The Many Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar: An Ancient and Modern Remedy
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is one of the oldest folk remedies known to man. Its benefits range from alleviating cold symptoms, soothing intestinal disturbances and controlling blood sugar, to curing a nasty case of the hiccups!
It is said that Columbus traveled with several barrels of apple cider vinegar on his ships because it was believed that the acid (rather than Vitamin C) could prevent scurvy. Hippocrates (known as the father of medicine) prescribed ACV mixed with honey for a number of ailments including coughs, colds and ulcers.
Made from fermented apples, the goodness in apple cider vinegar comes from the enzymes and gut friendly bacteria contained in what is known as the “mother.” The “mother” is the cloudy formation of strings that you see at the bottom of a bottle of raw, organic, unfiltered, unpasteurized ACV. Although this murky looking sediment floating around the bottom of the bottle may have the appearance of vinegar gone bad, the opposite is actually true! It is this sediment that gives ACV its many health benefits!
Despite being an acid (all vinegars are acidic), apple cider vinegar actually has an alkaline affect on the human body. In an age when most people’s pH balance is too acidic, consuming apple cider vinegar helps to create a more balanced, or slightly alkaline pH level, which has been associated with a reduced risk of cancer. Cancer cells thrive in an acidic environment, and cannot survive in an alkaline environment.
The acetic acid contained in apple cider vinegar may help to control blood sugar levels. Drinking apple cider vinegar before a meal can reduce hunger, leading to less overeating and natural weight loss.
The malic acid content gives rise to ACV’s antibacterial and antiviral properties and may help to stave off common colds and coughs.
Did you know that apple cider vinegar also makes a great skin tonic? Applied topically to the skin, ACV can help control acne and other dermatologic conditions.
And when it comes to those annoying and sometimes embarrassing cases of the hiccups, many people claim that drinking a tablespoon of ACV stirred into a small glass of warm water is an instant cure!
Get your daily dose…
The easiest way to reap the many benefits of apple cider vinegar is to add a tablespoonful to a cup of warm water and drink it! This can be an extremely healthy addition to your daily regime.
Want to increase the health benefits?
Try adding some honey and/or lemons to your drink. Honey is one of nature’s most powerful antibacterial agents, while lemons contain a phytochemical known as limonene which has been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Apple cider vinegar can also be used as a salad dressing. Drizzling a few spoonfuls over a green salad adds a zingy pep! It may also increase your body’s ability to absorb the nutrients contained in the leafy greens!
January 26, 2017 @ 7:28 pm
Thank You Susan. Great tips.
March 22, 2017 @ 6:40 am
Apple cider vinegar is a very helpful ingredient if you want to treat face related problems. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which makes apple cider vinegar very effective ingredient. By this can treat lots of health related problems whether it is your hair related problems, abdominal pain or constipation and unnecessary weight loss.
June 30, 2017 @ 6:27 am
Hi there! Visited your website for the first time and absolutely loved the content!
October 11, 2017 @ 1:37 pm
Thanks!