6 Healing Properties of Apple Cider Vinegar

Vinegar has an odd smell and tastes sort of tangy bitter. It has the ability to positively enhance the flavor of many recipes as well as unclog drains (really, just add it to baking soda in a drain, let it sit for a while, then rinse with boiling water).

However, most people would never consider drinking a daily teaspoonful of the stuff.

If you’re one of these people, you may want to rethink adding apple cider vinegar to your day-to-day routine as it has some significantly potential healing properties.

The Stuff

Apple cider vinegar is the fermentation of alcohol derived from crushed apple juice with a small amount of live bacteria and yeast added to begin the fermentation process. The finished product contains high amounts of calcium, potassium, magnesium and essential enzymes.

For thousands of years apple cider vinegar has been a popular remedy for many ailments. Many believe this is due to its ability to act as an anti-microbial, anti-fungal and anti-viral.

Here are 6 healing properties of apple cider vinegar.

Cleanse the liver

Lemon juice in warm water is a common liver cleanser but apple cider vinegar works too. Simply add a teaspoon full to a cup of warm water and drink everyday to keep your liver running on all cylinders.

Skin Spots

A cotton ball dab of apple cider vinegar on skin discolorations, such as age (liver) spots, each night before bed may help thin them out. Be patient, it takes time.

Acid Reflux

Burping up hot stomach acid can cause all sorts of distress. Most people think it’s because there’s too much acid in the stomach yet the opposite is true, there’s too little.

Normally the sphincter at the top of your stomach receives signals to shut when too much acid is present. When there’s not enough acid that signal is not sent keeping open the sphincter to let digestive juices escape.

Drinking a small shot of apple cider vinegar (about a tablespoon diluted in water) during an indigestion or acid reflux episode may cause the stomach to signal the brain to close the sphincter. Talk to your doctor before attempting this remedy.

Weight Loss

Weight loss can be healing for many people in many ways. It is not only aesthetically pleasing for some but losing weight can improve joint pain, sleep, mood and so much more.

Apple cider vinegar has been linked to lowering blood sugar levels and increasing satiety. These benefits have resulted in potential weight loss.

Researchers at the Central Research Institute, Aichi, Japan conducted a study called ‘Vinegar intake reduces body weight, body fat mass, and serum triglyceride levels in obese Japanese subjects’ stating that,

“Body weight, BMI [body mass index], visceral fat area, waist circumference, and serum triglyceride levels were significantly lower in both vinegar intake groups than in the placebo group. In conclusion, daily intake of vinegar might be useful in the prevention of metabolic syndrome by reducing obesity.”

Acne Healer

Dabbing a cotton ball of apple cider vinegar on to acne and acne scars could help heal them.

“Applying ACV [apple cider vinegar] topically, helps dissolve dead skin cells as well as acting as killing bacteria on your skin. This treats two essential causes of acne: sebum and debris buildup and bacterial infection.” (Acneremovr)

Arthritis

Damage to tissue around joints can cause inflammation, swelling and pain. This is often diagnosed as arthritis. Some people with arthritis feel apple cider vinegar can help.

“Vinegar is believed to relieve pain associated with arthritis and slow the progression of the disease. The University of Florida recommends mixing 2 tsp.of apple cider vinegar into a glass of water. Drink the mixture before each meal to relieve arthritis pain.” (Livestrong)

These 6 healing properties of apple cider vinegar are a fraction of so many more this liquid offers. Talk to your physician or naturopathic doctor and see if taking a teaspoon in a cup of water everyday or dabbing it hear and there proves to show a difference.