Raw Coconut Vinegar is taking over ACV’s territory.

I remember when I learned about the Native Americans’ hunting practice of everything serving a purpose. Nothing went to waste. I was in awe of their ingenuity. I recently had the same spark when I discovered raw coconut vinegar. Haven’t we done everything we can with coconuts?

You’ve tried coconut water, coconut oil, but have you tried coconut vinegar? Try replacing your apple cider vinegar shots with fresh coconut sap vinegar and you’ll be getting more vitamins, minerals, and amino acids than you ever would with ACV. According to the USDA Nutrient Database, apple cider vinegar has no measurable vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, or vitamin E. 

Coconut vinegar also leaves ACV in the dust with it’s 17 amino acids. In comparison, apple cider vinegar barely registers on the scale with it’s low count. Amino acids supply nutrients to nourish the skin, hair and nails from within the body. They also work to strengthen connective tissue which keeps our skin smooth and elastic, the nails firm and the hair strong. 

Coconut vinegar gets it’s amazing powers from coconut trees growing in rich volcanic soil. This environment contributes to the liquid’s high mineral content, low glycemic index, and nearly neutral pH balance to help alkaline our bodies. It also contains Fructooligosaccharides or FOS for short. FOS cannot be digested or absorbed by the human body, and must pass through the digestive tract to the large intestine where they act as a food source for probiotics. 

Our bodies need probiotics to keep everything moving in our digestive tract, and raw coconut vinegar is an excellent prebiotic to start this process with one tablespoon. Like I said, I thought we had discovered everything there was about the coconut, but learning about raw coconut vinegar made me realize we really should be more like the early frontiers people and use every little piece of nutritious food supply.

Coconut vinegar is made from the sap of the coconut tree (called Tuba). Tuba is collected from the stem that "feeds" the coconuts. A "Tuba Collector" climbs to the top of the coconut tree and clips the stem that contains flowers and baby coconuts. Then a collection vessel is hung from the tree and the stem placed so the sap will run into it. Every day a collector travels to collect the sap from each tree.

Once collected, the sap (or tuba) is allowed to ferment into a natural coconut vinegar. Unfiltered and unheated, the color of the vinegar changes as it ages, from cloudy white to light yellow to a clear light brown as it further matures. As the vinegar ages, sediments will appear at the bottom. This is called "mother vinegar,” as we’re familiar with ACV.

If you want to try coconut vinegar for yourself, make sure you’re buying a product which comes from sap vs. coconut water. The sap is what contains all these health benefits we’ve been discussing. Sap vinegar is naturally aged for 8 months to one year, with no additives, enhancing it’s nutrient-rich properties.

On the other hand, coconut water-based vinegar undergoes an “assisted” fermentation process. This happens by adding a fermentation starter, either apple cider vinegar, or muscavado cane sugar to catalyze fermentation. Because of this, water-based vinegar is not capable of forming a “mother” culture, resulting in a less nutritious end product. You could save a couple of dollars buying the lesser product, but you’d be better off using it for salad dressing. If you want to receive the health benefits, definitely splurge for this tasty detox remedy. 

If you’re currently using ACV for your daily cleanse, you’ll love the taste of coconut vinegar. It has a much sweeter taste in my opinion. A contributing factor to this opinion could be the fact you only have to use one tablespoon of coconut vinegar, in comparison to the two tablespoons of ACV for a single serving. One tablespoon, two tablespoons, what’s the difference? When you’re drinking raw vinegar, it definitely makes a difference on your tastebuds.

I’ve swapped out my ACV with raw coconut vinegar, and I can say after a week of doing this, I’m extremely happy with the results. I’ve been drinking ACV every morning for the last eight months, and have noticed I have more energy. My sinuses are getting rid of all the toxins. I’d also agree with other users who report eating less. Coconut vinegar contains acetic acid, an organic compound studies show suppresses appetite. It must the pH balance I tell ya. Whatever it is, raw organic coconut vinegar should be your new best friend.