Like Balsamic on your salad? There are health benefits! Here are six:
1) Low Fat
Balsamic vinegar is low in calories, so you don’t need to worry about it turning your salads into a minefield of unhealthy-ness like mayonnaise-based dressings will do. It also contains calcium, iron, manganese, and potassium, all of which help your body function and can help you lose weight.
2) Regulates Blood Sugar
For diabetics, balsamic vinegar can improve insulin sensitivity. This allows for easier regulation of blood sugar, helping to reduce the bad side-effects of diabetes.
3) Reduces Blood Pressure.
A study published in “Medscape General Medicine” in 2006 also found that balsamic vinegar can help reduce the hardening of arteries, allowing your body to normalise your blood pressure much more easily.
4) Improved Immunity
Balsamic vinegar is made from grapes, which contain antioxidants. Antioxidants repair damage caused by free radicals (produced by the oxygen used in our bodies). This improves your body’s immunity as well as helping to protect your body from heart disease and cancer.
5) Aids Digestion
Balsamic vinegar boosts the activity of an enzyme called pepsin, which breaks down protein into smaller amino acids. This allows them to be absorbed into the body easier and grants improvements to the body’s metabolism.
6) Stabilises Blood Glucose Levels
Balsamic vinegar is low on the glycemic index, meaning that consuming it will not cause spikes in your blood glucose levels. The result of this is that you are much less likely to experience an energy rush and crash. However balsamic vinegar can still contain significant quantities of sugar, so it is important to pay attention to how much you consume.
The best thing about balsamic vinegar is that it tastes great and makes other foods taste even better.
Try sweet balsamic vinegar on desserts as well as savouries.
Bondi Beauty likes Jomei’s Sweet Balsamic, made from coconut sugar instead of cane sugar, which lowers its glycemic index even further. For something a little more traditional use good Italian balsamic vinegar on a Salad Nicoise for healthy and delicious meal.
Eating a salad has never been so appealing.
