Just got around to using my GNC gift card, and decided to try some apple cider vinegar tablets for indigestion. I was pleasantly surprised to read in a hair loss forum that ACV, taken internally, may also benefit the hair and scalp.
It does seem to work better than Garlinase (garlic extract), for indigestion, anyway.
From WebMD:
"There are some medical uses of vinegar that do have promise, at least according to a few studies. Here’s a rundown of some more recent ones.
Diabetes. The effect of vinegar on blood glucose levels is perhaps the best-researched and the most promising of apple cider vinegar’s possible health benefits. Several studies have found that vinegar may help lower glucose levels. For instance, one 2007 study of 11 people with type 2 diabetes found that taking two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before bed lowered glucose levels in the morning by 4%-6%.
High cholesterol. A 2006 study showed evidence that vinegar could lower cholesterol. However, the study was done in rats, so it’s too early to know how it might work in people.
Blood pressure and heart health. Another study in rats found that vinegar could lower high blood pressure. A large epidemiological study also found that people who ate oil and vinegar dressing on salads five to six times a week had lower rates of heart disease than people who didn’t. However, it’s far from clear that the vinegar was the reason.
Cancer. A few laboratory studies have found that vinegar may be able to kill cancer cells or slow their growth. Epidemiological studies of people have been confusing. One found that eating vinegar was associated with a decreased risk of esophageal cancer. Another associated it with an increased risk of bladder cancer.
Weight Loss. For thousands of years, vinegar has been used for weight loss. White vinegar (and perhaps other types) might help people feel full. A 2005 study of 12 people found that those who ate a piece of bread along with small amounts of white vinegar felt fuller and more satisfied than those who just ate the bread."
When we ingest sugar, our body (unless diabetic) will produce a substance called insulin for metabolism. The more sugar, the more insulin. Some doctors have suggested that a person’s inability to tolerate high levels of insulin (insulin resistance) is a cause of hair loss:
"Insulin is a hormone that is secreted by certain cells of the pancreas. This hormone helps your body store sugar (glucose) in the cells. The cells use this sugar for energy.
In some people the cells of the body, perhaps because of inflammation, are slow to respond to insulin or stop responding altogether. These people have what’s called insulin resistance.
If you have insulin resistance, your pancreas will keep pouring insulin into your bloodstream, but this greater amount of insulin will not open the cell membrane gates so that sugar can enter. Sugar then builds up in the bloodstream.
Insulin resistance often creates other health problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, high levels of cholesterol, and PCOS. There are also recent studies that indicate a positive correlation between hair loss and insulin resistance. (J. Lancet. 2000, 356:1165)"