Apple Cider Vinegar is being used for centuries for treating an array of diseases, for its various health & skin benefits and countless household applications.
Characterized by a weird smell, the apple cider vinegar benefits range from beautifying your skin to help in losing excess weight. It is also known to treat many skin problems and health issues including diabetes.
While there are no vitamins or minerals in this vinegar, but, its acetic acid concentration along with the presence of various antioxidants and amino acids make it exceedingly beneficial. The acetic acid gives this vinegar a distinctive flavor and smell.
The apple cider vinegar uses and benefits majorly come from its ability to kill the “bad bacteria” while fostering the growth of the good bacteria in the body. As it kills the bad bacteria as soon as it comes in contact with it, the apple cider vinegar acts as a natural antibiotic.
The powerful healing compounds present in the apple cider vinegar include the probiotics, enzymes, acetic acid and the traces of magnesium and potassium.
Owing to the benefits of apple cider vinegar, it has been used as a proven remedy for many centuries. Hippocrates, the ancient Greek doctor used to treat the wounds with this wonderful vinegar.
Today, even science supports the use of apple cider vinegar in treating many conditions and enhancing the overall health. The Japanese scientists have concluded the effectiveness of the apple cider vinegar for weight loss.
How Should You Use It?
Apple cider vinegar is used in two ways, one involves the external application of the vinegar on the problem spots and another involves drinking the vinegar.
When you have to apply the vinegar externally, dilute it as per the directions, but never put the concentrated vinegar unless directed to avoid any issues, because it contains acetic acid.
And, when it comes to drinking the apple cider vinegar for its benefits, the safest way to do so is by mixing it in one glass of water and drinking it empty stomach or half an hour before the meal.
Never drink the concentrated vinegar directly without dilution, and the golden rule for dilution is to add one tablespoon of vinegar into one glass of water. The maximum that you can put in a glass of water is two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.
Our esophagus is not designed to withstand the concentrated acid, and swallowing it directly may make you unintentionally inhale some acid, which after reaching the lungs may make you feel as if they are sunburnt.
Also, don’t consume too much of the acid as it may harm your organs and can have toxic effects on the body. More than two tablespoons a day is not recommended.
Benefits Of Apple Cider Vinegar
1. Reduces Bloating
The apple cider vinegar when consumed before food increases the acidity levels in the stomach, and thus, accelerates the digestion of the food which you have eaten and makes it move faster to the small intestine.
Slow digestion is one of the prime reasons behind heartburn and bloating, and by making the food digest faster, this vinegar reduces bloating effectively.
You can consume the vinegar before your lunch and dinner by diluting one tablespoon in one glass of water.
2. Lowers the Blood Pressure
Consuming apple cider vinegar regularly helps in regulating the blood pressure and lowering it.
You can consume it by mixing one tablespoon of the vinegar with one glass of water empty stomach in the morning.
3. Alleviates Heartburn
If the heartburn is caused by something which you ate, then apple cider vinegar can prove quite helpful in alleviating the problem.
When you consume this vinegar diluted with water before your meals, it will make your food get digest faster and as a result, undigested food will not move upwards toward the esophagus making you feel full and causing heartburn.
However, if the heartburn is caused by some ulcers or the lesions in the esophagus, it may not prove helpful and in some cases, it may even aggravate the problem.
4. Detoxes The Liver and Other Organs
Many health experts believe that if you want to keep your body healthy and disease-free, it’s vital that you maintain an alkaline environment in the body and keep its pH balanced.
Apple Cider Vinegar, being alkaline in nature helps in maintaining the pH and detoxifying the entire body by flushing out the toxins, especially from the liver. It also boosts the natural process of blood filtration in the body while boosting the energy levels.
Apart from these, this incredible vinegar breaks down the mucus and cleanses the lymph nodes while facilitating the better circulation in the lymph. A healthy lymphatic system is capable of eliminating the toxins from the body cells which can lead to various chronic and life threatening diseases while improving the immune system response.
5. Aids Weight Loss
Apple Cider Vinegar is one of the well-known remedies for losing weight. Though, it does not show magical effects on your weight, but, it accelerates the process of weight loss in multiple ways.
It reduces bloating and also makes you feel full due to which you consume less food and less calories.
Also, the acetic acid found in the vinegar interferes with the starch digesting enzymes in the stomach and prevents the absorption of the calories from the eaten carbohydrates.
The weight loss might not be rapid when you start consuming the vinegar, but, it can support your other weight loss efforts significantly by contributing towards it.
6. Reduces The Fat Production
Among are major health benefits of apple cider vinegar is its ability to zap fat. The acetic acid in the vinegar can help in reducing the fat production in the liver while improving the overall blood cholesterol levels.
But, in order to get effective benefits from this amazing vinegar, you have to ensure that you don’t eat too many carbs or fatty food.
7. Lowers The Risk Of Heart Diseases
The cardiovascular diseases have become quite common these days due to the unhealthy lifestyle.
The consumption of the apple cider vinegar on a regular basis helps in reduction of the triglycerides, that is, the bad cholesterol which increases the risk of heart disease.
The vinegar contains “chlorogenic acid” apart from the acetic acid and this acid has effects similar to caffeine. It helps in preventing the LDL particles from getting oxidized. Also, this amazing vinegar balances the pH in the body and makes it more alkaline.
The acetic acid present in the vinegar helps in lowering the blood pressure.
Though, the evidence of apple cider vinegar significantly reducing the risk of heart diseases are solid, but not concrete. Thus, one should not just depend only on this vinegar to ward off the heart ailments and must also follow the other heart friendly habits as well.
8. Protects Against Cancer
Cancer is one of the diseases which are characterized by the uncontrollable growth of the cells in the body. While there are numerous factors which can cause cancer or strengthen the cancer cells, but, one of the biggest reasons behind it is the acidic environment in the body.
The acidic environment and the oxidative damage are primarily responsible for the growth of cancer cells.
Apple cider vinegar, with its antioxidants, checks the oxidative damage and with its pH balancing qualities turns the environment in the body to alkaline in which cancer cells cannot thrive.
Also, the vinegar possesses an antitumor effect due to the presence of neutral “alpha-glycan”. It is formed during the fermentation process of the vinegar and, it is able to decrease the cancerous tumors in the body.
This astounding vinegar is certainly able to slow down the growth of cancer cells and stop it completely in some cases, but, it’s certainly not a magical cure for cancer.
9. Boosts Immunity
One of the proven benefits of apple cider vinegar is that it enhances the immunity. It is rich in anti-bacterial and antioxidant properties, and it balances the pH of the body.
By producing an alkaline environment in the body, it ensures that you do not suffer from any diseases and your immunity gets strengthened to fight the diseases.
10. Enhances The Absorption Of Minerals And Vitamins In The Body
When your stomach is not able to produce as much acid as it should, then the absorption of many nutrients like iron, calcium, folate, Vitamin B6 gets impaired.
The apple cider vinegar helps you ingest some acid and overcome the acid deficiency in the stomach to enhance the absorption of vital minerals and vitamins.
11. Controls Candida
Candida is one of the chronic yeast disorders which may occur in people of any age. We all have the candida albicans in our gut whose task is to digest the sugar. But, when you consume too much sugar, it may result in candida yeast disorder.
The common symptoms of Candida include exhaustion, bad breath, digestive problems, joint pain and exhaustion or energy drain.
The apple cider vinegar is a natural remedy for treating Candida. With its antifungal properties and the enzymes to regulate the candida levels, it helps in treating the problem.
12. Prevents Osteoporosis
About one in six women over the age of 60 are diagnosed with osteoporosis, a bone condition which is the result of the low bone density. The vulnerability of the bones for getting fractured also gets increased.
Among the various apple cider vinegar uses and benefits is its ability to enhance the calcium absorption in the body. calcium is one of the most vital nutrients for preventing osteoporosis.
13. Controls Blood Sugar Spikes After A Meal
Consuming the apple cider vinegar before a meal is beneficial to control the blood sugar spikes after a meal as it slows down the rush of the sugar in your blood stream.
When we eat food, our blood sugar levels shoot up instantly and this is a big problem with the diabetic people. This amazing vinegar significantly reduces the blood-sugar spikes.
14. Reduces The Bad Breath
The antibacterial properties of the apple cider vinegar help in killing the bacteria and other microorganisms responsible for causing bad breath.
Dilute some vinegar in water and rinse your mouth with it two – three times a day to get rid of the bad breath.
15. Makes Your Muscles Produce More Energy
The acetic acid present in the Apple Cider Vinegar helps the muscles to turn the consumed carbs into the energy and fuel up the intense exercises.
16. Effectively Cleans The Fruits and Vegetables
The apple cider vinegar is rich in antibacterial properties, and thus, it can effectively be used to kill the bacteria and pathogens like salmonella present on the skin of fruits and vegetables.
To clean your fruits and vegetables and make them safe for consumption, just fill up a tray with water and add a few tablespoons of vinegar in it, Put the fruits and vegetables in it for about half an hour. Now, wash the soaked fruits and vegetables with clean water before using or refrigerating them.
Also, you can fill up an empty spray bottle with one glass of water and one or two tablespoons of vinegar. Spray this blend on eatables like fruits and vegetables, and then rinse them with clean water before consumption.
17. Slows Down Aging
Our body continuously creates the free radicals while performing metabolic activities to breakdown the food.
While a controlled number of free radicals are essential as they fight off the infection causing germs, but, when there are too many free radicals in our body, they can damage the body and become the prime reason behind a plethora of health problems including cancer, premature aging and much more.
The antioxidants are capable of canceling the negative impacts of free radicals and prevent various problems, including premature aging of the skin.
The apple cider vinegar is rich in antioxidants and thus, its regular consumptions help in delaying the aging. It helps in preventing the wrinkles, spots and pigmentation marks from appearing on the skin.
18. Controls Dandruff
Dandruff is one of the common and most annoying scalp conditions which is often caused by a fungus called Malassezia, or an overly dry or oily skin.
One of the top beauty benefits of apple cider vinegar is its ability to control dandruff while reducing the itchiness from the scalp. It controls the dandruff with its antibacterial properties, and also, its alkaline nature helps in balancing the pH of the scalp.
To use this vinegar for treating an itchy scalp or dandruff, dilute it with equal parts of water and fill the blend in a spray bottle. Spray this mixture over your scalp and let it spread evenly. Now, wrap your scalp with a clean towel and let the mixture sit on the scalp for 15 – 20 minutes. Now wash your hair normally. Repeat it twice a week for the best results.
However, if you have lesions, acne or deep scratches on your scalp, the vinegar might also irritate the skin. So, if it irritates the skin as soon as you apply it, wash it off immediately.
19. Removes the Warts
The apple cider vinegar is very helpful in removing warts from the skin. The warts are usually caused by a virus.
While the vinegar does not kill the wart causing virus, but, owing to its high concentration of the acetic acid, it directly attacks the flesh that forms the wart while killing it. Thus, the wart naturally gets peeled off the skin and takes the virus along with it.
As we want the vinegar to exhibit its acidic nature, so, do not dilute it. Simply soak some cotton in the vinegar and let it completely saturate. Now squeeze the cotton to let all the excess acid drop. Now place the cotton ball on the wart and secure it with the help of a bandage. Repeat it daily and within a few weeks, the wart will come off.
20. Acts As A natural Toner
A toner helps in making the skin tone even, balancing the pH and battling the breakouts. Most of the toners available in the market contain alcohol and thus, they may damage the skin in the long run.
Apple cider vinegar is rich in natural malic acid, which possesses antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. That’s why it helps to keep the skin clean, free from acne and balanced while encouraging the natural skin healing properties.
To use it as a toner, mix equal amount of water and apple cider vinegar, and apply it on the skin after washing the face. Then wipe it off using a cotton ball and moisturize the skin.
21. Fades The Age Spots
The apple cider vinegar is rich in natural alpha-hydroxy acid, which makes the skin the stay firm and renews itself. It also helps in lightening the age spots.
To lighten the marks and dark spots on your skin using this vinegar, mix an equal amount of the vinegar and water, and dip a cotton ball in it so that it absorbs the liquid. Now dab this cotton ball on your face in a way that it lets the blend spread on your face evenly. Leave it for a couple of minutes initially, and if it does not irritate the skin too much, let it stay on the skin for 15 – 20 minutes. Now rinse your face with cold water and dry it.
22. Deodorize The Smelly Feet
The smell of the feet is caused by the bacteria and as apple cider vinegar is enriched with anti-bacterial properties, it helps in reducing the smell.
Simply dip a paper towel in the diluted vinegar and wipe your feet with it to fill the smell causing bacteria.
What Should You Consider before Buying Apple Cider Vinegar?
In order to get optimum health benefits of apple cider vinegar, it is important that you use organic and unfiltered variants of the vinegar.
The unfiltered varieties of the apple cider vinegar possess the “mother”, which is considered to be responsible for most of the advantages offered by this vinegar.
The strands of enzymes, proteins and the health friendly bacteria are known as the mother in the vinegar. The mother in the vinegar gives it a murky, cobweb type look, and if the mother is not present in the vinegar, then it might not deliver all the benefits which it should.
The organic variety ensures that the apples or the vinegar do not contain any traces of harmful insecticides, pesticides or any other elements which may damage the health or affect the body in a negative manner.
Thus, always prefer to buy the organic and unfiltered variety of apple cider vinegar.
