Wellness Wednesday: Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

 

Raw, organic, unfiltered and unpasteurized, apple cider vinegar is effective for pretty much anything – your skin, your hair, your house, and even your pets can benefit from its qualities. I personally have a shot of it every morning. I fill a shot glass halfway with water and then add the vinegar. Doesn’t taste too good, but it’s just a shot. Shots usually do not taste good anyways, so you kind of expect that when you’re holding a shot glass, right?


Apple cider vinegar is a completely natural product. It is made from apple juice and is fermented to hard apple cider. It is then fermented a second time to apple cider vinegar. When using natural apple cider vinegar, we instantly decrease the consumption of unnatural chemicals in our homes and daily lives. Make sure you buy it organic and “with the mother”. In short, it is apple cider vinegar that still has the culture of beneficial bacteria that turns regular apple cider into vinegar in the first place. This is similar to the SCOBY (also called a “mother”) in Kombucha making.


In Apple cider vinegar particularly, “the mother” is a complex structure of beneficial acids that seem to have health benefits. Unrefined vinegars have a murky appearance and typically still contain the mother culture. Clear and pasteurized vinegars typically do not contain the mother culture and don’t carry the same benefits.


Refined and clear vinegars are great for cleaning as they don’t leave residue. Raw, unfiltered and unrefined versions contain many more beneficial properties for culinary uses.

HAIR:

Apple cider vinegar can be used as a rinse for your hair after shampooing, and will aid in increased body and shine. I recommend recycling an old shampoo bottle, then filling it with 1/2 a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and a cup of cold water. Pour the solution through your hair after shampooing several times a week for dramatic results.

SKIN:

3. Natural apple cider vinegar regulates the pH of your skin. Dilute apple cider vinegar with two parts water, and spread the concoction over your face with a cotton ball to replace your current toner. You can do this at night after washing, and in the morning before you apply your moisturizer. A dab of apple cider vinegar can also be left on the skin overnight to fade age spots or acne scars.

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT:

Apple cider vinegar can aid in weight loss. For daily weight management, add 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to 16 ounces of water. This concoction can be sipped throughout the day. Data shows some limited, yet significant, weight loss benefits from sustained daily intake of acetic acid (which is a main ingredient in apple cider vinegar).

ENERGY:

Apple cider vinegar will balance your entire inner body system. The body constantly strives to achieve a state of equilibrium. 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 and higher incidences of infection. Hence, my desire to sip some a few times a day for a natural boost of energy.

DETOX:

As part of balancing the body’s pH, apple cider vinegar creates an overall detoxification of the body. Research shows that it can help stimulate cardiovascular circulation and help detoxify the liver.

ALLERGIES:

11. This miracle vinegar helps to break up mucous throughout the body and cleanse the lymph nodes. Believe it or not, research suggests that apple cider vinegar can help with allergies because of its ability to reduce mucous and sinus congestion. When reducing the effects of allergies, it can also help stave off sinus infections and their related symptoms (sore throats and headaches).

CANDIDA:

This vinegar is rich in natural enzymes that can help rid your body of candida — yeasts that are attributed to thrush in humans. Candida also is blamed for creating symptoms of fatigue, poor memory, sugar cravings, and yeast infections.

HEARTBURN RELIEF:

Though it might seem like an oxymoron to treat stomach acid with an acid-containing vinegar, there is research suggesting that apple cider vinegar works by correcting low acid, hence reducing heartburn. Natural remedy experts say you should begin to feel relief very shortly after taking a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar followed by a glass of water. Note that apple cider vinegar will not give relief if you have an ulcer.

FLEAS:

The use of apple cider vinegar is effective in repelling fleas on your pets. One part vinegar and one part water can be sprayed on your pets fur and rubbed in generously to the skin. Saturate the entire coat, and continue every day for a few days to a week. Any flea infestation will surely be gone.

CLEAN:

Apple cider vinegar will clean your toilets and have your bathroom smelling like apples! Just pour apple cider vinegar into the toilet, and allow it to sit overnight. It can also be used in dishwashers as a substitute for dish detergent. Mix 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup water, and you can use this solution to clean microwaves, kitchen surfaces, windows, glasses and mirrors, too. You can use refined version for this purpose since your toilet will not benefit from the good bacteria like you would. Source: MindBodyGreen

Cheers!

2 Replies to “Wellness Wednesday: Raw Apple Cider Vinegar”

  1. Kiitos kovasti tasta opasteesta! Mun kamppis joi joskus aamuisin (ison) lasin lamminta vetta sitruunalla ja talla etikalla ja kerran yritin itsekin: maisui ihan karseelta. Voisin kylla juoda sen hieman pienemmassa lasissa ja vaha kerralla tietty. Olen kuullut/mulla on ollut joku olettamus et tama apple vinegar toimisi moneen juttuun, joten meinaan nyt hommata sita (jostain..) ja seurata ohjeitasi! Itsella kun kaytto on ollut hieman hakusessa.

  2. Apple cider vinegar and honey with hot water also makes an excellent body cleansing tonic- great for skin, hair, digestion… there's no end to its uses!

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