Next time you whip up a nice casserole or prepare a new supply of soup stock, add a dash or two of vinegar to the works. It could help make your bones stronger.
Research by scientists at Japan's Ebetsu University suggests vinegar increases the extraction of calcium -- vital for healthy bones -- from food.
The researchers say feeding laboratory animals on a diet containing 1.6 percent vinegar for 32 days increased their absorption of calcium. Another study indicated adding vinegar to the boiling broth could boost the amount of calcium in chicken stock by 40 percent.
Scientists say they believe the acetic acid in vinegar liquefies minerals in bones and shells. Experts say boosting calcium intake in this way could help prevent the bone disease osteoporosis.
