Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar
In This Article
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has long been used as a natural treatment for a variety of ailments. In recent years, some specialists have focused on apple cider vinegar and its potential health benefits, as ACV appears to have health benefits when used medicinally.
ACV has been consumed for around 5,000 years!
Historical records show that apple juice has been fermented into vinegar since before 5000 BC. Through the ages, apple cider vinegar has been used to stimulate circulation, aid in the detoxification of the liver, to purify blood, cleanse lymph nodes, and improve immune system response. In fact, Hippocrates often prescribed it for coughs and colds, when mixed with a touch of honey.
In This Article
What is Apple Cider Vinegar?
Apple cider vinegar is mainly apple juice that is fermented. The fermentation process happens when bacteria and yeast are added to the apple juice, converting the sugar in the juice to alcohol. This gives vinegar a sour and pungent aroma.
You might have noticed ACV bottles sold in the market with “the mother” label on them. The “mother,” which is a cloud of yeast and bacteria present in apple cider vinegar bottles, are probiotics. Probiotic is known to help with digestion.
ACV is made in a similar way as other fermented drinks (kombucha, kefir and wine).
Like all fermented products, apple cider vinegar is made using active yeast that is combined with sugar. In this case, it is naturally occurring sugar from crushed apples. The yeast actually consumes sugar and uses this to grow healthy bacteria, which is how fermentation takes place. The best apple cider vinegar for therapeutic and health wellness should be made from certified organic apples. Pasteurization is not required, and is not recommended for people using it for health benefits, as this kills all of the delicate nutrients and enzymes. The acidity of the vinegar is enough to prevent unhealthy bacteria (including E. Coli) from developing. After the fermentation process is completed, the result is the formation of acetic acid, the main beneficial compound found in apple cider vinegar.
ACV can appear murky and have “cobweb-like” strings, but this is a good thing.
This murky brown appearance of ACV, as well as the strands of yeast that may be present, actually clue you in to the fact that the cider is of good-quality. These strands are bits of live yeast, and they are actually alive. These contain the bacteria that once entered into the body, provide various healing benefits.
ACV is extremely low in calories and sugar.
Although it’s made using sugar, the sugar is consumed during fermentation, so you barely ingest any of it in the finished product. ACV has about 3-5 calories per tablespoon, and a little usually goes a long way. So you wind up with a very beneficial drink for virtually no calories or sugar. In fact, one of the biggest benefits of consuming ACV is that it has a positive effect on blood sugar levels, helping to keep them stable and to reduce risk for diabetes or hypoglycemia.
ACV was first used as a natural disinfectant (and still is today).
It’s not uncommon to just try to replace familiar foods with Paleoized versions of them. You’ll find lots of recipes on the Internet for Paleo pizza, lasagna and brownies. While it’s fine to treat ourselves once in a while, these aren’t the foods that heal. We need to give our cells the building blocks they need to repair and regenerate. What are the most nutrient-dense foods we can choose? Organ meats, seafood, fermented food, bone broth and plenty of vegetables. Also choose organic, as well as grass-fed or wild-caught meats, as your budget allows.
What is the Mother in the Apple Cider Vinegar?
It is important to note that not all apple cider vinegar is created equally! To get the most out of using ACV, make sure you buy it raw and with the “mother” intact, which means it still contains the beneficial compounds including probiotics.
It is imperative that you select organic, unfiltered and unpasteurized apple cider vinegar to reap its many health and beauty benefits. Also, look for cloudy vinegar; this is the sign that the friendly enzymes and bacteria that promote healing have not been removed. The cloudy strands is what is referred to as the “mother” probiotics.
Receive your Holistic Health and Healing email
Ready to start owning your health? Subscribe to our email newsletter to receive free resources, Daily Devotions, and latest updates!
Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar
1. Detox Your Body
Unfiltered apple cider vinegar is a liver and lymphatic tonic which can help detox your body. It helps balance your body’s pH and stimulates cardiovascular stimulation, bowel motility and lymphatic drainage. For this reason, it’s one of my key ingredients in the Secret Detox Drink.
2. Natural Conditioner to Make Hair Shine
ACV can be used as a natural hair conditioner and makes your hair shine! Take an old shampoo bottle and fill it with 1 tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar and 1 cup of water. Pour this on your hair after shampooing three times per week for best results.
3. Natural Teeth Whitener
One of my apple cider vinegar uses is as a natural teeth whitener. Take your finger and rub apple cider vinegar on your teeth for 1 minute. Then rinse your mouth with water. The pH of apple cider vinegar can remove stains from your teeth, which helps naturally whiten.
4. Can Treat Acid Reflux and Heartburn
Some of the main causes of acid reflux and heartburn are an imbalanced stomach pH and lack of enzymes and probiotics. Apple cider vinegar is full of all of these nutrients. How do you take apple cider vinegar? Add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a cup of water and drink it five minutes before meals to relieve acid reflux.
5. Can Kill Candida (Yeast) and Boost Probiotics
Millions of people around the world struggle with candida and yeast. The side effects can be bad breath, lack of energy, UTI’s and digestive issues. ACV contains probiotics and a type of acid that promotes the growth of probiotics which help kill off candida. Remove sugar from your diet and consume 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar three times daily as part of a candida cleanse.
6. Regulates Your Body’s pH
Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid, which is acidic in nature but has a more alkaline effect on the rest of your body. Balancing your bodies pH can reduce your risk of chronic illnesses like cancer and can dramatically increase your energy.
7. Can Support Weight Loss and Metabolism
A study published in the Journal of Diabetes Care found that consuming apple cider vinegar could promote weight loss. There are several reasons ACV promotes fat loss, but one of those reasons includes that ACV reduces sugar cravings and improves detoxification. Another study found that supplementing with the acetic acid found in apple cider vinegar reduced body fat in mice by 10 percent. A 2005 study from the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that vinegar consumption with a high-carb meal resulted in participants eating/drinking 200 to 275 fewer calories throughout the rest of the day. (1)
8. An All-Natural Household Cleaner
The anti-bacterial properties and the balanced pH of apple cider vinegar make it a perfect household cleaning product. Fill a spray bottle with 50 percent water and 50 percent ACV then spray windows and counters for cleaning.
9. Soothe a Sunburn
One of my favorite apple cider vinegar uses is to soothe a sunburn. Put 1 cup of apple cider vinegar in a lukewarm bath along with ¼ cup of coconut oil and lavender essential oil to ease sunburnt skin.
10. Balances Blood Sugar and Improves Diabetes
Medical research has proven that the acetic acid found in apple cider vinegar can balance blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity and insulin responses. (2) You can receive these benefits through apple cider vinegar ingestion. Try organic, raw apple cider vinegar on salads or consume 1 tablespoon in water before meals.
11. Heal Poison Ivy
Organic, raw apple cider vinegar contains potassium, which can help reduce swelling and inflammation, improving poison ivy. Reducing side effects of poison ivy is also one of the apple cider vinegar uses because it can help detox the poison out of your skin, helping poison ivy heal more quickly.
12. Repel Fleas on your Pets
Mix a 50/50 solution of apple cider vinegar together and soak your pet in a tub. Do this one time a day for several weeks to rid your pet of a flea infestation.
13. Lower Blood Pressure
In a 2009 12-week study, they found that consuming apple cider vinegar lowered triglycerides and blood pressure significantly.
14. Fight Seasonal Allergies
Another amazing treatment of ACV is for allergies. ACV helps break up mucous in your body and support lymphatic drainage. It also supports the immune system and can clear your sinuses. Put 2 tablespoons in a large glass of water and drink three times daily for allergies.
15. Kill Fungus on Toes and Skin
The anti-bacterial and anti-fungal compounds in apple cider vinegar make it a great natural remedy for skin and toenail fungus. Simply rub on the area of fungus two times daily. Also, using a mixture of coconut oil and oil of oregano is great for killing fungus.
16. Skin Toner for Eczema and Acne
The pH of apple cider vinegar makes it an excellent remedy for skin issues. Rub apple cider vinegar on the effected skin or use it as a wash — then put coconut oil and essential oils on the area to support further healing.
17. Ease Varicose Veins
Apple cider vinegar is excellent for varicose veins because it improves circulation in the vein walls and is anti-inflammatory, so it reduces bulging veins. Combine apple cider vinegar with witch hazel and rub on veins in circular motion and you should see improvements in two weeks.
18. Natural Deodorant
Bad bacteria and yeast are a major cause of body odor. The armpit can stay damp which also makes it a breeding ground for bad bacteria. Simply dabbing some apple cider vinegar on your fingers and running it into your armpit can kill yeast and neutralize odors, keeping you smelling fresh all day.
19. Cure a Cold and Sore Throat
Apple cider vinegar is the ultimate remedy to cure a cold and sore throat fast! Because it’s loaded with vitamins and probiotic-boosting acetic acid, it’s a great natural cure. Take 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in one glass of water three times daily to cure a cold.
20. May Reduce Warts
Put apple cider vinegar topically on the wart and then cover with a bandage. Leave on overnight and remove in the morning. You may see results in one week, but it could take longer.
This is only a few of the many apple cider vinegar uses and natural remedies. Download the FREE ACV Benefits poster on the button below.
Receive your Holistic Health and Healing email
Ready to start owning your health? Subscribe to our email newsletter to receive free resources, Daily Devotions, and latest updates!
Apple Cider Vinegar Uses and Dosage
It is important to note that not all apple cider vinegar is created equally! To get the most out of using ACV, make sure you buy it raw and with the “mother” intact, which means it still contains the beneficial compounds including probiotics.
It is imperative that you select organic, unfiltered and unpasteurized apple cider vinegar to reap its many health and beauty benefits. Also, look for cloudy vinegar; this is the sign that the friendly enzymes and bacteria that promote healing have not been removed. The cloudy strands is what is referred to as the “mother” probiotics.
FAQ
Does apple cider vinegar help you lose weight?
The majority of these claims are unsupported by research. However, several studies have discovered that acetic acid can aid with a range of ailments.
Drinking vinegar may help people lose weight and body fat according to Japanese researchers (1).
144 obese Japanese people were given either 1 tablespoon (15 mL) vinegar, 2 tablespoons (30 mL) vinegar, or a placebo drink every day for 12 weeks.
Throughout the trial, they were told to limit their alcohol use while maintaining their normal diet and activity levels. On average, those who ingested 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of vinegar every day experienced the following advantages:
- Weight loss: 2.6 pounds (1.2 kg)
- Decrease in body fat percentage: 0.7%
- Decrease in waist circumference: 0.5 in (1.4 cm)
- Decrease in triglycerides: 26%
On the other hand, this is what happened when people took 2 teaspoons (30 ml) of vinegar every day:
- Weight loss: 3.7 pounds (1.7 kg)
- Decrease in body fat percentage: 0.9%
- Decrease in waist circumference: 0.75 in (1.9 cm)
- Decrease in triglycerides: 26%
The placebo group gained 0.9 pounds (0.4 kilograms) and their waist circumference grew slightly.
Based on this study adding 1 or 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to your diet can help you lose weight. It can also help you lose belly fat and lower your blood triglycerides by lowering your body fat percentage.
This is one of just a few human research that have looked into the benefits of vinegar on weight loss. Despite the fact that the study was pretty large and the results were encouraging, more research is needed.
In another six-week trial, mice fed a high-fat, high-calorie diet accumulated 10% less fat in the high-dose vinegar group than in the control group and 2% less fat in the low-dose vinegar group (2).
Is it better to drink apple cider vinegar in the morning or at night?
Dilute 1-2 teaspoons (15–30 ml) of ACV with 1 cup (237 ml) of water and drink it earlier in the day to reduce side effects and get the most out of ACV.
If you prefer to drink apple cider vinegar at night, do it at least 30 minutes before bedtime to reduce your risk of indigestion or acid reflux.
What are the risks of Apple Cider Vinegar?
Apple cider vinegar is unlikely to harm you. It’s worth the try because it’s calorie-free, adds a lot of flavor to food, and is good for you. Medical practitioners are aware that drinking ACV straight or applying it to the skin can cause negative effects. Drinking a lot of apple cider vinegar, on the other hand, can induce the following side effects due to its high acidity:
- Harm your teeth, irritate your throat, and upset your stomach.
- Causing your potassium levels to plummet. That vitamin is required for your muscles and nerves to function properly.
- Digestion is slowed, making it more difficult to maintain blood sugar control. According to a study of persons with type 1 diabetes, apple cider vinegar delays the passage of food and liquids from the stomach to the intestines.
- It’s possible that certain medications won’t function as well as they should. Drugs for diabetes and heart disease, as well as diuretics (medicines that assist your body get rid of water and salt) and laxatives, fall under this category.
Summary
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has long been used as a natural cure for a range of diseases. Some experts have focused on apple cider vinegar and its possible health advantages in recent years since ACV appears to provide potential health benefits when used medicinally.
ACV should be consumed or used in moderation in general. If you want to give apple cider vinegar a try, it would be best to consult with your specialist.
Related Videos
Learn more on our Wednesday Wellness videos below.
OWN YOUR HEALTH!
What we need is empowerment and self-care. We have to change our whole mindset about our health and embrace lifestyle medicine. Here at DrGeorgeJ Holistic Health and Healing, we offer support and empowerment to everyone and everyone who chooses to live fully alive and empowered to optimal body, mind, and spirit health through the Creator Model of Healthcare’s 5 Pillars of Wellness.
We are excited to be a part of a change in the healthcare.
Related Blogs
