Organic raw apple cider vinegar has been found to be one of the top natural health remedies that can help with lowering blood pressure, prevent cardiovascular disease, improve digestion and support a healthy immune system.
Research shows that the natural properties of apple cider vinegar, or ACV for short, can also help prevent osteoporosis, diabetes, cancer, and even diseases like Alzheimer’s. In the following article, I will explore the natural properties of ACV and discuss the many benefits it offers to our health and well-being. I will also talk about one of the most popular brand of ACV and the benefits it provides.
But first, here is a little historical background, on the first uses of ACV, that you might find interesting.
The History of Apple Cider Vinegar
According to Victoria Rose, author of the book Apple Cider Vinegar, ACV has been used for thousands of years to cure a variety of ailments. In her book, Ms. Rose mentions that vinegar is one of the oldest fermentation product known to man and she describes how the early history of fermentation dates back to 5,000 BC when the Babylonians made wine from date palm, and the Egyptians made wine from barley. She also discusses how ancient Egyptians used vinegar, for medicinal purposes, as a remedy for a variety of illnesses including mushroom poisoning, loss of appetite, ear problems, and to heal wounds and gangrene. Here are some additional historical facts described in Victoria Rose’s book, on the history of apple cider vinegar:
- The Romans purified their drinking water by adding wine vinegar.
- Cleopatra once dissolved pearls in vinegar to win a bet with Mark Anthony that she would consume at a single meal the value of a million sesterces (an ancient roman coin of considerable monetary value).
- Julius Caesar, who led two Roman legions to England in 55 BC, discovered cider to be the common drink within England.
In my research on ACV, I also discovered that there is a belief that Cleopatra used it as part of her beauty regimen to clean her delicate facial skin. However, this seems to be more of a legend than a fact.
What is Apple Cider Vinegar?
Here is an excerpt from one the best brands of apple cider vinegar out there, Braggs Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, on what apple cider vinegar is and how it’s different from the distilled vinegars usually found in supermarkets:
“Different from the refined and distilled vinegars usually found in supermarkets, natural apple cider vinegar is made from fresh, crushed, organically grown apples and allowed to mature in tanks, which boosts its natural fermentation qualities.
“When mature, it contains a web-like substance, called “mother” that becomes visible when the rich brownish liquid is held to the light. The mother is the most nutritious part of the Apple Cider Vinegar and is very beneficial to digest.
“The presence of the mother shows that the best part of the apple has not been destroyed. Vinegars containing the mother contain enzymes and minerals that other vinegars may not contain due to over processing, filtration and overheating. “
Benefits of consuming Apple Cider Vinegar:
Now that we have a better understanding of what apple cider vinegar is, here are below the top benefits that apple cider vinegar provides:
- Diluting 1 to 2 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar in a big glass of water and sipping it with your meals 1 to 2 times a day can help you:
- Feel full longer
- Suppress after meal spike in blood sugar
- Keep you from craving sweets
- Raw, unfiltered, unpasteurized, organic apple cider vinegar with the ‘mother of vinegar’ will have the strongest live enzymatic action and the most beneficial bacteria to keep your digestive system healthy.
- Apple cider vinegar is considered to be a prebiotic, which is a source of food for beneficial bacteria. Prebiotics like apple cider vinegar help maintain the population of good bacteria in your gut to keep your digestive system healthy.
Cosmetic Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar:
In addition to helping with digestion, apple cider vinegar also has many uses for your skin care routine. Below, you will see some examples of how apple cider vinegar can be used to cleanse your face, to reduce blemishes, and to soften your skin
- Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has strong antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. Diluting 50% of ACV and 50% of water and applying the diluted mixture to your skin with a cotton pad can help stop pimples from forming.
- Adding 8 ounces of apple cider vinegar to a bathtub filled with warm water and soaking yourself for 15 minutes can help restore the pH level balance all over your skin, and reduce blemishes, red marks, and achieve softer skin.
- Apple cider vinegar can be used as a toner by diluting 50% of ACV with 50% of filtered water, which can help balance the oil production in your skin to achieve the perfect balance between dry and oily.
- Apple cider vinegar (ACV) contains malic acid, which is a natural exfoliator that can help remove dead skin cells that could clog your skin. ACV can make your skin look fresh, bright and healthy.
Other Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar:
Apple cider vinegar can be used to clean makeup brushes and wash out germ build up.
To clean your makeup brushes, simply combine one cup of warm water with one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and clean brushes with the mixture.
Rinse and lay out your brushes to dry.
Did you know apple cider vinegar can help you get rid of spider veins?
See for yourself in this popular YouTube video.
A Word of Caution When using Apple Cider Vinegar
To get the best use out of your ACV it is important to take note of the following precautions when consuming it or applying it to your skin:
- Make sure to use Organic Raw Apple Cider vinegar with the Mother and USE A STRAW not to erode your teeth enamel :).
- Chewing American Dental Association-approved sugar free gum after drinking an apple cider vinegar beverage may help protect your teeth from the acid condiment in ACV.
- Ingesting undiluted apple cider vinegar is too harsh for your system and can also cause teeth erosion and burn your esophagus. ACV should ALWAYS be diluted with water to prevent damage to your health.
- Undiluted apple cider vinegar is too harsh to apply directly to your skin and should ALWAYS be diluted with water.
Cheers! Enjoy your ACV !
Have you tried apple cider vinegar yet? Do you have a recipe you would like to share with us? If so, we would love to hear about your experiences with ACV or learn more about how you use ACV in your health routine. If you’re new to ACV or have any questions, feel free to post your comments or questions below. We look forward to hearing from you!