Apple cider vinegar: Old-fashioned remedy for a modern body

Apple cider vinegar has been used to improve health for over 7,000 years…

As far back as 400 BC, Hippocrates often prescribed it mixed with honey to overcome coughs and colds.

And traditionally it’s been used to stimulate circulation, aid in liver detoxification, purify blood, cleanse lymph nodes and improve immune system responses.

To create apple cider vinegar, a two-step fermentation process using yeasts and bacteria, turns apple juice into vinegar that contains the active component known as acetic acid.

It’s this same active ingredient that modern science confirms has a wide range of health benefits…

Weight loss

Any natural substance that aids in your weight loss efforts is a good substance to know about, and it looks like apple cider vinegar could be your new best friend…

In a 12-week study of obese individuals, participants were advised to drink a 16-ounce daily water beverage that contained either one or two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. They drank this concoction in two equal portions straight after breakfast and dinner.

After the 12 weeks, not only did people report their feelings of satiety had improved, but they also enjoyed a reduction in belly fat, smaller waist circumference, lower blood triglycerides, and of course, weight loss…

The participants drinking the placebo beverage actually gained nearly one pound. But those who were drinking one tablespoon of vinegar daily lost an average 2.6 pounds. Those drinking two tablespoons lost 4.1 pounds.

Of course, exercise and a healthy diet are still essential weight loss requirements, but including apple cider vinegar could provide that added success-edge you’re after.

Fight diabetes

Amazingly, before medications existed to help regulate blood glucose levels, vinegar was used as a home remedy for hyperglycemia. And it seems this same remedy still rings true…

The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar has been shown to help reduce post meal blood sugar levels, improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation, with the average dosage of one tablespoon taken before or during meals.

Studies have also shown having one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (mixed in water) with a slice of cheese before bed can help lower morning blood sugar levels.

Improve acid reflux

Apple cider vinegar is a natural probiotic food and contains beneficial enzymes that balance out stomach pH levels.

Drinking one tablespoon mixed with one cup of water, 5 minutes before meals, can significantly improve acid reflux.

Boost beneficial gut bacteria

Being a natural probiotic, apple cider vinegar kills off health-destroying yeasts such as candida, boosts digestion and supports the growth of healthy beneficial bacteria.

If you’re struggling with candida, fatigue or any kind of inflammation, consume one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in water, three times per day, as part of your daily cleanse routine.

As a wide-use natural remedy

The health benefits of apple cider vinegar keep coming…

• It can be applied to cold sores to help clear them up.
• Dab some on ant or mosquito bites to stop the itching.
• Eliminate dandruff by using it as a rinse after you wash your hair, massaging into the scalp.
• Add one cup of vinegar and half a cup coconut or olive oil to a lukewarm bath to soothe sunburn.
• Rub on fungal skin infections twice a day to give them the flick.

Using apple cider vinegar daily

You can enjoy the benefits of apple cider vinegar by adding it to salad dressings, homemade mayonnaise and marinades.

But to gain the best benefits for health, add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to eight ounces of water and consume it before, during or after a meal.

One word of caution: Always dilute apple cider vinegar to prevent it from eroding enamel on teeth, burning your throat or causing stomach acid imbalance. If you experience these symptoms, cut back a little and ease yourself into it. And remember to drink plenty of water each day as well.

Sources:

1. Kondo, T. (2017). Nih.gov. Retrieved 24 March, 2017, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19661687

2. Dening, J. (2017). DiabetesMealPlans.com. Retrieved 24 March, 2017, from https://diabetesmealplans.com/560/does-vinegar-lower-blood-sugar/

3. Versatile Vinegar. (2017). Retrieved 24 March, 2017, from http://versatilevinegar.org/faqs/