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In the absence of modern medical practices,our ancestors were acutely aware of Nature’s healing bounty. Some of them provide instant relief while others need patience and perseverance. Going back to our roots and pantry medicine has perks of its own.

Continuing with my inspiration from ancient lifestyle after 10 Reasons for Turning Water into Your BFF, let’s explore the health potentials of apple cider vinegar. This time, I am following in the footsteps of ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Hippocrates (the father of modern medicine).

Though being an all-rounder healthcare wise, it is extremely acidic and should be taken in moderation. The thing to keep in mind is drinking it diluted and not using more than 2 tablespoons a day. So, here are a few nifty ways of using apple cider vinegar for health and wellbeing.

Top 10 Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

1. Walking the pH Factor Tightrope:

   pH is the value that shows the level of acidity. Just as the pH value of pool water tells us whether it’s good for a swim or not, somewhat similarly the pH balance of our body shows whether it’s a play field for diseases or not. The better your body’s pH balance, the healthier you are.

   The pH value of apple cider vinegar (ACV) is between 2.8 to 3 for a good quality batch and so it can adjust low or high values easily to the ideal (below 4.8) pH value for our body. The obvious results are significant drop in frequency of infections, stomach upsets and an overall glow of wellbeing. Not at all bad…right?

2. Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Tamer:

   Apple cider vinegar works actively in reducing bad cholesterol from our body. But, what has to be understood about blood pressure is that it is not a disease in itself but is the result of some other anomaly in our body. ACV works on these with regular, proper and consistent usage to ultimately control blood pressure levels.

   However, one should not stop taking their regular medicines just because they are taking apple cider vinegar. It should be left to the doctor to adjust medication doses based on the improving test results. Since this is a roundabout method of tackling the issue, it takes patience and perseverance.

3. Tame down Allergies and Flu:

   A tablespoon of unfiltered ACV mixed in a glass of warm water with a dash of lemon and honey can keep common cold at bay. This also works for minimizing and allaying the symptoms of allergy. It appears, fermented version of an apple really does keep the doctor away 🙂 .

   If you spy the beginnings of a sore throat, just sip on a handy cup of 1 teaspoon vinegar, 1 cup steaming water and 1 teaspoon honey to soothe your vocals to wellness. It has antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties, which do not only dilute and drain away nose stuffiness but also helps with the pain. Giving a strong nudge to your immune system to look alive, it prevents further infections too!

4. One of the Best Tummy Doctors around Town:

   ACV can work wonders for regular stomach problems like indigestion, heartburn, stomach muscle cramps and even diarrhea. Simply drinking 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar mixed in a glass of water (always remember to dilute it for use) would help. However, medical attention should be sought if the problem continues for other underlying concerns.

   ACV balances out the acidity level in the stomach and helps in proper digestion of whatever you eat. Thus, it takes away root cause of most of the stomach complaints. It also works on the liver to help make bile better. In it’s turn, bile helps digest food better. Detoxifying the liver with ACV wash also prevents painful liver stones by not allowing bile to harden up forming stones.

5. Mouthwash with Superpowers:

   Even brushing twice a day may sometimes be not enough to deal with bad breath. Breath mints and sprays only cloak the problem. ACV mouthwash (1 part apple cider vinegar to 4 parts water) not only attacks bacteria buildup causing bad breath but also acts as an anti-inflammatory and antifungal agent.

   What it does as a super-agent is, it helps tackle gingivitis, mouth ulcers and other collective mouth problems. Along the way, it keeps pain in check and mouth odor at bay.

6. Dealing with Pesky Infections:

   Even Hippocrates swore by ACV’s antifungal and antimicrobial qualities. To begin with, you can try out some of the effortless ways of using it. Dip your feet in a pail of warm water spiked with a cup of apple cider vinegar to deal properly with foot or toe fungus. To be one step ahead of bladder infection and recurring UTIs, take 2 tablespoon servings per day of ACV.

   You can take it as salad dressing, drink or any other creative delicious way you can think of. Taking a relaxing bath infused with a couple of cups of apple cider vinegar takes care of yeast infections. This therapy also works wonders for sunburns if followed with gentle layering up with coconut oil.

7. Indispensable Metabolism and Energy:

   Take a regular dose of diluted unfiltered ACV alongside a healthy diet and exercise routine to give your body’s metabolism a hearty heave-ho for faster weight loss. The way it works is that the liver sweats 24×7 creating bile to be transferred to the stomach…we know that right? Your digestive machine spoons it up to break down and metabolize fat better. So, better bile production equals better functioning inner machinery!

   Thus, targeting the problem at it’s root, apple cider vinegar helps you stay in shape. Also, not only unbroken fat but toxins in the body sap away your energy and willingness to have fun. By giving a cleansing wash to the liver, ACV (1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar, 1 glass of water, a dash of honey and lemon) helps it to better chuck toxins away. And…detoxed body translates to higher energy levels.

8. Hiccup and Menstrual Cramp Therapy:

   Try drinking 1 tablespoon of ACV and 1 teaspoon of sugar mixed in a glass of water to stop hiccups. Different things work for people differently and this might just click for you. Making ACV-water-honey drink a routine regulates clotting and prevents anaemia after menstrual periods.

   The potassium and calcium contents of apple cider vinegar ease the muscles and tone down stomach muscle cramps. Though these uses have not been corroborated as such with medical research, yet are worth a shot. In any case, ACV is good for your overall health so no harm, no foul.

9. Beneficial in Arthritis:

   It is supposed to prevent calcium build-up in the joints easing off arthritic pain. Though this claim hasn’t been medically proven, no harm in trying out…right? Afterall, this household trick has been around for ages for some reason. If nothing else, it will boost body’s metabolism and energy levels! Also, you are not adding any new unwanted toxins or increasing medicine use, but are actually detoxifying your body en route.

10. Ease Leg Cramps:

    Let’s face it, leg cramps are a pest. More often than not, they are caused by low potassium levels in our body. ACV houses generous quantities of calcium and potassium. So, try taking a warm drink of ACV-water-honey solution to combat the pain. Rubbing apple cider vinegar directly on to the affected muscles also works most of the times. This is so because our body absorbs wanted and unwanted chemicals through the skin quickly. Absorbed ACV dissolves acid crystals in the body to reduce the severity of pain.

In the next part of the apple cider vinegar series, we would take a peep into the beauty benefits of apple cider vinegar…interesting, right? I would love to hear about your experiences. Have you tried any of these tips or do you have others up your sleeve?

 

Warning: People with diabetes MUST consult their physician before consuming ACV as it can alter insulin levels in the body.

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