Oh the many uses for apple cider vinegar! AVC for short, it is an inexpensive cooking ingredient with a long medical history.
The type of ACV to look for is raw, unfiltered and organic. ACV is made by fermentation, and you can find recipes to do it yourself at home. Similar to kombucha fermentation it has a 'mother' organism that is doing the culturing and this is still living in the raw unfiltered varieties which you in turn get when eating it and using it as medicine. Unfiltered ACV will have a cobweb-like appearance in the liquid and can make the vinegar look slightly congealed. Don't let the look of it scare you away, ACV is full of enzymes, fiber, amino acids and gut-friendly bacteria!
It was relied on by the ancient Greek healers as one of their main medicines. ACV has a strong medicinal properties and the list of benefits is long. A few of these benefits include circulation stimulation, digestion stimulation, antimicrobial and anti fungal, boost weight loss, and blood sugar regulation. Some plant constituents called alkaloids are extracted well in acidic solutions, called acetracts when just vinegar and oxymiel's when vinegar and honey, making AVC a good addition to extractions if your goal is to use these in your medicine. You should consult a reputable herbal medicine making book, a naturopathic doctor, herbalist, or pharmacognosy specialist if you are new to making your own medicines as these can be deadly. ACV also moonlights as a helpful beauty product, but we’ll save that topic for another day.
An easy way to include apple cider vinegar daily is to use it to make salad dressings or condiments like mustard and this onion spread.
Apple Cider Vinegar Tonic
Yield: 4 drinks
Active Time: 5 minutes
- 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup, or to taste
- 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
- 2 cups filtered water
Whisk ingredients together and serve over ice.
Onion Oxymiel
- 1 half pint mason jar
- 1/2 medium size purple onion, minced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 inch fresh ginger, minced
- Raw, unfiltered apple cider viegar
- Raw local honey
Combine onion, garlic and ginger in the mason jar and cover with vinegar, leaving 1 inch at the top. Add about 1 tablespoon honey. There should still be about 1/4 inch of room at the top of the jar. Put on lid and shake. Let sit for at least 6 hours before using. Store in the refrigerator, will keep for several months. Use as a topping to meals or take a spoonful on its own.
Health Hack: 13 Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar
1. Tame tummy troubles
ACV has a high pectin content, which can help treat diarrhea by forming bulk fibrous matter in the gut. In layman's terms, let's just say it firms things up. The pectin also forms a protective coat in the gut that soothes the colon lining and relaxes intestinal spasms. Try mixing one or two tablespoons into water or clear juice like apple juice.
2. Hiccup help
ACV can be a great solution for hiccups. It restores the acid balance in the stomach and eases irritating spasms of the diaphragm. A 13-year-old even created an apple cider vinegar and sugar lollipop to stop hiccups.
3. Sore throat soothing
Turn to ACV at the first sign of a tickle in your throat. Most germs can’t survive in the acidic environment vinegar creates. Gargle with equal parts ACV and warm water every hour, or try this Apple Pie Tonic Recipe.
4. Exhaustion relief
Exercise and extreme stress can cause lactic acid to build up in the body, causing fatigue. Apple cider vinegar contains potassium and enzymes that can relieve that tired feeling. Next time you’re feeling exhausted, try downing 1 to 2 tablespoons of the stuff diluted in juice or water.
5. Relaxes nighttime leg cramps
ACV taken diluted in water twice a day can dissolve acid crystals in the blood and provide potassium, calcium and other essential minerals that the body needs to ease leg cramps.
6. Banishes bad breath
If you suffer from halitosis, ACV might be the remedy for you. It's acidic properties will break down the bacteria causing your bad breath. Simply add 1/2 tablespoon of ACV into a cup of water and gargle the mixture in your mouth for 10 seconds at a time until the cup is empty.
7. Controls blood sugar
Apple cider vinegar has an anti-glycemic effect that improves insulin sensitivity, which is essential to maintaining healthy sugar levels in your blood. Mix one teaspoon of ACV in a glass of filtered water and take 3 times a day to steady your stomach’s rate of digestion, which in turn will keep blood sugar levels more consistent. Of course, if you are diabetic, consult your physician before trying any new remedies.
8. Boosts weight loss
Some people claim that ACV promotes weight loss by speeding up the metabolism. The acetic acid also suppresses your appetite, and reduces water retention. If you drink a glass of water with 1 or 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before your meals, the insoluble fiber could help you feel full with less food. The fiber will also decrease the likelihood of you binging on unhealthy foods between meals. One hormone that is particularly important for weight loss is growth hormone. Growth hormone is instrumental in the breakdown of fat cells. The acid in apple cider vinegar can help your body break down the protein you eat into amino acids. This will help increase the availability of amino acids to create more growth hormone. Mix 2 teaspoons of the vinegar into a glass of water and drink this before every meal or sip it slowly throughout the day.
9. Makes iron more bioavailable
The acid found in apple cider vinegar helps release iron from food so that your body can use it.
10. Lowers cholesterol
Some research has suggested that apple cider vinegar can improve the lipid profile of blood by decreasing the levels of triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) or bad cholesterol and by increasing the levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) or good cholesterol. If you have high cholesterol, consult your physician before starting any new protocol.
11. Natural liver detox
ACV can help stimulate cardiovascular circulation and help detoxify the liver.
12. Supports the lymphatic system
Apple Cider Vinegar helps break up mucous throughout the body and cleanse the lymph nodes.
13. Candida control
This vinegar is rich in natural enzymes that can help rid your body of candida, yeasts that are attributed to thrush and a host of other ailments.
There you have it folks! Get your bottle of free apple cider vinegar today from THRIVE market and start discovering the benefits for yourself.