Benefits Of Apple Cider Vinegar
By Christy Milan
The smell of vinegar is sometimes too potent for many. It is a very distinct and rather strong odor. This strong substance can be used for cleaning, pet care, health and even in the garden. Variations of vinegars include white, malt, wine, fruit, balsamic, rice, coconut, cane, raisin, date, beer, honey, east Asian black, flavored vinegar and apple cider vinegar. Each one is used for different purposes. White vinegar is used to clean. While, Apple Cider vinegar is used for medicinal purposes. The other vinegars are usually for flavoring food.
Vinegar has been used since around 3000 B.C. Many people in history have been attributed to using vinegar. Caesar’s armies would use vinegar as a beverage. Cleopatra won a wager by dissolving precious pearls in vinegar to prove she could consume a fortune in one meal. Helen of Troy bathed in vinegar to relax. Biblical references have been made to the use of vinegar as a beverage, even Jesus Christ is said to have drunk vinegar before his crucifixion. Hippocrates, a Greek physician and writer, known as the father of medicine, highly praised vinegar’s therapeutic properties. He would prescribe drinking vinegar to his patients for many ailments. During the middle ages, thieves would pour vinegar over themselves to protect from germs as they robbed the dead. In World War 1 vinegar was used to treat wounds on the battlefield.
Women have been using white vinegar to clean and disinfect. They have passed on to us the knowledge of vinegar. In our present day many of the uses of vinegar have been forgotten. The advantages of using vinegar to clean include saving money and helping the planet. Vinegar is an anti-bacterial and an anti-viral. White vinegar works well disinfecting and even whitens laundry, brightens colors and sets the dye in clothes as well as serves as a fabric softener. Just about a cup full in a large load of laundry, added to the bleach spout, is all that is needed.
Apple Cider Vinegar has many wonderful benefits. It has healing properties as well as many other beneficial uses. The health benefits can be for both people and animals. It is used as an elixir and is a naturally occurring antibiotic. It is extremely helpful to people who suffer with arthritis. The vinegar will break down calcium deposits while it re-mineralizes bones. It is a purifier and is extremely effective in detoxing many organs as well as the blood stream.
Potassium is found in Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV), along with other minerals and vitamins essential for a healthy body. A lack of potassium results in sinus trouble, tooth decay and unhealthy fingernails for a few examples. One widely known benefit is promoting good digestion. It contains apple pectin, a dietary fiber that is essential in every healthy diet. It contains over 90 substances and vitamins and minerals making the benefits of apple cider vinegar good for any body or diet.
Other effective uses for Apple Cider vinegar are:
Athlete’s foot- Soak feet in 1 ½ cup of vinegar mixed with water. May sting at first but should pass quickly. Afterwards, soak sock in mixture of two parts water and one part vinegar then put sock on for 30 minutes. Remove, pat dry and repeat the next day till infection is gone.
Asthma- In addition to any prescription, mix 1 tablespoon of ACV with a glass of water and sip regularly for half an hour. Wheezing should lessen and breathing should come easier.
Bones- ACV contains manganese, magnesium, silicon and calcium which are proven to support bone mass. Drink regularly or look for ACV supplements.
Cholesterol- To help reduce levels, drink ½ cup of the following drink before eating your largest meal of the day. Mix 2 cups grape juice, 1 cup apple juice and ¼ of ACV. Combine ingredients then chill before serving.
Diabetes- added fiber in ACV helps with controlling blood glucose levels. Sip on a mixture of water and at least one Tbls. of ACV.
Digestion-Take 1 teas. ACV just before a meal. It helps with digestion because it stimulates the digestive juices in your stomach. This breaks food into smaller bits so the nutrients can be absorbed by your body.
Fatigue- Drink ACV in water to combat fatigue. This works wonders for chronic fatigue sufferers.
Gallstones/Kidney stones- It is said that the acids in ACV are beneficial in breaking down gallstones and kidney stones.
Hair- ACV can be used for a color preserver, conditioner, frizz control, dandruff, lice and to promote growth. Just mix ACV with water and rinse hair in it. Leave it on for a few minutes for best results.
Heartburn- 1 teas. ACV in a glass of water prior to eating.
High Blood Pressure- 2 Tbls. ACV , 2 teas. Honey in a glass of water. Drink 3-4 times a day. This helps keep the balance of proteins and carbohydrates needed for High Blood Pressure.
Insomnia- Mix 15ml of ACV with 275 ml of honey and drink 2 teas before going to bed. Repeat dose if you are still awake after an hour.
Muscle Relaxant- Add 2 cups of ACV to warm water and soak away sore muscles and soothe away aches and pains. As an added bonus, your skin will be so soft and beautiful. ACV is a natural ph balancer.
As I have learned on reports on birthorderplus.com, Skin- ACV has many uses for skin. It is a natural ph balancer, helps acne, blackheads, dry itchy skin, cracked or chapped skin, infections and minor burns. It also can help psoriasis, rashes and sunburn. Just mix a little water with ACV and splash on your face etc. Rinse after a few minutes. Your skin will be glowing. You may even bathe in an ACV bath. Add 1-2 Cups of ACV to your bath water. Soak for at least 20-30 minutes. The smell of vinegar will go away after you dry off and dress. If it is a bother, you may add essential oils such as lavender, mint or any other essential oil you like.
Perhaps the best known use is for weight loss. Some people swear by it. Lately, it seems that ACV has been touted as being the weight loss guru of beverages. With all the added benefits to health, some may feel this is an added bonus. For weight loss, drink 1 Tbls. of ACV to 1 Tbls. of honey. Drink daily for results.
These are just some of the uses of Apple Cider Vinegar. The list goes on. My hope is that this will inspire you to use vinegars and to find out for yourself the healthy properties of Apple Cider Vinegar. I have used ACV for many of the above mentioned uses. I can say that it works great and I always have ACV and some of the other vinegars in my home. From cleaning to laundry, skin care and health care, vinegar is an all time favorite to many, including me.
