A Guide to Apple Cider Vinegar

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Apple cider vinegar is popping up on many different health blogs more and more frequently. It is associated with many beneficial properties, and many people are trying to incorporate apple cider vinegar into their diets. While there is some truth to all the claims, some are too good to be true. It’s essential to be aware of what is true and what is not. Today, I want to set the record straight and describe what apple cider vinegar can do for you.

 

Apple cider vinegar is starting to gain more and more popularity, mainly due to some health benefits guaranteed by various specialized studies, as long as it is used correctly.

Vinegar is a product obtained by fermentation, in which bacteria and yeast break down sugars in food. In the first fermentation phase, the sugars are transformed into alcohol. the alcohol then becomes vinegar (the main ingredient is acetic acid).

The benefits of apple cider vinegar

Although used for hundreds of years as a traditional remedy for several health problems (not just for gastronomic and domestic purposes), apple cider vinegar became popular in the late 1950s in the United States with the release of the best-selling Folk Medicine A Vermont Doctor’s Guide to Good Health, signed by DC Davis.

As alternative medicine began to evolve and gain popularity, apple cider vinegar and natural supplements with this ingredient also began to be widely used.

For internal use

Daily consumption of up to 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar can help in the following conditions:

  • weight loss (add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a cup of water and consume this mixture before breakfast)
  • detoxifying the body
  • lowering cholesterol levels (by increasing bile production)
  • inducing the feeling of satiety, inhibiting appetite
  • lowering blood pressure (apple cider vinegar increases the production of nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels)
  • healing of irritated throat and cold and flu symptoms due to its antibacterial and antiviral properties
  • prevention of indigestion, heartburn, and constipation (apples are rich in pectin, which is also found in unfiltered apple cider vinegar – this calms the gastrointestinal tract, prevents cramps, bloating, and gas)

Apple cider vinegar can also be used externally for:

  • removal of fungus from the nails and skin (applied directly to the affected area, or as a spray, in combination with other anti-fungal ingredients, can reduce symptoms reasonably quickly)
  • curing acne can successfully replace the tonic lotion in the skincare routine;
    dandruff treatment (once a week, rinse your hair with one part apple cider vinegar to three parts water, instead of the usual hair conditioner, after shampooing)
  • sunburn treatment (get a mix of one part apple cider vinegar to four parts coconut oil and a little lavender essential oil, add the mixture obtained in warm water and take a bath to soothe the burns and discomfort)
  • removing bacteria from the surfaces of the house (mixed with water in equal parts, apple cider vinegar works as a disinfectant solution for various characters)

What type of apple cider vinegar to buy?

When buying apple cider vinegar, you must pay special attention to the labels. This will help you to differentiate between naturally obtained apple cider vinegar and synthetic apple cider vinegar. Not all types of cider vinegar of marketed apples are obtained by natural fermentation.

Some are processed and contain many chemicals, synthetic additives, added alcohol, caramel, and even artificial colors. Ideally, you should buy unfiltered organic apple cider vinegar.

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