Apple
cider vinegar has been used in folk medicine for hundreds of years. Apple cider
vinegar has also been utilized to treat allergies, acne and the flu. Apple
cider elevates pH levels, increasing alkalinity in the body. It is
anti-bacterial, antiseptic, anti-viral, and anti-fungal. It's also an ancient
folk remedy, flaunted to relieve just about any ailment you can think of. It's
an aid to the digestive system and cleanses skin and hair. It's best to
purchase apple cider vinegar from organic apples. Vinegars that have been
processed are stripped of the health-giving nutrients, so look for a natural
unfiltered organic apple cider vinegar.
Apple
cider vinegar contains over 90 different nutrients, including potassium,
calcium, magnesium, chlorine, copper, iron, fluorine and sodium. Apple cider
vinegar has a lot of vitamin C and some amounts of vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 and
E. Acetic acid is one of the main ingredients in apple cider vinegar. This
compound causes a release of energy from fat and carbohydrates. Making apple
cider vinegar an aid to weight loss.
While
long used as a folk remedy, apple cider vinegar became well known in the U.S.
in the late 1950’s. D. C. Jarvis promoted Apple cider vinegar in the
best-selling book Folk Medicine: A Vermont Doctor’s Guide to Good Health.
During the alternative medicine boom of recent years, apple cider vinegar
and apple cider vinegar pills have become a popular dietary supplement. The
effect of vinegar on blood sugar levels is perhaps the best researched and the
most promising of apple cider vinegar's health benefits. Several studies
have found that vinegar may help lower glucose levels. For instance, a 2007
study of 11 people with type 2 diabetes found that taking two tablespoons of
apple cider vinegar before bed lowered glucose levels in the morning by 4%-6%.
General health problems such as
Bad Breath
Due to its antiseptic properties, Apple Cider Vinegar
makes a wonderful remedy for bad breath or halitosis. Simply add 2 teaspoons of
ACV into a cup of water and gargle the mixture in your mouth for 10 seconds at
a time and spit the solution out. Repeat until the cup is empty.
Body Odor
Apple Cider Vinegar is an effective body odor remedy,
since it can help adjust the skin's pH level which helps to eliminate
odor-causing bacteria. For armpit odor, simply wipe them once each morning with
undiluted apple cider vinegar (using a cotton ball). For foot odor, fill a pan
with warm water and add 1/3 cup of ACV, then let your feet soak in this mixture
for 15 minutes once per week.
Acne
Apple Cider Vinegar is a natural cure for acne. Apply a
solution of apple cider vinegar and water (2 tablespoons to 1 eight ounce glass
of water) with a cotton ball several times a day. This will help reduce
infection and dry out inflammation.
Age Spots
Apple Cider Vinegar contains sulfur that fights the
effects of aging, which makes it suitable for treating age spots. Apply daily,
to these darkened areas of the skin, a solution containing 2 teaspoons of apple
cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon of onion juice. According to this home remedy, the
spots should begin to fade within 2 weeks.
Stomach problems:
Heartburn
This usually occurs after eating, sometimes up to two
hours later. This very unpleasant feeling can be alleviated by taking 2 TBS
Apple Cider Vinegar in 8 OZ of water, taken three times a day before meals.
Constipation
Apple Cider Vinegar is frequently used as a natural cure
for constipation.
Diarrhea
There are various causes for diarrhea, and although it
should not be left untreated, it is often a natural way for the body to rid
itself of harmful compounds and ingested materials. Apple Cider Vinegar is a
fantastic natural remedy for diarrhea since the high pectin concentration acts
as a protective coating, which soothes the irritated lining of the colon. A
suggestion is to add 2 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar to a large glass of
water, and drink this 3 times daily while the symptoms persist.
Grow hair and
cleanse the scalp with apple cider vinegar. For treating
sinus infections or allergies, sip a small amount of apple cider vinegar to
break up the mucus and clear the sinus. Apple cider vinegar can also be used as
a hair rinse, providing a balanced pH to promote hair growth and scalp health.
Vinegar is high in alpha-hydroxy acids, which causes the removal of skin cells
from the hair follicles and the scalp. The pH of the apple cider neutralizes
the scalp's pH and removes residue left from shampoos and conditioners. Hair
will be less tangled and have fewer frizzes. Apple cider vinegar will also help
heal scalp conditions such as dandruff, by correcting the scalp's pH.
Natural Apple Cider Vinegar is made by crushing fresh,
organically grown apples and allowing them to mature in wooden barrels. Allow the
watery mixture of juice and pulp to ferment so that the fruit sugar converts to
acetic acid, and you have a folk remedy for a laundry list of ailments. By
helping break down proteins and other nutrients, apple cider vinegar may in fact improve digestion,
says certified nutritionist Jennifer Adler. The cobweb-like substance--referred
to as the "mother of vinegar"--that
you see floating in the fluid is believed to contain most of the cider's nutrients, enzymes, and
beneficial bacteria. According to Adler, these bacteria may help boost the
immune system. To best reap the brew's medicinal benefits, Adler recommends purchasing raw unpasteurized apple cider vinegar.
In conclusion, I recommend drinking the following for a
balanced amount of your daily apple cider vinegar intake. This is the perfect
detox to start and conclude your days.
Ingredients
1 glass of water
2 tbsp. Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
2 tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tbsp. Cinnamon
1 tbsp. raw honey
Directions
Blend all ingredients together. Serve cold or hot. Enjoy.
Exclude the honey should you suffer from diabetes.
An apple a day…
Incorporating apple cider vinegar into recipes have never
been easier. Here are a few of my favorites.
Tangy
Carrot-Apple Salad with Cider Vinaigrette
SERVES
4
1 1/2
Tbs. apple cider vinegar
1
small clove garlic, minced (½ tsp.)
2 cups
grated carrots
½ red apple, diced (½ cup)
¼ cup
sliced green onions
¼ cup
chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup
chopped dried cranberries
1 tsp.
agave nectar or honey
1 Tbs.
olive oil
2 cups
baby spinach leaves
1.
Combine cider vinegar and garlic in small bowl. Let
stand 15 minutes.
2. Stir together carrots, apple, green onions, parsley, and cranberries in large bowl.
3. Whisk agave nectar and oil into cider vinegar mixture. Add to carrot mixture; toss to coat. Cover, and
chill 2 hours, or overnight. Serve salad on bed of spinach leaves.
