Muslim American Magazine September 2015

Page 5

The Sunnah of Vinegar Tori Dominski

known is the benefits vinegar has for people with Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes makes it difficult for a person’s cells to accept insulin (a hormone) that helps absorb and process the sugar from the foods they eat into energy. When the cells do not accept the insulin, sugar becomes saturated in the bloodstream and this can, over time, lead to nerve damage. However, a small amount of vinegar (5 teaspoons mixed with water) taken by individuals with type 2 diabetes a couple minutes before a meal seemed to make the cells more accepting of the insulin and lowered the previously high As reported by Jabir: “I entered the amounts present in their bloodstreams house of the Prophet with him and before. there was some bread and vinegar. The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Eat; what a Thanks to its high acid content, vinegar good condiment is vinegar.’” (Sunan an- also can help women and the lactoseintolerant to absorb more calicium from Nasa’i 3796) calicium-abundant dark greens without putting dairy products into their systems. Long before modern medicinal research proved its benefits, Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) heralded vinegar as a food that was preferable and good for us. In small amounts, it can be taken as a digestive cleansing agent, as an aid for those living with diabetes (it can increase sensitivity to insulin and facilitate its release into the body), and can be useful in many other ways. Again, Prophet Muhammad informed us hundreds of years ago about the goodness of vinegar before any tests or studies were conducted by medical professionals!

add vinegar to your diet is amazing, alhamdulillah. It is a better low-calorie alternative to mayonnaise for flavor in several dishes. You can also add some on vegetables and salad for taste instead of relying on other dressings with unnecessary fats and calories. So generally, for anything you would like to dip or drizzle over another food, vinegar could be a much healthier option! The sunnah of vinegar is a simple yet very beneficial habit to adopt. If you have any medical conditions or questions about adding vinegar to your diet, please consult a doctor, inshaa’Allah, before making any changes to ensure that the vinegar will not interact negatively with your condition or medications you are currently taking. Otherwise - happy eating!

Despite its benefits, vinegar should not be ingested in large amounts due to its previously mentioned high acidity. Drinking large amounts of vinegar could cause heartburn to intensify and could also damage the enamel of the teeth. It is best to mix or dilute the ideal amount of 1 to 3 teaspoons of vinegar by mixing them with a slightly greater amount of water.

There are many uses for vinegar as remedies or supplements for specific ailments, but this list is inconclusive and not always backed by scientific research or studies. Here, we will focus on what has been documented and researched. The ease with Perhaps the newest and most well- which you can To advertise call (704) 597-5424

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