America isn’t really known for it’s ancient wellness practises, but one remedy has really stood the test of time: apple cider vinegar (ACV). From an aid to weight loss to providing heart burn relief, ACV has a range of uses that can truly benefit your wellbeing.
Before we go any further, the ACV we’re talking about here isn’t the translucent orange stuff you see on supermarket shelves; it’s organic, raw, unfiltered ACV. You’re looking for a variety that hasn’t been pasteurised and has a cloudy mass settling on the top and the bottom of the bottle (which is known as “the mother”). It’s really up to you as to how you take it, but a good, basic regimen to follow is to add two tablespoons of ACV to an eight-ounce glass of water, and have one of these mixtures three times a day. Some people add honey to taste, as the vinegar obviously makes it quite bitter, while others prefer to put the ACV into a shot glass, and chug it down with a tall 16oz glass of water right behind it.
A lot of the evidence as to the efficacy of ACV is anecdotal, so it would be remiss of us not to include some top tips from ACV users. Amy from Hartford, Connecticut, details, ‘I was on prescribed allergy medicine for 17 years. I started the honey and ACV mixed with water three years ago and rarely even have to take an over the counter allergy pill. It takes about four to six days of taking it twice a day to build up in my system, and then I usually only have to take it once a day. I’m a massage therapist and I recommend it to all of my clients who come in with allergies, many of them have become faithful to the ACV too. So glad someone told me about it!’ Shawn from Boulder notes, ‘Mixed with ginger ale and white grape juice, ACV tastes terrific. Very similar in taste to Kombouchu tea.’
According to John from Caledon, Ontario, ‘Apple cider vinegar is easiest to palate when mixed with apple juice. It tastes like apple cider, plus you get the numerous antioxidant and natural benefits from the apple juice.’ However, Lara from Milwaukee, Wisconsin writes, ‘I took Apple Cider Vinegar with a shot glass of Welches Grape Juice. It tastes a lot like wine to me this way. Much easier to take this way. I have a lot more energy already and I have only been taking it a few days.’ Lisa from West Plains, Missouri comments, ‘I like the benefits I’m having since I’ve started taking ACV. But I did not like the taste and surely I’m not alone. I tried it with mango tea and one spoonful of the vinegar and an equal amount of honey. It tastes wonderful. I drink it at least four times a day. It’s that good. Lipton tea has mango and I’m sure other brands will work.’
So that’s the what and the how, but why should you take ACV? The benefits include:
- Getting rid of acid reflux
- Reducing allergy symptoms
- Lowering your blood pressure
- Rebalancing your body’s pH factor, which helps prevent colds
- Preventing migraines
- Stopping night-time leg spasms
- Lessening gout and arthritis symptoms
- Avoiding food poisoning
- Preventing yeast and fungal infections (Strong ACV can actually cause a yeast infection, so be careful and start slow)
- Natural detox
- Energy
- B Vitamins
- Healthy shiny hair, and a glowing complexion
