HEALTH: Benefits, Dosage and Side Effects Of Apple Cider Vinegar

 

BENEFITS OF APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

The benefits of apple cider vinegar as a traditional home remedy are less expensive than traditional medicine.

Though many can say it is not an FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved medicine, apple cider vinegar’s effectiveness as a treatment for illness, has been proven throughout history as being used as an aid to cure various illnesses, and this is still true today.

 

Nutritional Value of Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar contains trace minerals that are needed for cell function such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium and copper. It also has vitamins-A, C, and E, with several different forms of vitamin-B including beta carotene and bioflavonoids.

It is high in antioxidants, and the pectin from apples helps the body form a coating to soothe an irritated intestinal tract.

ACV is rich in acetic acid. Results of a research study in Japan suggest that acetic acid may help control blood pressure and fat accumulation. Investigators in Europe looked at the influence of sodium acetate and acetic acid on blood glucose and other biological responses to a mixed meal in healthy subjects.

But acetic acid is not vinegar, it is a bacteria found in vinegar that is a byproduct of the fermentation process and as you go along this article, you’ll find out that this bacteria is responsible for the other benefits below.

During the fermentation process, the acetic acid bacteria grow inside the liquid and as the fermentation process goes along it slowly grows to become a nontoxic slime. People call it the “mother”.

There are vinegar manufacturers that remove the “mother” using a filtration process but if you’re thinking of consuming this or adding it to a juice recipe, avoid using distilled vinegar but opt for the raw, unfiltered variety that contains the mother. This ingredient is responsible for the tart flavor and the biting odor of vinegar. Acetic acid content in vinegar varies between 4 to 7% in distilled vinegar and 5 to 6% in wine vinegar. Bragg unfiltered ACV (one of the more popular brands) contains 5.14% of acetic acid.

Tip: The FDA says that diluted acetic acid is not vinegar and should not be added into any food product that is expected to contain vinegar.

Besides the benefits of being less expense, let’s see the benefits of apple cider vinegar to heal can cure different illnesses.

The Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar AND ITS DOSAGe

Apple cider vinegar is not just for making salad dressing or other cooked foods. It’s one of nature’s medicines as a treatment for curing illness.

“Apple Cider Vinegar is a must have in your house. It helps against infections and allergies. You can solve small problems at your home instead of rushing to the hospital.”

 

HOW MUCH APPLE CIDER VINEGAR IS SAFE

• Can You Overdose On Apple Cider Vinegar?
• How Much Apple Cider Vinegar Should You Use?
• Apple Cider Vinegar For Skin And Hair

Mix 2 tsps ACV with lukewarm water every morning for obesity and relief from arthritic pain. Drink 2 tsps ACV mixed in water during your meals to treat heartburn and 2 tsps each of ACV and honey mixed in half a glass of warm water 30 mins before sleep if you can’t sleep at night. Don’t overdose. Too much or undiluted ACV consumption can cause skin and teeth erosion and lower your potassium levels abnormally.

Is it any wonder that apple cider vinegar (ACV) has created a lot of buzz in the recent times for its healing properties, given that it is used to alleviate a host of health conditions, from common cold and sunburn to nail fungus, head lice, warts, and ear infections. But what’s critical is the dosage.

 

CAN YOU OVERDOSE ON ACV?

Yes, you most certainly can. As too much of anything is bad, while ACV is often considered the go-to remedy for health issues, excessive consumption doesn’t fare well. Improper consumption of ACV has been associated with skin erosions,¹ low potassium level (hypokalaemia),² and tooth erosion.³ ACV is also capable of interacting with diuretics, or drugs that increase urine production, laxatives, and medicines for diabetes and heart diseases.⁴

So how much apple cider vinegar is right for you? Depends on what condition you are trying to treat with ACV.

 

HOW MUCH ACV SHOULD YOU USE?

Obesity / Reduction of Weight 

ACV can work wonders for you, provided you get the right balance of fiber, proteins, vitamins, and carbs in your diet. Let us warn you that excess fat in the body won’t melt away in a day, and you need a lot of patience for this remedy to work. So don’t give up if you don’t see the desired result instantly.

• Begin your day by consuming 2 teaspoons of ACV in a tumbler of cold or lukewarm water.
• Sip a tumbler of water containing 2 tablespoons of ACV during the three major meals of the day. Ensure that the mixture lasts your entire meal.

There has been a new study done by Japanese researchers that acetic acid found in vinegar could prevent the accumulation of body fat. One test was done with mice, the other with people.

The test  was done on mice (the latest study): In their study laboratory, scientists fed two groups of mice with a high-fat diet. Afterwards, one group was given acetic acid and one group was not. The mice that were given acetic acid developed less body fat (up to 10%) compared to mice that were not given acetic acid.

Test done on people: 175 obese but healthy people were divided into two groups. Both groups had a similar diet but one group had plain water and the other had some vinegar. At the end of 12 weeks the people who had the vinegar lost an average of 1 to 2 pounds. But whilst vinegar may have properties that can break down fats, nothing beats exercise and eating the right food to really shift any excess weight!

 

Arthritis

There are anecdotal evidences of ACV’s healing effect on arthritis. A few points, however, have to be kept in mind before you turn to ACV for help. A study on arthritic rats revealed that ACV is ineffective as an anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory agent in rats with experimentally induced arthritis.⁵ However, in certain cases in humans, ACV has slowed the progression of arthritis.⁶ In short, while there is no harm in trying ACV as a cure for arthritis, there is no guarantee that the condition will improve. Secondly and most importantly, a permanent cure is too much to expect from ACV.

• Drink 2 teaspoons of ACV in a tumbler of water when you wake up.
• Drink 2 teaspoons each of ACV and molasses with 1 teaspoon of honey in a tumbler of water during each meal through the day.

 

NOSE AND THROAT DISORDERS

Help against seasonal allergies 

Apple Cider Vinegar has probiotics which ensure that the body does not react to allergens in the environment. The key is to take the Apple Cider Vinegar regularly without any break in the breakout season like the spring and whenever the weather is changing.

Common Cold

While ACV cannot kill the common cold virus, it can check the secondary bacterial infection, which prolongs your cold symptoms,⁷ by entering the cell membranes of the microbes and causing cell death.⁸

• Usually 1 g vitamin C per day is sufficient, but during cold or at its onset, the dosage needs to be increased to 1 g every three hours. Or sprinkle ACV in powder form on your food and drinks.
• Drink 1 teaspoon ACV mixed in a glass of water or in your tea several times a day.

 

Cough

For a mild cough, drink a glass of water with 4 teaspoons of ACV, sipping it slowly when the cough aggravates.

 

Soothes A SoreThroat

As soon as you feel the prickle of a sore throat, employ germ-busting apple cider vinegar to help head off the infection at the pass. Turns out, most germs can’t survive in the acidic environment vinegar creates. Just mix 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar with 1/4 cup warm water and gargle every hour or so.

 

 

An asthma attack causes tightening in the throat and neck and leads to suffocation. Breathing becomes difficult, resulting in extreme tiredness. ACV is a traditional folk remedy for asthma that has apparently produced incredible results. However, there have been no proper clinical trials yet, which prove that vinegar can treat asthma. So use your judgment on this one.

Drink 2 teaspoons each of ACV and honey in a tumbler of water thrice a day.

 

Digestive Disorders

Among the many reasons for digestive disorders, food intolerance and altered pH level of the stomach are the most common. When a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water is taken before a meal (particularly food served in restaurants or at picnics where the food may not be prepared hygienically or left uncovered or unrefrigerated for a long time), it seems to prevent diarrhea or digestive upsets.

 

Indigestion, Heartburn, And Constipation

Drink a glassful of water with 2 teaspoons of ACV with the three major meals of the day or use the same quantity of ACV as a salad dressing.

Or sip before eating, especially if you know you’re going to indulge in foods that will make you sorry later. Try this folk remedy: add 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar to a glass of warm water and drink it 30 minutes before you dine.

 

Diarrhea

Add 1 teaspoon of ACV to 275 ml of water and drink it at least three times a day depending on how much water your body has lost.

 

Hiccups

Sip 1 teaspoon of undiluted ACV very slowly while plugging the ears with fingers. (You certainly need someone to help you achieve this). Many have claimed that this brings immediate relief.

Its sour taste could stop a hiccup in its tracks. One teen took the hiccup remedy further and created a lollipop that includes apple cider vinegar, which she says “cancels out the message to hiccup” by overstimulating the nerves in the throat responsible for the spasms.

 

Heart Conditions

ACV cannot prevent or cure heart troubles or related disorders. But it can treat diabetes and obesity, which are two of the major causes of heart attacks. It can help you achieve the right weight and, as seen in a study on diabetic mice,⁹ even lower your blood sugar levels. The dosage is same as that for obesity.

 

Beauty Treatment

ACV may not transform your skin completely, but those who have benefited from it frequently report a general improvement in their skin tone and appearance. One major reason could be the internal cleansing and detox it provides. ACV can be used in different ways for beauty treatment.

 

For Your Skin

Make a lotion using rosemary and ACV by mixing 25 g of fresh rosemary or 15 g of dried rosemary in a saucepan with 275 ml of water (rain water is most suitable). Boil it slowly and simmer it for 10 minutes, then add 275 ml of ACV into it. When cooled, preserve the mixture in a bottle.

• Apply the lotion on your skin, especially on the wrinkles and where the skin has begun to sag. ACV will soften rough skin and make it smoother.
• Apply it on the swellings caused by fatigue or strained muscles.

 

For Your Hair

• Hair Conditioner: Pour a small quantity of ACV into the palm of your hands and rub it gently into your hair with your fingertips.
• Hair Rinse: Pour 1 tablespoonful of the ACV lotion in the water with which you rinse your hair.

 

Acidity Relief

Apple Cider Vinegar can be used to treat Acidity and heartburn. Acidity and heartburn are caused by imbalanced pH of the stomach. The lack of probiotics and enzymes makes the stomach to react and cause the food and acid of the stomach travel back to the esophagus and sometimes comes into the buccal cavity which is a very nasty feeling.

• Add one tablespoon of Apple Cider vinegar to a glass of water.
• Drink it five minutes before meals
• Noticeable results can be seen from the first administration.

 

Shrinking of the Pores and as a Toner

Mostly teenage girls experience the breakout of acne on their skin because of environmental factors and hormonal changes. Apple cider Vinegar to cleanse the pores and keep them closed after the cleansing. This keeps the dust particles and the bacteria prone particles to keep outside and do not enter the pores. Toners are used to tighten the pores of the skin so that the dirt particles may not enter the pores and cause the breakout of acne.

Ingredients:

•      1 Tbsp of Apple Cider Vinegar
•      3 Tbsp of Water

Preparation:

•    Mix it in a small container
•    Wash your face
•   Take a cotton ball 
•   Apply apple cider vinegar on the swab.
•   Apply on the acne prone areas or on the open pores.
•   Wash after 10 minutes with cold water.

Kills Candida

Candida is a bacterium found in everyone’s gut, but if out of control it can cause problems. This can include yeast infections, toe fungus, thrush, and lots more. Candida is a parasitic bacteria which cause yeast overgrowth leading to low energy, poor digestion, yeast infections, canker sores and other uncomfortable symptoms.

Drinking diluted apple cider vinegar can kill the excess candida and keep it under control, helping to restore the natural balance of bacteria in the gut and cure yeast infections.

Candida overgrowth occurs often when a person has a poor diet, high in refined sugar and carbohydrates, and it can take over when the gut flora compromised by antibiotic use or birth control.

ACV is an effective tool in the kit of someone trying to rid themselves of draining candida. You can also look at lemon water as a possible solution when treating Candida.

It works by helping promote better digestion and an acid/alkaline balance more aligned with promoting healthy bacteria to once again thrive in the gut.

Vinegar has been used since time eternal as a cure for foot fungus and is great for killing molds.

Since yeast is a fungus it makes sense that ACV would help in keeping the parasite at bay, even though to date there hasn’t been any specific analysis of ACV directly as a candida killer.

Apple cider vinegar may be taken internally to treat thrush and diarrhea caused by Candida overgrowth. It can also be used externally to treat vaginal and groin yeast infections, nail fungus of the toes or finger, and other skin conditions caused by Candida.

 

It Is A Proven Disinfectant And Bacteria Killer

Before any scientific study was done, Hippocrates has been using vinegar to treat wounds over 2,000 years ago and modern research has proven that vinegar can kill some types of bacteria like E. coli and S. aureus. It isn’t as effective as commercial products like Clorox, but it does not have chemicals in it so it is safe to use in washing produce and is also known as a natural food preservative.

Heals Skin Allergies

Any conditions of early eczema, psoriasis and other skin allergies can easily be cured by Apple Cider Vinegar. Just mix Apple Cider vinegar in equal amounts of water and apply on the affected area thrice a day. If the condition is severe, try going to a doctor first and then apply any home remedies for allergies.

The milder forms of eczema tends to do little more than just cause slight dryness and itchy skin, the more severe type can crack the skin and become infected, as well as the skin can blister. Using apple cider vinegar can be helpful to eczema suffers. It can be used topically, as a drink, in a bath, and used in the laundry.

Applying apple cider vinegar directly to the skin can provide eczema sufferers with relief. The Medicinal Botanical Program at Mountain State University recommends a 50/50 solution of water and apple cider vinegar applied to the skin. They say if your skin is more sensitive, you may want to try a more diluted solution of 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with 1⁄2 cup of water, which can be applied to the affected area. Use either a clean wash cloth or pour the solution into a spray bottle to spritz onto the skin.

As an oral solution to benefit the skin, mix a solution of 1 to 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 8 ounce of fresh water three times each day. The Live Strong website suggests apple cider as a vinegar bath. They state if your eczema is more widespread, a vinegar bath can offer relief. Add 1⁄2 cup of apple cider vinegar to a warm bath water. But make sure the water is not too hot, as this can irritate and scald already delicate skin tissues. Adding approximately 1/3 cup of sunflower oil to the bath will treat the intensely dry skin patches eczema sufferers often endure.

Fabric softeners have harsh chemicals that can aggravate the skin, but white distilled vinegar is a natural fabric softener. Add 1⁄2 cup during the wash cycle, but never mix vinegar and bleach, as it produces toxic fumes.

 

Soothes Sun Burns

Sun burns are caused on the skin by excessive exposure to the sun. People tend to burn their skin by over exposure to the sun. Apply Apple Cider Vinegar on the sun-burnt areas. Around ten to fifteen applications would be required.Apply this remedy at night and don’t go out in the sun after application of Apple Cider Vinegar.

 

Relieves Varicose Veins

Apple Cider Vinegar is excellent remedy for varicose veins. Combine Witch hazel and Apple Cider Vinegar and rub it in circular motions on varicose veins. The pain in the veins will be decreased by a few applications. The varicose veins will vanish after almost two weeks depending on the severity.

 

Prevent Muscle Fatigue

Muscle fatigue can often be a symptom of mineral and electrolyte depletion. To make sure the body has ample electrolyte stores take a Tbs of ACV with water before a workout. The natural pH of our bodies when it’s in balance create an environment where elimination of excess lactic acid in the muscles easily occurs, this stasis also plays a crucial role in oxygenating our bodies during exercise.

 

Boost Energy

Exercise and sometimes extreme stress cause lactic acid to build up in the body, causing fatigue. Interestingly, the amino acids contained in apple cider vinegar act as an antidote. What’s more, apple cider vinegar contains potassium and enzymes that may relieve that tired feeling. Next time you’re beat, add a tablespoon or two of apple cider vinegar to a glass of chilled vegetable drink or to a glass of water to boost your energy.

 

Apple cider vinegar cuts down on nighttime leg cramps

Leg cramps can often be a sign that you’re low in potassium. Since apple cider vinegar is high in it, one home remedy suggests mixing 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar and one teaspoon honey to a glass of warm water and drink to relieve nighttime leg cramps. Of course, by the time you walk to the kitchen to put the drink together, your cramp is likely to be history—but maybe that’s the point.

 

Removes Warts

 

Has Cancer-Fighting Properties

Cancer is a silent killer in that the symptoms don’t manifest itself until it is in a stage where there is little that you can do to cure it. In 2014 over 1.6 million people in the United States tested positive for cancer and there were over half a million deaths (it is the 4th common cause of death in the USA). Research has shown that vinegar can at least shrink and kill some types of cancer cells.

One study was done in China, where they discovered that vegetable and vinegar consumption reduced the risk of oesophageal cancer. However in a separate study done in Serbia, results showed that vinegar consumption increased bladder cancer 4.4 times. Based on these studies, vinegar is found to have anti-tumor properties thanks to the acetic acid bacteria but may provide various effects depending on the type of cancer.

 

Clears Acne

Apple cider vinegar can kill bacteria, and reduce or eliminate toxins that cause acne according to the Detox for Life website. Add 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to 8 ounces of fresh water, twice daily.

 

SIDE EFFECTS OF APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

Don’t guzzle down cups of ACV, and never undiluted. It’ll make you dizzy, pukish, or give you a stomach ache. Ditch it if you’re on a diuretic. Using it in excess may decay the tooth enamel, delay digestion, reversing its good effects on diabetes, irritate your dry, inflamed skin, and cause chemical burns. Consume organic ACV in moderation and avoid commercial ACV pills, which are often fake and can harm your food pipe.

One of the most commonly used vinegars, apple cider vinegar has a huge fan following, thanks to the claims that it helps deal with many medical conditions. From treating diabetes to hypertension, dental problems, obesity, eczema, and even cancer, every day a new claim of the benefit of ACV surfaces. This has lent this vinegar from fermented apples quite a celebrity status in the world of superfoods, some health blogs even referring to it as the “golden nectar.”

Side Effects Of Apple Cider Vinegar

• Short-Term Side Effects: Frequent Urination, Nausea, Stomach Pain, Dizziness, Headaches
• Long-Term Negative Effects: Skin Irritation, Gastric Issues, Food Pipe Injury, Tooth Enamel Erosion

Science Backs Some Of The Popular Claims

Some of these claims are scientifically proven—like the fact that ACV could help in managing diabetes;¹ the acetic acid present in it could assist your weight loss efforts by making you feel fuller;² and that it could lower cholesterol levels.

There are, however, many “positive powers” of ACV that are baseless and propagated without any research backing.

Some Claims Are Just False

That It’s Rich In Vitamins And Minerals

For instance, many claim that ACV aids many healing processes because of the presence of nutrients like pectin, beta-carotene, sodium, and potassium, among others. Because of the presence of beta-carotene in it, ACV is said to be even capable of slowing down aging and regenerating skin cells.

However, according to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Nutrient Database, samples of ACV were found to contain no measurable amounts of vitamin A, B6, C, E, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, beta-carotene, or folate, and it was equally lacking in amino acids, lycopene, or any other nutritional elements.³

That It’s The Best Remedy For Hair Lice

In popular media, all kinds of vinegar are endorsed as one of the best treatments for hair lice. A study published in the Journal Of Pediatric Nursing, however, found that of seven home remedies tested, vinegar was the least effective in eliminating hair lice.⁴

That It Can Remove Warts

Even when it comes to warts, a few studies have found that using a solution with 99 percent acetic acid can help alleviate them, but since apple cider vinegar contains only 5 percent acetic acid, its use may not prove effective for the condition.⁵

Why You Should Be Careful About Consuming ACV

Consuming ACV irresponsibly, that is without diluting it or in large quantities, can lead to many short-term negative effects. You should know that you are using it wrong and stop your consumption of ACV immediately if it triggers the following responses from your body. Most of these side effects are based on anecdotal evidence from real-life users of ACV.

Short-Term Side Effects Of Apple Cider Vinegar

> Frequent Urination

Consuming ACV when you are already on diuretics, which anyway enhance your urine production, coerces your body to release more than the needed amount of toxins, making you want to urinate more frequently. If continued, this could lead to dehydration.

> Nausea And Stomach Pain/Upset

If you experience either of these symptoms right after consuming ACV, it is an indication that you need to dilute it more or reduce the quantity of intake. Drink more water to wash the ACV down and take care not to drink it on an empty stomach.

> Dizziness Or Headache

As ACV helps release toxins from the body, an overdose can lead to loss of beneficial minerals as well. This can lead to a drop in the potassium levels in the body, and, if left unchecked, this could lead to lower bone density.⁶

Apart from these, there have been a few studies that have brought out the long-term negative effects of consuming ACV in large quantities.

Long-Term Negative Side Effects Of Apple Cider Vinegar

> It Can Cause Skin Irritation

Be cautious while using ACV on inflamed or scaly skin and on your dry scalp, as its low pH content can irritate it further and even damage hair cells.⁷ There have also been cases of chemical burns that were reported after using apple cider vinegar without supervision for the removal of moles.⁸

> It Can Cause Gastric Issues

Consuming too much ACV could lead to constipation or delayed gastric emptying, which refers to the passage of food from the stomach to the small intestine. A study published in the BMC Journal Of Gastroenterology and conducted on patients suffering from type 1 diabetes found that of the 10 subjects, those who had consumed ACV were found to have delayed gastric emptying. ⁹

Delayed bowel movement means that food is not absorbed on time, which in turn can cause havoc to your blood sugar control. So consuming ACV in large quantities to keep diabetes in check might just reverse the proven benefits.

> It Can Cause Injury To The Food Pipe

Due to the unending good press that ACV has garnered, the demand for ACV pills and supplements are on the rise. However, researchers warn against using such capsules as they may lead to irreparable damage to your esophagus or food pipe. After such an incident was reported, a team of researchers from the American Dietetic Association tested eight different brands of ACV tablets for their pH levels, acid content, and microbial activity.¹⁰

The study found that the capsules had pH values ranging from 2.9 to 5.7, with the research team even expressing doubt over whether ACV was at all an ingredient in the capsule. “The inconsistency and inaccuracy in labeling, recommended dosages, and unsubstantiated health claims make it easy to question the quality of the products,” the study concluded.

> It Can Erode Your Tooth Enamel

While in North African cultures, ACV is considered a wonder pill for weight loss, and young women and bodybuilders are known to use it in an effort to keep the fat off, a study published in the Dutch Journal Of Dentistry found that consuming a glass of apple cider vinegar every day was the main reason behind a reported case of tooth enamel erosion in a 15-year-old Moroccan girl.¹¹

So although there may be a few benefits of including ACV in your diet in small amounts, take care not to go overboard with it. Also, look out for organic ACV and go through the fine print on the label well before buying all the bottles off the shelf.

 

DO’S

• If you are taking Apple Cider Vinegar for weight loss, take it with consistency and do not take any breaks.
• When applying on the skin, do a patch test before using and wait for 24 hours before assuming the test results.

DON’TS

• Do not replace Apple Cider Vinegar with any of your medications without consulting your doctor.
• When applying to your teeth, do not leave the mixture of Apple Cider Vinegar and baking soda for more than a minute. Otherwise, this might damage your teeth enamel.

 

Source:

curejoy.com

pinterest.com

olwomen.com

mamabee.com

theheartysoul.com

Reader’s Digest

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HOUSEHOLD CLEANER

Apple Cider Vinegar can be used to clean almost anything. From your toilet Bowl to your kitchen’s stove, it works wonders.

• If there is a drain blockage, add the one liter bottle of apple cider vinegar after sprinkling a hand full of Baking soda. A small volcano will erupt and your drain will open as if it was never blocked.
• If there is a lot of grease on the kitchen cabinet, Wet your cleaning cloth with apple Cider Vinegar and add a tablespoon of Baking soda t the cloth. Then rub your cabinet with that cloth. Remove the grease with a wet cloth and you will be astonished with the results.
• Add A tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar to your daily Mop and this will help all sorts of smells to remain away from your house and will leave a refreshing scent instead.