Health & Wellness: Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar is Mother Nature’s all-in-one, all-natural, cure-all, and multi-purpose life elixir!
Raw organic apple cider vinegar truly is nature’s perfect miracle food—and should never be confused with regular clear vinegar. Clear vinegar has none of the health properties of ACV and can actually be harmful.
Traditional uses of ACV are almost limitless! To name just a few… ACV has been used to ease digestion, aid in flu prevention, reduce inflammation, regulate pH balance, ease nausea and heartburn, as a staple in detox regimens, and for a number of skin conditions—including reducing acne and smoothing wrinkles!
But why exactly does ACV contain so many healing properties?
The secret may lie in its alkalizing effect! Even though Apple Cider Vinegar is acidic (like a lemon or lime), it creates a perfect alkaline environment in your body that is the exact opposite of what most diseases require to thrive.
And then there’s the incredible concentration of naturally occurring vital nutrients…
Raw, organic ACV is made from organic apples and undergoes a double fermentation process, which produces enzymes and preserves its health-promoting characteristics. Some of the most beneficial nutrients in raw, organic ACV include:
- Potassium: essential for normal heart, kidney and other organ and cellular function
- Iron: important for blood health
- Magnesium: vital to heart health
- Enzymes: boost chemical reactions in the body
- Malic acid: protects vinegar from viruses, bacteria and fungus
- Acetic acid: slows the digestion of starch and inhibits bacterial growth
- Calcium: builds strong bones and teeth
- Pectin: helps regulate blood pressure and cholesterol
- Ash: maintains a healthy alkaline state in the body
Plus, ACV provides a veritable smorgasbord of vitamins and powerful antioxidants including vitamin A, B6, C, E, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, beta-carotene and lycopene!
But there is ONE extra-special ingredient that puts ACV over-the-top in health-promoting potential—and that’s “Mother.”
Also known as Mycoderma aceti, Mother of vinegar is created when acetic acid bacteria and a type of cellulose develop during the fermentation process. Mother of vinegar is harmless—and the phenomenal health-promoting characteristics it possesses are out of this world! Such as living nutrients and friendly bacteria—the kinds you hear about that are so important for “balanced” health…
A body that’s not properly pH balanced is wide open for disease and sickness because:
#1 Acidity robs minerals from bones, cells, organs and tissue!
#2 Without minerals—vitamin absorption is compromised!
#3 Toxins and pathogens easily build up and the immune system is suppressed!
Some of the uses of Apple Cider Vinegar:
- Tonic: ACV is highly acidic—so it’s always best to mix it with water. If a particular remedy calls for two teaspoons of ACV to be ingested—stir it into a glass of water—because drinking ACV straight may damage tooth enamel. Or burn going down the hatch.
Drinking diluted ACV tastes just a little sour, but I’ll tell you… it’s much easier to drink to your health than deal with the long list of downright scary side effects of commercial drugs!
- Diabetes: Vinegar is said to be anti-glycemic and has a beneficial effect on blood sugar levels. It’s thought that the acetic acid in vinegar may lower blood sugar by preventing the complete digestion of complex carbohydrates, which is accomplished either by accelerating gastric emptying or increasing the uptake of glucose by bodily tissues.
- Heart Health: Vinegar supports heart health in multiple ways. Chlorogenic acid, which is present in high levels in apple cider vinegar, could inhibit oxidation of LDLs and improve health by preventing cardiovascular diseases. Vinegar has also been found to decrease triglyceride levels and VLDL levels (the damaging form of cholesterol).
- Weight Loss: Vinegar may help you lose weight, as it appears to have an anti-obesity effect by increasing satiety and reducing the total amount of food consumed.
- Sinus Congestion: Apple cider vinegar helps to break up and reduce mucous in your body, helping to clear your sinuses. It also has antibacterial properties, making it useful for infections.
- Sore Throat: The antibacterial properties in apple cider vinegar may be useful for sore throats as well. Gargle with a mixture of about one-third cup of apple cider vinegar mixed with warm water as needed.
- Acid Reflux and Other Digestive Ailments: Acid reflux typically results from having too little acid in your stomach. You can easily improve the acid content of your stomach by taking one tablespoon of raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar in a large glass of water daily. The pectin in apple cider vinegar may also help to soothe intestinal spasms.
- Skin Irritations: Apple cider vinegar works for a variety of skin ailments, from bug bites to poison ivy to sunburn. You can either apply it directly to the irritated area or try soaking in a bath with about one cup of vinegar added.
- Warts: Topical application of apple cider vinegar may help remove warts, likely because of the high levels of acetic acid it contains. You can try soaking a cotton ball in vinegar and applying it to the wart, covered, overnight.
- Energy Boost: Apple cider vinegar contains potassium and enzymes to help banish fatigue. Plus, its amino acids may help prevent the buildup of lactic acid in your body, further preventing fatigue.
- Boost Liver Detoxification: Studies found that ACV plays a role in liver detoxification, and may stimulate circulation. It also has healing properties that can affect the skin and blood and eliminate harmful environmental toxins in the body. Apple cider vinegar can also cleanse the lymph nodes and promote better lymph circulation, which can contribute to improved immune system response.
- Candida Overgrowth: Too much Candida bacteria, which is actually a naturally occurring yeast, in your body has been linked to many different health issues, including yeast infections, fatigue, poor memory, depression, headaches, sugar cravings.
Apple Cider Vinegar also has plenty of uses around your home.
- Natural Cleaning: Vinegar is one of the best natural cleaning agents there is, and this is largely due to its antimicrobial properties. When added to food, the organic acids in vinegar (especially the acetic acid) pass into cell membranes to kill bacteria. Foods fermented with vinegar have a natural arsenal of antimicrobial organic acids, including acetic, lactic, ascorbic, citric, malic, propionic, succinic, and tartaric acids.
- Weed Killer: Vinegar is very effective to control weeds in your garden. (10 parts ACV + 1 part dish soap)
- Neutralize Odors: Apple cider vinegar in a bowl will help to neutralize odors in your home.
- Fruit and Veggie Wash: Vinegar is one of the best natural agents for removing certain pesticides and bacteria from your fresh produce. Try a solution of 10% vinegar to 90% water as a bath to briefly soak produce. Just place your veggies or fruit in the solution, swish them around, and rinse thoroughly (don’t use this process on fragile fruits like berries since they could be damaged in the process or soak up too much vinegar through their porous skins).
- Natural Polishing Agent: Apple cider vinegar can be used to polish different metals:
For silver: Mix half a cup of vinegar with 2 tablespoons baking soda. Soak the silver for a few hours and then rinse.
For brass, bronze and copper: Create a paste by mixing equal parts salt and vinegar, and then coat the items completely, rubbing them until the tarnish is gone. Rinse with cold water and dry with a clean towel.
Hygiene and Beauty Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar
You might even want to keep some apple cider vinegar in your bathroom cabinet…
- Hair Rinse: Apple cider vinegar helps remove product build-up and balance your scalp’s pH level. Try a weekly rinse of one-third cup of vinegar mixed with four cups of water. For dandruff, do this instead:
1.Spraying your scalp with equal parts vinegar and water (mixed).
2.Wrap a towel around your head and leave it to sit for an hour.
3.Wash out and repeat up to twice a week.
- Facial Toner: Diluted apple cider vinegar on a cotton ball makes a simple facial toner and cleanser to help prevent breakouts. It might even help bruises to fade faster.
- Deodorant: Apple cider vinegar helps kill odor-causing bacteria, so dab a bit under your arms for a natural deodorant.
- Oral Health: Gargling with diluted apple cider vinegar can help to eliminate bad breath and whiten teeth. Keep in mind, however, that apple cider vinegar is highly acidic. The main ingredient is acetic acid, which is quite harsh, so you should always dilute it with water before swallowing. Pure, straight apple cider vinegar could damage your tooth enamel or the tissues of your mouth and throat.
- Foot Odor and Body Odor: Wiping your feet down with apple cider vinegar can help to eliminate odor-causing bacteria and smells from your feet. Rubbing it on your armpit can also help neutralize body odor.
- Soothing Aftershave: Throw away your artificial chemical-based aftershave and settle for ACV instead. Just dilute it in an equal portion of clean water, shake well, and then apply to your face after shaving.
One way to use Apple Cider Vinegar is to prepare and preserve these delicious vegetables.
Pickled Vegetables
Bottling your favourite pickled vegetables is fun and delicious. Enjoy them almost right away with this easy recipe.
Eat them with cheese on an anti-pasto platter, in sandwiches, or with Hummus and crusty bread or just as a snack!
Ingredients
1 clean sterilised 2litre Jar
Vegetables of your choice – chopped into bit sized pieces
(I used Radish, Cauliflower, Chili, Carrot, Ginger & Fresh Turmeric Root)
Apple Cider Vinegar – 600mls
Water – 200mls
Sugar – 175g
Salt – 25g
Spices: 1tsp Mustard Seeds, 1 tsp Coriander seeds, Dry Red Chilli – 3pcs
Method
- Ensure your vegetables are clean and dry. Cut into bite sized pieces.
- Pack your chopped vegetables into the clean sterilized jar.
- Toast the spices in a large pot for a minute or so.
- Add the Vinegar, water, Salt and Sugar. Bring to a boil.
- Once boiled and the sugar and salt has been dissolved, take off the heat and pour hot over the vegetables, covering them completely.
- Close and seal the lid. Once cooled your Pickles are ready to eat. Leaving the pickles to soak longer will enhance the flavour. Will keep for a month in the fridge.
