An everyday condiment might have the ability to help diabetes patients.

Doctors studied the effects of vinegar on blood sugar levels. In the first of three studies, three groups of people - healthy, pre-diabetic and Type 2 diabetics - were tested. "Both the blood glucose and insulin were better managed after the meal when they consumed the vinegar," said Carol Johnston, Ph.D. "It appears that the vinegar mimics the effects of both Acrabose and Metformin, which are two of the commonly prescribed medications for diabetics."

Johnston's vinegar solution included cranberry juice and a sweetener to mask the taste of the vinegar. Then, it was used in tests to see if it could lower cholesterol levels. It didn't, but it did offer something else. "The group that got the vinegar lost several pounds on average and that was significant compared to the placebo group that had no change in their weight," Johnston said. She's now looking at a way to offer vinegar in a tablet form.

In the meantime, to attain some of its benefits, you can add vinegar to your diet by topping your salad with a vinegar-based dressing.