I was introduced to apple cider vinegar a few years back when I was struggling with symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome or IBS and systemic candidiasis. Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been touted for many years because of its medicinal properties. It is anti-fungal, antibacterial and antiviral so it can alleviate the occasional heartburn, soothe a sore throat and YES even get rid of persistent warts, as well as tackle an overgrowth of yeast just to name a few properties.
So what exactly is apple cider vinegar you may ask?? Well, they take crushed apples and add yeast. The yeast then ferment the natural sugar from the apples and turn it into alcohol. Then, bacteria are added to the alcohol solution which further ferments the apple solution. The result is acetic acid which is the main ingredient in ACV. My “go to” ACV is Bragg’s because it contains the “mother,” or the blob that is rich in probiotics and strands of protein and enzymes.
These are a few of the benefits of ACV:
1. Alleviates skin problems and acne:
ACV is antibacterial and if used topically can help combat stubborn acne issues. You can add ACV and Epsom salts to your bath. The skin is the largest organ in our body so this is an amazing way to naturally rid yourself of toxins. Try adding 1 or 2 cups of Epsom salts and some lavender along with 2 cups of the ACV to your bath to remove acid waste products from your cells and tissues. The ACV will help restore a proper balanced pH in your skin. This can help alleviate skin conditions, such as skin rashes, psoriasis and eczema and even vaginal yeast infections. Repeat this daily until the skin conditions disappear.
2. Remove Warts:
This home remedy seems to truly work for those stubborn warts. Soak a cotton ball with apple cider vinegar and attach it to the site of the wart with a bandaid. Leave this on overnight and repeat every night until the wart disappears. Voila!!
3. Aids with digestion:
This may be ACV’s main claim to fame. It can help alleviate the common indigestion and gastrointestinal discomfort, as well as chronic acid reflux. Take 1-2 teaspoons diluted in water one to two times daily.
4. Helps to attain soft and shiny hair:
The acetic acid in the ACV helps remove build up from styling products, shampoos and conditioners (that is if you are not using Beauty Counter clean and fragrance free shampoo and conditioner!). This will condition and strengthen the hair shaft leaving you with soft and shiny hair. In addition, glycine and collagen are useful additions to your diet. The hair shaft contains a significant amount of collagen which helps keep the hair alive and healthy. I like this brand of collagen that can be mixed in any liquid- Great Lakes Gelatin. I will write a separate article about the healing properties of collagen but I use it religiously after my hair lost its vitality and I was actually loosing hair due to adrenal fatigue and an autoimmune condition (more on this in another post as both of these issues are widespread).
Mix 1/2 cup ACV in 4 cups water and pour over hair after shampooing. Leave on hair for a few minutes and rinse.
5. Detoxification:
ACV is rich in vitamins, minerals and enzymes that facilitate this process. ACV helps stimulate circulation and thus aids detoxification of the liver. In ancient cultures they used vinegar to purify the blood. It also helps in cleansing out the lymph nodes to facilitate improved lymphatic circulation.
6. Intestinal Yeast or Candidiasis:
We all have yeast in our intestinal tract which is balanced and in proportion to other bacteria in our GI tract. For many reasons, the yeast can proliferate and release toxins. This can be the result of excess sugar in the diet, excessive use of antibiotics without the use of probiotics, excessive alcohol use and stress to name a few main culprits. ACV can help rebalance the gut flora to help alleviate the symptoms of yeast overgrowth, which include bloating, muscle and joint pain, brain fog, irritability, lack of sleep and depression.
Try taking 2 tablespoons of AVC with 8 ounces of water two to three times per day till the symptoms subside.
7. Useful for Lowering Blood Glucose Levels in Type 2 Diabetics:
Type 2 diabetics present with high levels of blood sugar that can be the result of insulin resistance or the inability to produce insulin. Studies indicate that taking 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before bed can reduce fasting blood sugars by 4%. This can be helpful not only for diabetics but for anyone who wants to manage their blood glucose levels.
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/30/11/2814.full
