar contains a moderate amount of amino acids. These may effectively fight the development of lactic acid in your blood. Lactic acid development results in stiffness, irritability, and fatigue. Hence, reducing lactic acid buildup keeps you fresh and energetic throughout the day. The bioactive compounds in vinegar also possess anti-fatigue properties (4).
5. May Improve Immunity
One of the best benefits of rice vinegar is that it helps in boosting immunity (5). Rice vinegar contains essential amino acids. These help you in achieving optimum health. These amino acids help fight the damaging effects of free radicals or oxidative stress (6). They also help boost immunity.
6. May Improve Heart Health
Rice vinegar aids in preventing fatty peroxide formation in your body. This in turn helps slow down cholesterol build-up on the walls of blood vessels (7). So, in the long run, your heart benefits greatly by including a few teaspoons of this vinegar in your daily meals.
7. May Keep Weight In Check
If losing excess weight is a priority for you, consuming rice vinegar with foods can be quite helpful. Animal studies have indicated it helps in losing excess flab to a great extent (8). In fact, Japanese people have used it for ages to aid weight loss. The vinegar made from brown rice is quite useful in this regard.
8. May Give You Radiant Skin
Not many people are aware of it, but using rice vinegar can be beneficial for your skin as well! You need to make a mixture of rice vinegar, purified water and tea tree oil in a bottle. Then shake the bottle to make the ingredients blend well. The ratio of water and rice vinegar will be 6:1. Using a cotton ball, apply on the acne affected facial skin. Let it dry and wash with water.
9. Natural Facial Toner
Anecdotal evidence suggests that rice vinegar can also be used as a natural and non-chemical substitute for facial toner. Many women and men use OTC skin toners to prepare facial skin for the application of cream and moisturizers. However, using rice vinegar can serve the need and the skin does not get exposed to any chemical ingredient. A mix of distilled water, tea tree oil, and white rice vinegar can be used to tone your facial skin. You can keep this mixture stored in a bottle for use. You can either spray this as a mist on the skin or apply it with cotton balls. Is rice vinegar high in sugar? Take a look at the infographic below to learn about a few health advantages of consuming rice vinegar. Rice vinegar has moderate amounts of sugar. A 100 mL of rice vinegar has 53.3 grams of sugar. Is rice vinegar good for high blood pressure? Yes, rice vinegar is good for high blood pressure as the acetic acid in it is known to reduce systolic blood pressure. Does rice vinegar have arsenic? Yes, rice vinegar has arsenic. But the quantity is very negligible. 50 mL of rice vinegar contains only 1 microgram or less of arsenic. Is rice vinegar a probiotic? Although rice vinegar is made by fermentation, it is not a probiotic. Does rice vinegar have sodium? Yes, rice vinegar has negligible amounts of sodium. A tablespoon of rice vinegar has 0.3 mg of sodium. Is it OK to drink rice vinegar? No, drinking undiluted rice vinegar straight may cause dental damage. Always have rice vinegar as a condiment or ingredient in other food items.
