Black vinegar, also known as kurozu (黒酢) is a very popular weight loss product among the Japanese. Men and women alike are awed by the health benefits, especially the ones concerning their diet.
Black vinegar is believed to have originated in China and spread out to the rest of East Asia.. Kurozu is a light but traditional black vinegar produced from unpolished rice and has been widely used in Japan as a seasoning and as a health supplement. Currently in the states, a one liter bottle of this could cost you up to $35 dollars!
Kurozu Benefits
- Lowers high blood pressure
- Provides energy through its rich concentration of citric acid.
- Promotes saliva secretion which aids in digestion.
- Aids in disorders such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and cancer.
Kurozu and Weight Loss
Now the real interesting part about kurozu is that it can help people shed fat without any drastic changes to their diet (not that adding kurozu to a salad as opposed to ranch dressing would hurt though). According to a study performed by a Kyushu professor, kurozu reduced the size of fat cells, called adipocytes, in mice. The study used kurozu liquid concentrate (KLC). The findings were as such:
In the KCL group, the average adipocyte size in subcutaneous and perirenal adipose tissues was significantly reduced. The KCL-administered rats displayed greater numbers of small adipocytes in the subcutaneous, perirenal and mesenteric adipose tissues than did rats from the other groups. In the KCL group, the DNA content in subcutaneous adipose tissue was significantly increased. The rate of fatty acid excretion was significantly increased in the KCL group.
In plain English, fat cells shrunk in the presence of the constituents that make up kurozu. Fat cells are made up of fatty acids that, when secreted by fat cells, get used up as a form of energy, leaving you with smaller fat cells, less fat tissue, and a leaner look. The great part about kurozu is that it is rich in amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein. Ingesting enough amino acids also promotes the growth of lean tissue such as muscle, since muscle needs protein.
Another way to increase the rate of fatty acid excretion is through fasting for short periods of time, such as 16-36 hour periods.
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Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_vinegar
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citric_acid_cycle
http://www.livestrong.com/article/269937-natural-health-benefits-of-black-vinegar/
http://www.lipidworld.com/content/9/1/134
Wondergressive: The Health Benefits of Fasting
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3128363/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15149153
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1081754/human-digestive-system/45315/Salivary-glands
Wondergressive 
