Since ancient times, apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been utilized as a natural cure for a number of illnesses and health issues. The health benefits of apple cider vinegar, which is made from fermented apple juice, can be credited to its acetic acid.
Since ACV has several uses, from promoting healthy skin to aiding in digestion, we shall go into great depth about them in the further article along with their uses in our everyday life.
Benefits of Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar
Aids Digestion And Better Gut Health
ACV is filled with probiotics and raw enzymes, which aid in the easy digestion of food and give you a healthy gut as well. It catalyzes the stomach acid production, which helps in efficiently breaking down the food.
How to use ACV for good digestion?
Mix one tablespoon of ACV in warm water along with some honey before meals for good gut health. You can also use it in homemade soups to enhance the process of digestion.
Regulate The Blood Sugar Level
ACV is a blessing for people with diabetes or insulin resistance. Consuming apple cider vinegar before meals helps lower blood sugar spikes, ultimately regulating everyday blood sugar levels. According to a recent study, it has been found that consuming ACV improves the insulin sensitivity by as much as 34%, but you should always take advice from a healthcare professional before starting it.
How to use it for reducing blood sugar level?
Mix 2 tablespoons of ACV diluted in water before meals or use it as a dressing for vegetables or salads.
Helps In Your Weight Loss Journey
Apple cider vinegar is recommended to make you feel full for long. It reduces your craving for unwanted and junk food, aiding you in the process of weight loss. Studies have shown that the acetic acid in vinegar may help you eat fewer calories and reduce the belly fat as well.
How to use ACV for weight loss ?
To reduce the stubborn fat from your body you can mix one tablespoon of ACV with a glass of warm water and drink it before meal you consume. It should not be consumed more than 2 times a day. You can also add one tablespoon of ACV syrup onto your salads as dressing for a healthy alternative to store bought ones.
Enhance Hair And Skin Health
ACV works wonderfully not only inside the body but also work excellently when applied topically on skin and hair. It is anti bacterial and antifungal in nature and hence helps reduce acne from skin and maintain its pH level. For hair, ACV promotes hair growth while also helps reducing the dandruff from the hair scalp.
How to use ACV on skin and hair ?
- As a toner for skin: Mix one part of ACV with two parts of water and apply it on your skin with a cotton bond.
- To add shine to hair : Dilute some ACV in water and rinse your hair with this water after shampoo to add shine to your hair.
- To remove dandruff from hair : You can mix 1 tablespoon of ACV with some lemon juice, apply this on your scalp for a dandruff free scalp.
Boost Overall Immunity
ACV has antibacterial and antiviral properties, which boost the overall immune system of your body. These properties kill of the bacteria that could be causing sore throat and common cold.
Because of such properties, it effectively fights off infections, colds, and sore throats.
How to use ACV for sore throat and immunity?
- For sore throat : Gargling with apple cider vinegar is a very popular home remedy for sore throats.
- For immunity: Add ACV to herbal teas or honey for boosting immunity naturally.
Detoxification of Body
ACV promotes the functioning of the liver and flushes out all the toxins from the body. Helps in detoxification, ACV also cleanses the digestive system and supports the overall functioning of kidneys as well.
How to use?
Mix 1 tablespoon of ACV with lemon juice and warm water and consume it everyday in the morning for detoxification. Or you can even add it to green juices and smoothies for an extra detox boost.
Support heart health
Studies support the science that ACV helps lower the cholesterol level and regulates the blood pressure effectively. These key factors ultimately support good heart health, leading to a healthier and longer life. The acetic acid in ACV reduces the LDL which is the bad cholesterol in the blood while increasing the HDL which is the good cholesterol in the blood.
Uses of Apple Cider Vinegar
To Preserve Food
Just like vinegar, ACV is also a very effective preservative. It has the capacity to preserve food for years as it deactivates food enzymes and kills any bacteria causing food spoilage. You can use ACV by adding it to vegetables like cucumbers, onions, or carrots or use it as a preservative in homemade condiments like mustard and ketchup.
Use it as a Deodorizer for Shoes and Laundry
Because of its antibacterial properties, ACV can eliminate bad smells from shoes, clothes or laundry. You can use ACV as a deodorizer by mixing 1 part of ACV with 1 part of water to make a spray.
It can even eliminate unwanted food odor by mixing it with water and Epsom salt.
Used for Freshening up Breaths and Whitening of Teeth
ACV is an expert in killing the bacteria in the mouth that can cause bad breath and discoloration of the teeth. But, here, it should be used in moderation, as excessive use of it may cause eroding of tooth enamel because of ACV’s high acid level.
You can use ACV this way by diluting it with water and using it as a mouth rinse. Or you may even mix ACV with baking soda and softly brush your teeth with it.
Used as an all Purpose Cleaner
ACV is a very popular choice for natural cleaning agents. It is used for cleaning purposes for its antibacterial properties. Hence, it can be used as a natural cleaner for disinfecting surfaces, removing any type of odors, or removing stains.
Relieves Sunburns and Bug Bites
ACV is even effective in treating sunburns; its soothing properties can even reduce the discomfort from bug bites. You can use ACV to treat sunburn and itching by mixing it with cold water and applying it to the sunburnt area with a cloth.
Relieves Sore Muscles and Joint Pain
The use of ACV goes beyond imagination, its anti inflammatory properties relieve the muscle soreness while aiding in reducing joint pains. It is very popular among athletes and can help people with arthritis problems.
You can add ACV into warm bath and soak your paining joints in it for 20 minutes.
Dosage Of Apple Cider Vinegar
Going through numerous benefits and uses of apple cider vinegar, the next question that arises is how much apple cider vinegar per day should be taken. The answer to the question depends upon the following factors:
- User’s health
- User’s age
- Specific conditions
It is very essential to dilute ACV before consuming it directly. On an average, you can dilute 15 ml to 30 ml which comes around to almost 1-2 tablespoons of ACV in 240 ml of water. Prefer consuming it before meals for best results.
Also, never apply ACV directly on your skin or hair; it should always be mixed with one or more ingredients to avoid any kind of damage due to its highly acidic properties.
The best way is to consult a healthcare professional before starting your journey with apple cider vinegar.
Apple Cider Vinegar : Highly Versatile and Affordable
In recent years, apple cider vinegar has become a natural remedy for many problems. Seeking its health, beauty and household benefits, it is becoming a versatile and affordable option for people. Try using apple cider vinegar in your everyday routine and experience its remarkable results.