10 healthy uses for apple cider vinegar

by Jennifer Kass

The apple cider vinegar stocked in your cupboard may play a starring role in your salad dressing, but it’s also enjoyed a long run as the basis of many health remedies. (The organic, unfiltered kind, that is.)

Apple cider vinegar’s strong suit is balancing pH levels, and creating a healthy, alkalized state when you eat or drink it—or use it a skin-care product. (You want to be more alkaline than acidic for a trillion health reasons, some experts say.)

It’s also pretty renowned in natural-health circles for curbing digestive issues, spiking weight loss, promoting great skin, and banishing a handful of other pesky afflictions.

And in the medical community, small research studies point to its promise for lessening symptoms of diabetes and obesity.

Wonder how it can help you? Here are ten reasons to add apple cider vinegar to more than just your salad dressing:


1. Digestion and food poisoning. Vinegar contains malic acid, which can help common digestive issues like constipation or acid-reflux. And because it’s a trifecta of antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties, a tablespoon or two in a 8 oz. glass of water may even help with a case of food poisoning.

2. Sleep issues. Many people swear by a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a cup of hot water with honey before bed, citing its sleep-inducing powers and that it promotes a more restful night’s sleep. 
For a balancing elixir, dilute a couple teaspoons of organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar in tepid or warm water with lemon in the morning.

3. Diabetes. A 2007 study published in Diabetes Care, showed potential for apple cider vinegar as a tool to lower glucose levels. (Note that it can interfere with diabetes medication, if you are taking them. )

4. High cholesterol. Its high levels of pectin can help regulate blood pressure and lower cholesterol, showed a 2006 study done with rats.

5. Bones and teeth. Apple cider vinegar has the capacity to extract calcium from fruits, vegetables, and meat in your diet, thereby helping strengthen your bones and teeth.

6. Joint pain. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may help provide pain-relief to neck, back, and shoulder joint pain (including arthritis).

7. Detox. High levels of potassium in the vinegar work like a clarifying tonic on the body, helping clear up sinus infections, candida, sore throats, and allergies. Some New Yorkers do a cleanse with it (and clean food) instead of juice.

8. Weight loss. It won’t replace eating well and exercise, but apple cider vinegar may help you feel full longer, and some natural-health experts say its enzymes and soluble fiber can aid in fat metabolism. A study done on mice showed that acetic acid (main component of the vinegar) slowed fat accumulation.

9. Summertime bug bites. It’s an antiseptic that can soothe bug bites and skin allergies almost instantly.

10. Beauty blemishes, burns, and bad hair days. When used as a toner, it helps curbs acne and blemishes with its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Add it to a bath for sunburn relief (about a cup) and rinse your hair with it for instant shine (a few tablespoons). 

Arthritis/Fibromyalgia home remedies

Eliminate gout, arthritis and fibromyalgia pain FAST with 3 natural home remedies

These remodies are great for heartburn relief.  I personally have used lemon water and apple cider vinegar as a morning cleanse drink for overall health as well...and highly recommend it to get your digestive system optimal during its morning cleaning phase.    

Anyone experiencing the pain of an acute gout or rheumatoid arthritis attack would sell their soul to get fast relief from the agony. Most drugs take time to build up in the system before relief occurs; and, many of those same drugs cause unacceptable side effects. What if you could make a drink, that in the matter of just a few minutes, would help the pain subside to tolerable levels or relieve it entirely? Sounds too good to be true? Well, it's not.

The underlying cause of arthritis, gout and fibromyalgia is an imbalance in the system causing acidosis, which is the basis of most physical disease. In simple terms, this means your pH is out of balance and your body is trying to get back into balance in any way it can. Even in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, imbalance is at the root of its cause. The body's attempt to regain stasis is what causes arthritis, high uric acid, muscle spasms and a host of other problems. The solution is to help the body's pH return to normal by consuming alkalizing foods.

Here are three potent home remedies that can help relieve inflammatory arthritis and rheumatism pains, gout attacks and debilitating fibromyalgia episodes in a very short time. No one remedy works for everyone; so it's important to use them all, one at a time, and find what works best in each circumstance.

Baking soda

Baking soda mixed in water can relieve gout joint pain almost instantly and reduce high uric acid. In some cases it may take up to two days to experience relief; however, if taken regularly, it will prevent attacks before they occur. Mix 1/2 teaspoon baking soda in 8 oz. of water and drink it all at once. The maximum recommended dose is 4 teaspoons divided up throughout the day during an acute attack. Then reduce the dose as the pain subsides. Baking soda can raise the blood pressure. Persons taking medication for hypertension should consult a health practitioner before using baking soda in this manner.

 


Apple cider vinegar
Anecdotal evidence and clinical reports indicate that apple cider vinegar relieves joint pain, acid stomach, headaches, gout, muscle spasms and arthritis. ACV acts to help create an alkaline-forming state in the body by stimulating digestive juices, including bicarbonate, that's released by the pancreas. This highly alkaline substance neutralizes the acidic vinegar and stomach acids, helping to balance the pH. Mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of vinegar with 8 oz. of water and drink all at once. Some people prefer to sip on it; however, it seems to be more effective when consumed at one time. If it's too strong use less vinegar and work up to a full dose. Apple cider vinegar is known to be especially helpful in relieving acute gout attacks. Always use organic vinegar with the mother intact.

Lemon juice and baking soda

Another alkalizing drink that works miracles for some people is a lemon juice and baking soda cocktail. Mixing the highly acidic lemon juice with the highly alkaline baking soda creates a perfectly balanced pH that matches the body's natural healthy pH, which helps to restore balance almost instantaneously. Pour the juice of one lemon - about 2 oz. - into a tall glass. Add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda and allow it to fizz and bubble until it is completely flat -- about two minutes. It can also be stirred. Add 8 oz. of water and drink immediately. It should taste like flat water.

Apple Cider Vinegar uses

Apple Cider Vinegar has several health benefits. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the smell or taste, but the profound health benefits make it bearable for me at times:)

The only brand I buy is Braggs...Certified Bragg Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar is unfiltered, unheated, unpasteurized and 5% acidity. Contains the amazing Mother of Vinegar which occurs naturally as strand-like enzymes of connected protein molecules.

Here are 10 ways you can use it to help pave the way to a better you.


1. Balance your inner ecosystem: The body constantly strives to achieve a state of homeostasis, or a state of equilibrium. One way is by keeping the body's pH balance (or acid-base balance) within the normal range of 7.35 - 7.45. Apple cider vinegar helps the body maintain a healthy alkaline pH level. Research shows that higher acid levels (lower pH level) leads to a lack of energy, excessive production of mucous and higher incidences of infection, among other things.

2. Detoxes the body: As part of balancing the body's pH, apple cider vinegar is useful in overall detoxification of the body. Research shows that it can help stimulate cardiovascular circulation and help detoxify the liver. It also helps break up mucous throughout the body and helps cleanse the lymph nodes.

3. Weight loss: Tired of the "fad" diets that do more damage to your wallet than your excess fat cells? Try boosting your intake of apple cider vinegar. Data shows some limited, albeit significant, weight loss benefits from sustained daily intake of acetic acid (which is prevalent in apple cider vinegar). In one study published in Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry in 2009, it was found that subjects who consumed acetic acid for 12 weeks experienced significant declines in body weight, abdominal fat, waist circumference and triglycerides.

4. Cures: Allergies: Believe it or not, research suggests that apple cider vinegar can help reduce the effect of allergies on your body, mostly by reducing mucous and sinus congestion. A sign of a distressed immune system is an increase and thickening of mucous; apple cider vinegar can help reduce the build-up and congestion, thereby reducing your susceptibility to allergies.

5. Cures: Sinus infections, sore throats, headaches, flu: Reducing the effects of allergies can also reduce the frequency of sinus infections and the symptoms associated with them, such as sore throats and headaches. Boosting the immune system can also curb bouts of the flu.

6. Clears: Acne, dermatitis, warts and other skin problems: Some practitioners recommend mixing one part apple cider vinegar and three parts water. They recommend dabbing the solution on each pimple. For warts, some recommend soaking a cotton ball in an apple cider vinegar solution then place over the wart with a band-aid overnight. The skin will swell some as it reacts with the solution and may throb; it may even turn black after a few days. Once it falls off, though, continue the treatment for a few more days, to make sure the wart doesn't return, according to recommendations.

7. Lower blood pressure and cholesterol: One of the most important "healing" qualities of apple cider vinegar is its ability to lower blood pressure and triglycerides, the bad cholesterol. According to a 2001 animal study published in Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, there was some evidence that daily consumption of apple cider vinegar could help reduce both blood pressure and cholesterol. Try 1-2 teaspoons of vinegar in about eight ounces of water; if you want, add a teaspoon of honey to make it more palatable.

8. Kills candida and fungus: This vinegar is rich in natural enzymes that can help rid your body of candida - a genus of yeasts which can cause thrush in humans and is blamed for creating symptoms of fatigue, poor memory, sugar cravings, and yeast infections.

9. Eases arthritis, stiff joints and gout: Regular use of apple cider vinegar can be tied to a decrease in joint pain and gout by reducing inflammation; data suggests the malic acid in the vinegar is able to dissolve the uric acid crystals within the joint and assist in flushing them from the body.

10. Strengthens stomach acid: Though it might seem a little odd to treat stomach acid with an acid-containing vinegar, there is research suggesting that apple cider vinegar works by treating low acid and thereby reducing heartburn. Natural remedy experts say you should begin to feel relief - unless your problem is ulcers - very shortly after taking a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar followed by a glass of water.

Natural Face Mask

Natural Face Mask

Naturally get younger, super smooth, beautiful clear skin.

Egg-cellent Egg mask

 What you need to get from your kitchen:
1 Egg (just the egg white)
1 teaspoon Honey (I use organic honey)
1/4 teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar (I used Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar- got it at the co-op in town)
*you can NOT use regular vinegar*

How to make it

Separate the white from the yoke of the egg, and use just the egg white.

In a bowl whisk the egg white until it's frothy

Add in the tsp of organic honey and 1/4 tsp or organic apple cider vinegar and mix in.

With a teaspoon, apply on your face spreading it with the smooth part of the spoon, feels great and will spread well.

Then leave on your face for abut 20 minutes, letting it dry and tighten up.

Then with a warm wash cloth rinse it off your face and you will find your face super smooth!  Do this treatment as often as you want, daily, weekly etc. 

This batch makes enough for several applications, so invite friends over for free facials:p

My skin felt Amazing after! Stay tuned for another face remedy tomorrow:)

 

Make Note* The best quality apple cider vinegar is made with fresh organic apples that have been crushed and allowed to mature (aka ferment)  in wooden barrels. The good kind (like the Bragg ACV)  retains the “mother,” which is a natural sediment on the bottom of the bottle and it should be a little cloudy and sort of honey colored. This is the same kind that is wonderful for you to drink with water (one tsp of apple cider in a full glass of water). I'm not a fan of the taste, but the health benefits make it so worth it!

 

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR contains natural enzymes, vitamins and minerals and is rich in antioxidants.   It has Vitamins A, B and C, beta carotene, bioflavonoids, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, copper, iron, sulfur, iron, fluorine, silicon, boron and pectin. How's that for super vinegar! It naturally balances the pH balance of the skin, fight bacteria, infections and is a natural anti-fungal, AND it reduces inflammation. It is an awesome astringent (toner), for sensitive and oils skin. Vinegar can even do wonders for acne and itchy skin conditions due to eczema and sunburn and can help blast fungal infections, warts and even skin tags!

HONEY, I love you, let me count thy ways:

The natural occurring acids in honey acids are very safe to use on skin and can loosen bonds between the dead skin cells junking up your skin, making it easier to shed the dead layer and reveal your smoother  more glorious skin underneath! These acids also increase elasticity, balance out oily skin, stimulate collagen production, and minimize lines and wrinkles making you look younger and more "new and improved"!  And honey is safe for the most sensitive skin...honey has even more awesome qualities, used since ancient times!

Why EGGS are "egg-ceptional":
 An egg mask is one of the best natural remedies for irritated skin.  Eggs contains amino acids that help in reduction of any inflammation. Eggs not only smooth and tighten the skin, but help shrink pores. Even put it on your neck to tighten any skin that isn't a tight as you'd like! 

Thank you Kandee Johnson for this wonderful mask recipe! By Martha Washington