Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena is among the typical excellency condiments, which normally accompany the specialties of our beautiful country. Along with the ever-present Extra Virgin Olive Oil, it is often used to season hot meals, enriching those with its exquisite balsamic notes. It is therefore necessary to dedicate a couple of lines to talk about its particular beneficial characteristics, both those handed down (popular ones) and those truly intrinsic to the product and related to its very nature. So let’s talk about the real benefits of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena and of how we can use it to improve the quality of our life, between myths and reality.
Firstly, it is important to underline that it is not a coincidence that there is the word “balsamic” in the denomination of this product. This very term narrates and hands down to the new generations the historic origin of this vinegar. In fact, in the early days, its intended usage differed a lot from what we commonly know today. Due to its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory capacities, balsamic vinegar used to be considered as a real medicine that would be taken orally to combat the common illnesses of those times. The very acidity got exploited as a natural remedy for body care, and in some cases even as a disinfectant on wounds. Over time, however, this usage has been almost completely lost, due to the lack of scientific studies on the abovementioned beneficial qualities of the Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena.
Balsamic Vinegar of Modena: a Powerful Long Life Elixir?
In the popular tradition of the past, various myths and legends were handed down from one generation to another, including those on the culinary art. According to some beliefs, Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, if taken by spoon daily, would lead to life extension. Among the other powers of balsamic Vinegar of Modena (or at least believed to be such), there was the gastric benefit, since this product was thought to favor digestion if taken by spoon and would be taken as an invigorating or a tonic. Today we know that these are only beliefs, suggestions and fantasies that sometimes erroneously attribute many qualities to this product.
However, the indicated properties are majorly to be attributed to the Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PDO rather than to the Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PGI. This is partly due to the relatively recent “birth” of the PGI balsamico, and partly due to the greater “purity” of the ingredients of the Traditional one. In any case, even if the fantasy has been widely used in the past, we shall admit that even beliefs often have a pinch of truth. Indeed, one of the benefits of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena is its ability to “extend life”, since it is rich in very important antioxidants (polyphenols, derived from grapes) which actively counteract free radicals.
The Perfect Ally of a Balanced Diet
Even though the benefits of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena do not go as far as antiseptic or disinfectant properties, there are still some important beneficial effects that we can surely list here:
- Facilitates digestion through rapid gastric emptying;
- Maintains the sense of satiety;
- Contains few calories (compared to other condiments, i.e. olive oil in a 4/1 ratio);
- Naturally fat-free;
- Excellent flavor enhancer;
- Contains polyphenol for an active contrast of free radicals.
Calories of Balsamic Vinegar of Modena and Recommended Dose
In order to fully enjoy the benefits of the Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, you have to respect the recommended daily dose, in order to avoid an excess that, as in case of any other food, could be harmful. Furthermore, the caloric aspect depends mostly on the type of Balsamic Vinegar you are using. Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena is normally a thicker product, characterized by a higher concentration of sugars and as a result, it is normally more caloric compared to the PGI product (about 350 KCAL / 170 KCAL for 100ml of product). Shortly, the recommended daily dose of the PGI Balsamic Vinegar of Modena is of about 15 ml, a good spoonful, per day. In the case of the Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PDO, the daily dose is limited to several drops.
Please note that the density parameter is not to be applied to creams and glazes, which are completely different products.
