Life Changing Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been around for thousands of years.

In ancient times Hippocrates the father of modern medicine used apple cider vinegar as a treatment for a variety of illnesses such as colds and flu, digestive issues, and infections.

Today, apple cider vinegar is still regularly being used as a health remedy and in cooking and baking.

Paul Bragg is the owner and founder of one of the most well known apple cider vinegar brands in the world - ‘Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar.’

Dr Paul Bragg dedicated his life to sharing his passion for health, wellness and natural healing. He was also one of the first people to to open a health food store in Los Angeles in the early 1920’s.

Since apple cider vinegar became well known in the Western world, it continues to be used for a large variety of health ailments.

What exactly is Apple Cider Vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar is apple juice that has been fermented twice. It is made by combining apples with yeast. Natural bacteria and yeasts naturally ferment the juice, which changes the carbohydrates into alcohol. Then, a second fermentation process takes place and changes the alcohol into acetic acid - and then you have apple cider vinegar!

Apple cider vinegar is a nutrition powerhouse and contains magnesium, iron, B vitamins, phosphorus, manganese, amino acids, and antioxidants. It is no wonder it is used to treat so many health ailments.

What is the difference between normal vinegar and Apple Cider Vinegar?

As apple cider vinegar contains apples, it provides more antioxidants, vitamins and minerals than a normal vinegar just made from distilled grains. The most notable difference between white vinegar and apple cider vinegar is that ACV contains something called 'the mother'. 

What is 'the mother' in Apple Cider Vinegar?

The cloudy sediment that you see in the apple cider vinegar bottles is known as 'the mother', and it is what gives ACV it's cloudy appearance. 'The mother' is made up of enzymes, acetic acid, bacteria, and cellulose (fibre). 

You can buy apple cider vinegar raw or pasteurised. People often use raw apple cider vinegar for health purposes as it contains more natural bacteria. Filtered and pasteurised apple cider vinegar will have no trace of ‘the mother’.

What are the benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar?

There are so many benefits inside just one bottle of apple cider vinegar, it truly is a wonderous liquid gold.

From regulating stomach acid, helping to fight cold and flu, constipation, abdominal pain, acne, hair loss, and skin rashes.

I personally use apple cider vinegar as a natural remedy for cold/flu medicine, to rid water retention, to stabilise my blood sugar levels, as a skin toner, to assist in digestion, and to optimise stomach acid.

I also love using it as a salad dressing and in recipes.

Improving acid reflux and neutralising stomach acid

Apple cider vinegar is fantastic for neutralising the stomach acid and improving symptoms of acid reflux.

Our stomachs produce acid once food arrives in our digestive tract to help start the digestive process. Proper stomach acid production is needed for the digestive process and proper digestion. In a neutral state, the stomach can operate much more efficiently where the right enzymes are made and pH levels of acid are present so that food in the stomach can absorb and digest properly. Stomach acid is also important for absorption of minerals and control of parasites, bacteria and fungi. Some people don’t produce enough stomach acid, when this happens the person may experience uncomfortable symptoms like bloating and gas.

If you have low stomach acid or your acid reflux is a result of low stomach acid, apple cider vinegar may help in introducing more acid in the digestive tract to aid in digestion.

Helps to stabilise low blood sugar levels

Studies over the years have found that the consumption of apple cider vinegar reduced both blood glucose and insulin responses after a starchy meal. This is because the acetic acid in apple cider vinegar slows down the rate at which the stomach empties the food that is eaten, which in turn slows down the breakdown of carbohydrates and gives the body more time to remove glucose from the blood.

Consuming 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar at bedtime has also been found to improve glucose levels upon waking in the morning.

Aid in weight loss

Acetic acid which is found in apple cider vinegar, has been shown in numerous studies that it may be beneficial in assisting in weight loss. Because apple cider vinegar stabilises the blood sugar for more extended periods which can help to control the appetite and increase feelings of fullness, this means that you can have fewer cravings and could help you to reach your optimal weight.

Can help eliminate harmful bacteria

Apple cider vinegar may have antibacterial properties. A test tube study found that apple cider vinegar was effective at killing both E-coli and Staphylococcus aureus, which is the bacteria that is responsible for staph infections.

Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, used apple cider vinegar to help clean wounds and infections more than 2000 years ago.

Over the years, people have traditionally used apple cider vinegar for cleaning and disinfecting, treating nail fungus, warts, and assist in the healing of other infections.

Improve skin health

Apple cider vinegar is sometimes used to treat skin infections like eczema and dry skin. Because the skin is naturally slightly acidic, apple cider vinegar can help to rebalance the natural pH of the skin and improve skin health.

Apple cider vinegar contains both acetic acid and citric acid. The acetic acid in ACV is both anti-fungal and antimicrobial. It can clear bacteria that is related to skin conditions such as acne, eczema and rosacea. The citric acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) which can increase skin cell turnover, meaning less wrinkles and age spots.

You can dilute apple cider vinegar in water to use as a skin toner. Avoid applying undiluted ACV to the skin as it may cause burning.

When should you drink Apple Cider Vinegar?

You can take 1-2 tablespoons of ACV in a small glass of water first thing in the morning, or 3 times per day, before meals.

Start with a small amount and if you tolerate it well, work up to a maximum of 2 tablespoons per day.

If you are consuming ACV orally, it’s important to dilute apple cider vinegar with water and to rinse your mouth after you drink it.

You can also get creative by adding it to healthy salad dressings (just mix with olive oil), use it to pickle vegetables, or incorporate it into your cooking recipes.

See our other blog ‘4 Alternative Ways to Consume Apple Cider Vinegar’.

Apple Cider Vinegar Drink

This apple cider vinegar drink recipe is quick and easy to make and is refreshing. Adding lemon juice makes it taste like tangy lemonade, and lemons have many health benefits of their own.

I like to sweeten with liquid stevia or honey and to also try other variations to this recipe such as adding fresh grated ginger, sparkling water instead of still water, a splash of pomegranate juice, some fresh mint leaves, or even adding apple juice with a pinch of cinnamon.

Here at LYH, we love incorporating these products daily to get all the benefits of apple cider vinegar:

Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar with The Mother - this apple cider vinegar is made with organic apples, contains the mother enzymes, and is of very high quality.

Bragg Salad Dressing & Marinade Vinegar - This zesty salad dressing contains apple cider vinegar among other ingredients like liquid aminos, garlic, onion, and delicious organic herbs.

Goli Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies - These apple cider vinegar gummies are a super easy way to consume apple cider vinegar for both adults and kids. They are made using real apples so you can taste the apple and not the vinegar. Two gummies each day is equivalent to a shot of ACV and they also contain vitamins B9 and B12 as well as organic Beetroot and Pomegranate.