There’s nothing like a natural product that can work magic across all aspects of the day: white vinegar, lemon and tea tree might come to mind here, but let’s add apple cider vinegar (ACV) to the shelf.
Along with its house-cleaning capabilities, ACV offers a number of health benefits if consumed on a regular basis.
Firstly, remember to always dilute ACV before consuming as the acidity may burn your throat, so mix 2 tablespoons of vinegar with a cup of water.
You can buy it organic for £1.70 at Waitrose and can also use it in foods such as salad dressings, soups, or as a replacement for lemon or eggs in baking. A little really does go a long way here.
So here’s why you should introduce the condiment into your health routine:
It increases the benefits of your vitamins and minerals: if your stomach is not producing enough acid, it cannot absorb all of the nutrients. With the help of the ACV, you’ll be benefiting even more from your five-a-day.
ACV acts as a fuel for exercise. The acetic acid aids the process of transferring carbs into energy, so athletes may be advised to consume it prior to a pre-game carb load.
It can kill several types of bacteria. The vinegar has been used as a preservative, preventing bacteria such as e-coli from growing in the produce. Why is this helpful for your health? This should encourage you to buy organic fruit and veg if you’re worried about the bacteria spread by insects being present. Just clean your fruit with a small amount of the dilution and rinse it off.
To lower blood sugar levels. If you’re having trouble keeping your blood sugar level balanced, consuming the ACV before bed can help reduce fasting blood sugars by 4%.
Use for healthy hair and skin. You can gain an ad-worthy hair shine by mixing ½ tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with a cup of cold water in a bottle and using as a post-shampoo rinse. It can also act as a toner for your face by dabbing with a cotton ball. (NOTE: different skin types might not respond well, the acidity can potentially aggravate the skin).
ACV softens the energy crash. Similarly to balancing the blood sugar, this condiment slows the rush of sugar to the bloodstream, easing the sudden crash you get after a carb or sugar high.
Gain from the vitamins and minerals: apple cider vinegar contains B1, A and E vitamins, along with potassium and magnesium. These thin the mucus and clear your sinuses, which you might find particularly helpful during hay fever season.
Soothes sunburns: combining ACV with coconut oil (or coconut milk) in a bath can repair the skin after a bad sunburn.
Anti-fungal properties may help yeast infections, UTIs and foot fungus – drink diluted as aforementioned. Bare in mind that with vaginal infections like such, it is important to drink plenty of water and eliminate sugar intake too. (If candida or other infections persist though, be sure to see a doctor).
There is some criticism among certain professionals about the use of ACV, but this mainly stems around the acidity of the product, which is easily avoided by diluting. If you find yourself particularly affected by it, either in the throat or skin – cease use immediately.
Implementing natural products like ACV into your diet may not wholly cure certain things or fully prevent illness. But it goes without saying that making positive additions to your lifestyle can go a long way and consuming a little diluted vinegar can have an immensely positive impact on your health.
Sources:
http://www.cosmopolitan.com/health-fitness/a48500/apple-cider-vinegar-benefits/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11435516
https://authoritynutrition.com/6-proven-health-benefits-of-apple-cider-vinegar/
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/30/11/2814.full
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/apple-cider-vinegar-miracle-for-home-and-body.html