Apple Cider Medicine

Many websites and natural healthcare proponents claim that apple cider vinegar has exceptional health benefits, including boosting energy and treating disease, and they are probably not wrong. Apple Cider Vinegar joins a long list of natural substances that most doctors will not touch with a ten-foot pole that does not cost a fortune to help you maintain your health. It is worth trying for 30 days and can easily be incorporated into one’s routine.

With the way the world is going with modern medicine hemorrhaging trust at an accelerating pace, with fewer and fewer people able to afford standard medical treatments and expensive drugs, and with patients increasingly overwhelmed by toxicity and nutritional deficiencies, there has never been a better time to get into natural medicine. There is a growing list of important substances and therapies that we should be familiar with.

Vinegar has a long history, dating back to at least 5,000 B.C. Adding apple cider vinegar to your lifestyle can boost your overall well-being. Apple Cider Vinegar has been taunted as one of the most potent natural medicines. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, used vinegar to clean wounds more than 2,000 years ago, so that it might be a healing substance you do not want to overlook.

When you combine apples, sugar and yeast and allow it to ferment, it creates apple cider vinegar. Over several weeks, the yeast will digest the sugar to make alcohol. Once this happens, natural bacteria will turn the alcohol into acetic acid, where apple cider vinegar’s pungent odor and taste come from.

Most apple cider vinegar (ACV) you find in the grocery store are clear, pasteurized, and filtered types. But you can also buy raw, unfiltered ACV that contains a cloudy sediment. Called “the mother,” this substance is made up of settled bacteria and yeast. Some people give the mother credit for ACV’s health benefits. It’s thought to contain small amounts of probiotics (healthy bacteria) that are good for gut health.

Research suggests that apple cider vinegar may have antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. Acetic acid is vinegar’s primary active compound, giving it its strong sour smell and flavor. Researchers believe this acid is responsible for apple cider vinegar’s health benefits. Cider vinegars contain about 5% acetic acid.

People have traditionally used vinegar for cleaning and disinfecting,
treating nail fungus, lice, warts, and ear infections.

Especially Good For Diabetics

Studies have shown that apple cider vinegar can improve insulin response and lower blood sugar levels after meals. Consuming apple cider vinegar before sleep has also been shown to reduce fasting blood sugar after waking.

A 2019 clinical trial suggests apple vinegar consumption may have beneficial effects on the glycemic index and oxidative stress in individuals with diabetes and dyslipidemia. A 2021 review of clinical trials also found that ACV consumption may benefit glycemic status in adults.

Improves Cholesterol Levels

High cholesterol and triglyceride levels can increase your risk of heart disease. Incorporating up to an ounce of apple cider vinegar into your day, along with a lower-calorie diet, may reduce total cholesterol and triglycerides while also increasing HDL “good” cholesterol.

A 2020 review of studies in both humans and animals noted that apple cider vinegar may potentially benefit levels of high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, and total cholesterol. A 2021 review of research in humans found that apple cider vinegar may benefit total cholesterol levels.

A 2018 review article published in Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative
Medicine found that consuming apple cider vinegar slowed the rate at which
food left the stomach, keeping subjects fuller for longer periods of time.

Kidney Stones

Some believe the acetic acid found in it may help dissolve kidney stones and prevent new stones from forming. The acetic acid found in ACV is thought to soften, break down, and dissolve kidney stones. The kidney stones can be reduced in size so that you’re able to easily pass them in your urine.

A 2017 study examined the effect of different dietary habits on kidney stones. Fermented vinegar was found to impact the prevention of stones positively. It was shown to be significantly linked to a lesser risk of kidney stone formation. Tea and legumes were found to have the same effect. According to a 2014 animal study, ACV protects against kidney oxidative injury and increases antioxidant enzymes.

ACV is said to alkalize blood and urine while increasing stomach acids. This helps prevent new stones from forming and improves digestion. ACV may even help reduce pain and inflammation from kidney stones. It helps rid the body of toxins and excess minerals that can lead to kidney stones.

Much of the evidence supporting the use of ACV is anecdotal. It is a folk medicine. Although there isn’t much research, many people still regard it as a promising natural treatment option. Other high-quality options you can try instead of apple cider vinegar are kombucha, kimchi, and sauerkraut. Another, if you can tolerate lactose, is kefir.

Apple Cider Vinegar Dosage

Apple cider vinegar dosage depends on the reason you’re using it. Two teaspoons to two tablespoons are the general dosage recommendations. If you want to drink it, dilute it with water or your favorite juice or tea. Always drink diluted ACV. Undiluted ACV can harm tooth enamel and burn your throat. Rinse your mouth thoroughly after consuming it.

There are several options for taking ACV. The simplest way to take it is to add 1–2 tablespoons to a glass of water. Try adding one tablespoon of raw honey to make it sweeter.

Though I do not recommend it, mixing 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda and two tablespoons of ACV in a glass of warm or lukewarm water is another option. It can help alkalize your body and make your urine less acidic. This is thought to help get rid of kidney stones and prevent them from coming back. This is true, but I recommend taking both substances separately, though fresh lemon always goes well with bicarbonate. The acid of lemon and ACV instantly turn bicarbonate into CO2 gas, and you will see the bubbles.

For eczema, do a patch test first. Apply the vinegar to a small area of skin, then wait a few days to see if any irritation happens. You could then try it in:

• A bath. Add 2 cups of apple cider vinegar to a tubful of lukewarm water. Soak for 15-20 minutes. Rinse your body well with cool water and moisturize with a scent-free lotion.
• A wet wrap. Make a solution with 1 cup of warm water and one tablespoon of ACV. Soak gauze or pieces of clean cotton fabric in the solution. Put the wet cloths on your skin, then cover them with clean, dry cotton fabric. Leave them on for 3 hours or overnight.

You can add ACV to your meals by including it as an ingredient in a host of homemade products, including:

• salad dressings
• sauces or ketchup
• marinades
• mayonnaise
• vinaigrette
• smoothies

Potential Side Effects

The most important thing to know about apple cider vinegar is that it should never be consumed without diluting it with water.

That’s because drinking undiluted apple cider vinegar can cause:

• Erosive dental disease
• Erosive esophageal disease

The highly acidic nature of apple cider vinegar is what leads to this damage. Be sensitive to your dosage and unwanted side effects, like nausea or worsening heartburn in those who are prone to acid reflux. Drinking it in addition to a meal helps.