Apple Cider Vinegar - and All It's Uses

It is my pleasure to educate you on the many health benefits surrounding Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV). This is one of those remedies that is absolutely outstanding. It packs such a powerful punch (bitter if you ask me, wink) with it's long list of uses. From an aid to weigh loss, to relieving the most intense hear burn, this truly is a "cure all".

In all the the medical break troughs we have had here in America, I don't understand why we are leaving behind age old remedies like ACV. There are many beneficial herbs, plants, and ingredients that we leave out because a "pill" that is new to the market cures what ales you. Now I don't know about you, but I feel more comfortable with things that have been around for centuries(5,000 years to be exact), used before any pharmaceutical companies existed. These things, I believe should be the foundation of our medicine chest. I am not opposed to taking medicine when medically necessary, but I think some of us innocently enough, reach for a prescription before we reach for and old fashioned remedy.

I have read many testimonials on the positive health effects of ACV. Remember these testimonials have nothing to do with one brand or another, but they all have one thing in common. The ACV used is not the typical translucent orange ACV on your grocery store shelf. It's organic, raw unfiltered ACV. Which means it is not pasteurized and has "the mother"(a cloudy mass) settling on the top and bottom oft he bottle.

Okay, so what does ACV do, and how do I take it?

Apple Cider Vinegar has a lot of health benefits. I will go into many of them in the coming paragraphs. To answer how you take it, well thats really up to you. But here is the basic step, the tonic so to say: 2 tablespoons of ACV in 8 oz of water 3x a day. Add honey to taste. But in my experience the honey doesn't mix as well, and its bitter. Many people find ways to get over the bitter taste by experimenting. I, for example, put it into a shot glass, and chug it down with a tall 16 oz glass of water right behind it. My 3 year old son however is quit fond of the taste, he calls it "this kind of water" as he points to the cabinet in which I store it. I place about 1/4 teaspoon in an 8 oz sippy cup with an ice cube, he loves it! I have also read many interesting ways to take it on a very interesting website (http://www.earthclinic.com/)

Heres what some of their readers found to work:
www.earthclinic.com Amy from Hartford, CT writes "I was on prescribed allergy medicine for 17 years. I started the honey and ACV mixed with water 3 years ago and rarely even have to take an over the counter allergy pill. It takes about 4-6 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!!

Blood Pressure - Lowering it that is. The potassium in apple cider vinegar is said to be beneficial to both the heart and blood pressure, and in some quarters this remedy is said to assist in making the blood thinner, and thereby assisting with blood pressure and in the prevention of a stroke.

John from Caledon, Ontario suggests, "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."

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."

Shawn from Boulder writes, "Mixed with ginger ale and white grape juice, ACV tastes terrific. Very similar in taste to Kombouchu tea."

Lisa from West Plains, MO writes, "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. Now, go have yourself a cup 'o tea."
In summer months: Add 1/4 cup of ACV to a quart of water. Then add ice cubes. Drink this on a hot summer day, especially before working out. Your body will feel very cleansed.

You see, you have to play around with it to see what works for you. I know I tried drinking it mixed with water, I drank it from a straw and held my nose, but then found taking a "shot" was much easier.

Okay now for the good stuff, the cures! Get ready to be amazed.

Acid Reflux - This one I can personally attest to, as with my second pregnancy I got such bad acid that I would wake up in the middle of the night gasping and coughing. I would run to the kitchen and quickly take a shot of ACV followed by a lot of water, within moments I was back in bed sleeping like a baby (until the water made me have to go to the bathroom, that is).

Allergies - It's sound weird that ACV can be taken in place of the clartin, nasal sprays, and other allergy medicine we take, but believe it! Again referring back to the website

Colds - It has been found that the pH factor (the acidity factor) of the body becomes a bit more alkaline prior to a cold or flu striking you down. When you take apple cider vinegar it helps to re-balance the acid level of your body.

Another remedy for colds and flu, and said to be specifically beneficial for chest complaints during the winter, is to soak a piece of brown paper with apple cider vinegar, and to place pepper on the one side of the paper. You then tie the paper, pepper side down, on to your chest and leave on for 25 - 30 minutes.

Apple cider vinegar is know to help with gout, arthritis and the prevention of migraines when taken on a regular basis. that is taking it at least once a day.

In addition ACV is also said to scare off food poisoning, yeast and fungal infections(when used as a douche, or taken orally). However please note that some ACV may be so strong it may actually cause a yeast infection, so be careful and start slow. When douching use 4 tablespoons to 1 quart of water.

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the nigh with those awful charlie horses muscle spasms in the back of your legs? Well ACV can help prevent them if you take it daily. Again, this is something I can truly say works, because in my pregnancy, I would shoot out of bed screaming and grabbing my leg to try to stop the spasm, and it would only happen on the nights when I had not taken any ACV. Its not a coincidence, and even if it were, you have a ton more reasons to take it, right!

As you can see, if you can overcome the bitter taste, it is well worth the investment in health you will reap from it's benefits. It's a natural detoxifier and will help keep your immune system is good health. it's also packed with B-vitamins and will give you loads of energy, healthy shiny hair, and a glowing complexion, seriously! It helps bring a rose glow to your face, which is helpful for all us pale faces out there.

One word of caution however, ACV has been notes to tooth enamel problems because of it's acidity. It is important that you drink plenty of water after your usual dosage, to take some of the acid out of your mouth, and do not "play" with the water in your mouth by swooshing it around. I have not had any problems yet, and have been taking it for 2 years now, but to be on the safe side, please be careful. Some have found that if they drink the tonic itself, that it is best to drink it from a straw to reduce the contact on the teeth.

In the end it's way to beneficial to be forgotten, and I recommend this to everyone!. It has helped me in many ways and I hope it does the same for you.