The Beauty and Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

November 11, 2016 • Feel Good / Health

Why this household staple deserves its place in the beauty and health aisle.

As we try to live a greener life, we’re constantly looking for ways to add natural beauty products and organic foods into our lives. So when celebrities and stars began touting the benefits of apple cider vinegar, we had to test it for ourselves. Apple cider vinegar, also known as ACV, is a type of vinegar made from fermented apples or freshly pressed apple juice that is used for alternative medicine, beauty treatments, and even household cleaning. It’s an age-old folklore remedy that’s recently gained a ton of popularity. Miranda Kerr, Scarlett Johansson, Gabby Douglas, and countless other celebs all swear by the powers of apple cider vinegar. Steal these celebrities’ natural beauty secrets, then head down to your local health food store to buy a bottle. You’re about to be pleasantly surprised.

Apple Cider Vinegar Uses

1. Get Clear Skin with an Apple Cider Vinegar Acne Mask

Apple cider vinegar has antibacterial properties, which makes it perfect for fighting the bacteria that causes blemishes. Star and girlboss, Mindy Kaling mixes equal parts Bragg’s apple cider vinegar with Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay to combat acne. The Mindy Project star keeps the mask on for 10 to 15 minutes (or for 5 minutes if you have sensitive skin), before washing it off. The natural astringent in the apple cider vinegar keeps her skin looking flawless.

2. Combat Dandruff, Dull, or Frizzy Hair with Apple Cider Vinegar

This It Girl approved apple cider vinegar hair rinse fights dandruff, dull, and frizzy hair. Clique Media CEO Katherine Power says she uses an apple cider vinegar hair rinse every other day. To make a natural apple cider vinegar hair rinse, mix together equal parts apple cider vinegar and water, then use it in place of shampoo and conditioner to add shine and banish buildup.

3. Tone Skin with Apple Cider Vinegar

The acidity of apple cider vinegar balances skin’s pH level, which is important for keeping a smooth complexion. Movie star Scarlett Johansson reportedly uses an apple cider vinegar toner, to keep her skin smooth. To make an apple cider vinegar toner of your own, mix equal parts distilled water with apple cider vinegar. Use a cotton ball to lightly dab it on your face, then rinse after a few minutes. This apple cider vinegar toner is perfect if you’ve got oily, acne prone skin. However, if you’ve got sensitive skin, follow the golden rule of skin care: always do a test patch first.

4. Eliminate Foot Odor with Apple Cider Vinegar

The acids in apple cider vinegar alter the pH on your feet, making it hard for odor-causing bacteria to grow. Make your own deodorizing foot wipes by soaking thick paper towels in one cup of apple cider vinegar overnight in the fridge, then use the wipes as needed to kill gross foot germs.

5. Whiten Teeth With an Apple Cider Vinegar Mouthwash

The acid in apple cider vinegar helps to break down coffee and food stains on your teeth. Mix one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with a cup of water to create a tooth-whitening mouthwash. Pro tip: This mouthwash should be used only occasionally, no more than once a month, since frequent use can break down tooth enamel.

6. Soothe a Bug Bite or Jellyfish Sting with an Apple Cider Vinegar Bath

To soothe a bug bite or jellyfish sting, draw a diluted apple cider vinegar bath by mixing one or two cups apple cider vinegar into a warm water bath. The warm water and apple cider vinegar mixture will help ease the stinging sensation.

7. Clean Your Fruits and Veggies with Apple Cider Vinegar

Research shows that apple cider vinegar can significantly reduce bacteria such as salmonella on surfaces. Ensure your foods are free of gunk and pathogens by washing your fruits and veggies with a 3 parts water to 1 part apple cider vinegar mixture.

8. Lose Weight with an Apple Cider Vinegar Detox

In 2009, researchers in Japan found that apple cider vinegar may be helpful for weight loss. Test subjects, who drank 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar diluted in a cup of water per day, lost between 2 to 4 pounds more a month than the control group, who drank only water. If you don’t love the taste of apple cider vinegar, try adding apple cider vinegar into recipes you already make (like salad dressing!) to easily lose a few extra pounds.

9. Help Maintain Your Blood Sugar with Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar blocks the digestion of some starches, which helps keep blood sugar down. If you’re being treated for diabetes, but interested in the benefits of apple cider vinegar, consult your doctor. Consuming apple cider vinegar may interfere with your medical treatments, so always talk to a medical professional first before adding a new health remedy to your diet.

10. Aid Digestion and Detox with Apple Cider Vinegar

If you have indigestion, consider adding in apple cider vinegar to foods you already eat. Apple cider vinegar (like all other vinegars) contain probiotic compounds that encourage the growth of healthy intestinal bacteria. Steal one of the recipes below to easily add this healthy ingredient into your diet.

Apple Cider Vinegar Diet and Wellness Recipes

Olympic gold medalist, Gabby Douglas, swears by adding apple cider vinegar to her tea every morning. To make this Olympian favorite, add ½ tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a cup of hot red berry tea and mix in honey and lemon to taste.

• Apple Cider Vinegar Salad Dressing

Supermodel Miranda Kerr adds apple cider vinegar to her meals by drizzling it on her salads. Make your salad extra healthy by mixing up a probiotic salad dressing. Combine ¾ cup of olive oil, ¼ cup apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons water, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 ½ teaspoons salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper to make an apple cider vinaigrette. This dressing goes perfect over fresh baby greens, apples, toasted walnuts, and soft, mild cheese.

• Apple Cider Vinegar Shrub Drink

While Megan Fox swears by drinking a diluted shot of apple cider vinegar every morning, we think trying a vinegar soda or shrub would be a more palatable alternative. But what’s an apple cider vinegar shrub exactly? Shrubs are refreshing drinks made of vinegar and club soda that come in different flavors, such as apple pie or lemon ginger. All vinegars have probiotics, so adding a shrub to your day is an easy way to keep your gut in check.

FAQ: Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects and Safety

It safe to drink apple cider vinegar?

Consuming apple cider vinegar in small doses is widely regarded as safe; however, avoid drinking it in large doses since this may irritate the stomach and cause low potassium levels.

Can you drink apple cider vinegar straight?

Always dilute apple cider vinegar with water or other liquids before drinking or applying it to the skin.  A full shot of apple cider vinegar alone can be too strong for your stomach or for your skin to handle.

How often can you use the apple cider vinegar mouthwash?

Finally, if you make an apple cider vinegar mouthwash use it no more than once a month, since overuse can erode tooth enamel. The benefits of apple cider vinegar make it a health food worth trying: Just remember to use it safely.

Disclaimer: The information on this website and any related links are for general informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice. Do not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating any medical or health condition. If you have or suspect you have a medical problem, contact a professional healthcare provider.

Tags: apple cider vinegar / health / natural

Apple Cider Vinegar for Acne: Is ACV a Good Face Wash?

From the pantry cabinet to the medicine box, apple cider vinegar has truly emerged as a core part of our lives. Lately, proponents have advocated ACV for acne treatment, and it has left us wondering whether it is safe to use the acidic product on your face.

Let us evaluate what the science says before we put faith in the reputation of ACV for skin health.

Apple Cider Vinegar for Acne

Apple cider vinegar is a type of vinegar manufactured from the fermentation of apples. The process grants it highly acidic properties, touted for their numerous health benefits. Proponents claim ACV as a home remedy for weight loss, heartburn and indigestion, relieving symptoms of gout and potentially curing acne.

The question is whether the said claims are credible. Can we trust apple cider vinegar for acne?

What causes Acne?

Acne is a skin condition that occurs upon the blockage of hair follicles. This could be the result of dead skin cells or acne-prone bacteria called cutibacterium acnes. It may appear as lesions, whiteheads, blackheads, or simple pimples (zits).

Acne may occur at any age, but it is fairly common in teenagers due to their hormonal changes. Mostly it goes away after puberty, but if not, there are effective treatment options to heal it.

Is it Possible to Get Rid of Acne Scars?

Acne lesions often leave behind scars in the form of discolored blemishes on the skin. This happens, specifically, with deep penetration by the bacteria or dead skin cells. With some people, acne scars fade away over time. However, that is relatively rare and mostly happens for teenagers.

There are several options for treating acne scars, some medicinal and others natural. Either way, with the right choice based on your skin type and severity of scarring, it is possible to get rid of them with time and patience.

Does Apple Cider Vinegar Help with Acne?

Is apple cider vinegar good for acne? The answer is inconsistent regarding the research, but there are indications that ACV can indirectly help.

In the past, many clinical trials have shown that ACV can detox and cleanse your system by pulling toxins out of your body. Going back even further, there is the case of ACV’s alleged use for healing wounds during ancient times by Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine. Did Hippocrates know something we didn’t about ACV’s ability to heal the skin?

To reach a better conclusion, let’s look at the studies regarding the use of apple cider vinegar for acne.

As an Antimicrobial Agent

Numerous research trials have actively declared ACV an antimicrobial substance against food-borne pathogens, mycobacterial infections, and denture stomatitis. (1, 2)

Studies have also generalized its antimicrobial and antifungal nature by carrying out trials against less specific microorganisms. (3, 4)

Cutibacterium acnes is the skin bacteria responsible for acne. While ACV lacks straightforward research claiming its effectiveness against this specific bacteria, studies have confirmed several properties of vinegar may improve your acne situation.

Acids that appear in ACV in small amounts, such as citric acid and lactic acid, are proven to suppress acne-prone lesions and nullify the effect of the bacteria. A trial by the Indian Journal of Dermatology reported a significant reduction in acne vulgaris in subjects. The trial applied a lactic acid lotion to participants for a whole year. (5, 6)

As a Highly Acidic Substance

Research credits the acidity of vinegar for its skin healing tendencies. ACV consists of acetic acid and alpha-hydroxy acid, both of which are proven for their skin-preserving action.

A Polish study examined the use of alpha-hydroxy acids for acne therapy and skin discoloration. It drew positive conclusions regarding their use as an exfoliating treatment. (7)

Another Japanese study from 2006 reported the therapeutic capacity of alpha-hydroxy acids on dermal and epidermal components. (8)

For Acne Spot Treatment

A positive development in the use of apple cider vinegar for acne scars could be a study done that significantly improved atopic dermatitis in mice. Eczema is vastly different from acne. However, the research done for understanding skin barrier integrity is crucial for acne scars.

In 2016, the trial exposed about 30 mice to ACV creams of variable concentrations. The conclusions reported hindrance in the production of lesions and scars on the skin. Additionally, the skin pH levels and integrity both strengthened and reached the optimum balance. (9)

A similar study performed on human subjects in 2019 did not correspond to the animal study. Twenty-two subjects used ACV soaks for 14 days to cure skin lesions but, there was no valuable improvement. Subjects also experienced irritation and skin damage sometime after exposure. (10)

Bottom Line

Numerous studies have acclaimed acetic acid’s resistive capacity against skin-infecting microbes. While none could directly prove ACV as a cure for acne, a study by the University of Birmingham reported high antibacterial capacity for acetic acid on skin wounds. Thus, further research should be encouraged on ACV as it pertains to acne treatment. (11)

How to Wash your Face with Apple Cider Vinegar?

The ideal way to use ACV as a face wash is to make an ACV toner. Not only does it cleanse the skin of bacteria, but it also makes for a safer way to apply vinegar on the skin.

Here is how you can make your own natural ACV face cleanser:

1. Grab a container you’d like the ACV to be stored in and put in about 1-2 tablespoons of ACV, diluted with 1/4 to 1 cup of water.
2. Pour in a few drops of an anti-inflammatory oil, be it tree oil, rose, or eucalyptus. Some people even use turmeric with ACV to create a mask.
3. After a thorough mix, it is ready for use.

Now that you have the ACV toner at hand, you must know how to use it correctly lest you fall victim to any skin infections.

1. Make sure your skin is clear of any cosmetic substance before application.
2. Wash your face thoroughly with water, but make sure you do not apply any soap to it.
3. Pour the toner onto a cotton pad to mildly soak it up.
4. Gently dab the cotton over your face or the affected areas. Ensure that no ACV comes in contact with your eyes, mouth, or nostrils.
5. Let it sit for 5-7 minutes before washing your face.

How Long Does it Take to Work?

You may use an ACV face wash 2-3 times a week. Generally, if the vinegar suits your skin type, you will begin seeing results within 4-6 weeks.

However, if your skin remains unaffected after persistent use, it is advised to stop. Perhaps, an ACV toner does not sit well with your skin type.

Lastly, in the case of any burning sensation or skin damage, immediately give up the toner and consult a certified dermatologist.

Safety Tips when Using ACV on Your Face

• Always test an ACV product before applying it to your face. If the first dab irritates your skin, you should stop using it.
• Never apply it directly on your face without diluting it.
• Do not use it more than 2-3 times per week.
• If you have particularly sensitive skin or persistent acne issues, use higher amounts of water.
• Keep a check on the toner’s appearance and odor to avoid using it past its expiration date.

Other Ways People Use ACV

We don’t need scientific backup to verify ACV’s versatility. Its traditional use reaches far and wide in homes around the world. Here are a few ways you can use ACV apart from topical skin applications.

Final Thoughts on Apple Cider Vinegar for Acne

If you decide to use an apple cider vinegar face wash for acne, remember to keep your skin sensitivity in mind. ACV is not a threat, but everyone’s experience will be slightly different. And who knows, it just might help cure your acne!

Lose Weight, Heal Your Gut and Treat Acne

• Apple cider vinegar (ACV) can be an amazing addition to your health and beauty routines, and is packed with nutrients and beneficial bacteria and acid
• Buy raw, organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar with mother to maximize ACV’s benefits
• Never take straight apple cider vinegar shots; instead, dilute 1 tablespoon in 8 ounces of water for a mild tonic

Like kale and coconut oil, apple cider vinegar (ACV) has earned its place in the health food limelight. Far more than a salad dressing, apple cider vinegar is packed with beneficial bacteria and nutrients, supporting healthy cholesterol levels, blood sugar and nutrient absorption.

Here, a comprehensive guide to all things apple cider vinegar, including its weight loss and health benefits.

What is ACV?

Touted by many as a cure-all health elixir, apple cider vinegar isn’t far off. ACV has long been used as a traditional remedy for a wide array of conditions, from fighting tumors to improving cardiovascular function.^[1]

Apple cider vinegar is made by fermenting apple juice into hard cider, then fermenting that cider into a vinegar. Fermentation uses microorganisms like bacteria or yeast to convert carbs or alcohol into acids. Apple cider vinegar’s lengthy double fermentation breaks down nearly all sugar from the apples, and forms one of apple cider vinegar’s most valuable compounds: acetic acid. A mild acid also found in coffee, acetic acid boosts your performance by lowering blood pressure and blood sugar, and fighting off unwanted microbes. ^[2][3][4]

Why apple cider vinegar is better than other vinegars

ACV is the only vinegar recommended on the Bulletproof diet. Most other vinegars contain significant amounts of yeast and fungal by-products that function as antinutrients and can limit your performance. Red wine vinegar, malt vinegar, and balsamic vinegar tend to be highest in antinutrients, including mold toxins  and in the case of balsamic, lead.^[5][6]

Proven health benefits of apple cider vinegar

Supports healthy weight loss: Apple cider vinegar has long been touted as a weight loss remedy, and recent studies are beginning to uncover why. A study published in Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry found that a daily drink of 1T of vinegar in 500mL of water helped to reduce body fat, weight, and waist size in obese participants over 12 weeks.^[7] The acetic acid in vinegar can help reduce blood sugar and insulin after a high-glycemic meal, and increase satiety, your feeling of fullness. ^[8][9] Studies have shown that vinegar also boosts weight loss by increasing energy expenditure and fat burning, reducing fat storage, and increasing the time it takes for your stomach to empty.^[10][11]

Balances blood sugar and cholesterol: Apple cider vinegar keeps blood sugar levels stable. One study found that drinking 20 grams (4 teaspoons) of apple cider vinegar diluted in 40 grams of water before a meal improved insulin sensitivity and reduced blood glucose levels in both insulin resistant and healthy people.^[12] Another study showed that both normal and diabetic rats fed with ACV had healthier cholesterol levels, with lower LDL and increased HDL in their blood.^[13]

May support GI health: Often misdiagnosed, low stomach acid is a common contributor to SIBO and heartburn. SIBO, or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, looks a lot like irritable bowel syndrome, and may occur alongside of it. A dilution of apple cider vinegar before a meal helps relieve these symptoms by increasing the acidity in your stomach. Apple cider vinegar also contains prebiotics — indigestible carbs that help balance your gut microbiome and keep bad guys like H. pylori in check.

Increases nutrient absorption: Acetic acid can increase your ability to absorb nutrients such as calcium from your food.^[14] This is especially beneficial on the Bulletproof Diet, where your nutrients come from whole foods rather than fortified products. Enjoy this benefit by adding vinegar to your meal (add a few splashes to a vinaigrette or sauteed dish) or sipping an apple cider vinegar tonic.

Calms burns and stings: Keep apple cider vinegar on-hand for summer ouches. Apple cider vinegar has long been used to take the heat out of sun burns or stings from poison ivy or stinging nettles. Besides soothing the skin, one study shows that the acetic acid in vinegar also prevents further release of toxins after a jellyfish sting. ^[15] For this use, soak cotton balls or a dish towel in ACV, and apply directly to the burn for 30 seconds. Avoid areas with broken skin. Since acetic acid is the main player here, and you’re not ingesting the vinegar, it’s OK to use distilled ACV.

Soothes a sore throat: Because of its antibacterial properties, apple cider vinegar makes an effective home remedy for sore throats. Sipping or gargling a diluted ACV tonic can help relieve pain, but make sure to rinse your mouth with water to protect your tooth enamel.

Keeps your home (and lungs) chemical-free: A 1:1 dilution of apple cider vinegar and water makes an extremely versatile and effective cleaning solution for your home. Use it for anything from cleaning windows to stopping mildew, and reduce your exposure to toxic chemical cleaning products in the process. It’s the acidic properties, not bacterial, at work here, so use distilled, filtered vinegar to avoid clogging up your spray bottle.

Quells candida overgrowth: Apple cider vinegar’s antimicrobial properties extend to some fungi as well, including candida, the yeast behind ailments such as  athlete’s foot, thrush, and several gut problems. ^[16] Sipping a diluted ACV tonic may help with internal candida overgrowth, while a 1:1 dilution with warm water makes an effective daily soak to treat athlete’s foot.

How to use apple cider vinegar in your beauty routine

ACV can also replace chemical-laden skin care products, with glowing results. According to naturopathic doctor and skin expert Dr. Trevor Cates, author of “Clean Skin from Within,” pH plays a huge role in skin care. ”Our skin does best [in] the pH range of 4 to 4.5,” she advises, while many skin care products instead have a high pH. “It impacts our skin microbiome, and it speeds up aging if we’re using high pH products,” explains Cates in a recent Bulletproof Radio podcast episode about the connection between the gut and skin.

Apple cider vinegar toner: In place of a regular toner, make an all-natural ACV toner with Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar, or another raw, unfiltered ACV. To make your own toner, use a 1:2 or 1:3 dilution of ACV. The acidity of an ACV toner helps to restore your skin’s pH balance after washing, with the added perk of beneficial bacteria from the mother. Apply with a cotton ball, instead of spraying your face. Even diluted vinegar in the eye is no fun.

Apple cider vinegar for acne: The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar has antibacterial and keratolytic (aka peeling) properties, which can help treat stubborn acne. Just don’t apply it straight-on. Use as a toner, above, or make this quick and easy detox face mask: Mix about two capsules of Upgraded Coconut Charcoal with just enough ACV to make a wet paste. Apply to the face and neck, wait about 15 minutes, and gently wash it away. If DIY isn’t your thing, model and skincare advocate Andy Hnilo recommends mixing his Alitura Clay Mask with ACV before applying.

Apple cider vinegar as a deodorant: Body odor is caused by bacteria living on your skin. Thanks to its antibacterial properties, apple cider vinegar applied in the armpits can make an effective deodorant. Avoid directly after shaving, since the acid will sting. A 1:1 dilution with warm water also makes a great odor-defeating foot soak. And, fear not; the scent of vinegar dissipates quickly.

Apple cider vinegar for hair: For a clarifying shine treatment, create an apple cider vinegar hair rinse with 1 cup of cool water and 1 to 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Dry hair does better with less vinegar, while those with oily hair or scalp may prefer more. Pour the mixture into a squeeze bottle and douse your hair and scalp after washing. Let it sit for 2 – 3 minutes before rinsing. The ACV rinse leaves your hair shiny and soft without using chemicals, and the vinegar smell quickly rinses away.

How to select the best apple cider vinegar

Choose the mother lode: When comparing ACVs, the murkier, the better. In its unfiltered and unpasteurized state, a good apple cider vinegar contains a cloudy mass called the mother. Apple cider vinegar’s mother is full of probiotics, beneficial bacteria and enzymes, and trace minerals. Clear, filtered apple cider vinegar is stripped of this benefit, making raw, organic apple cider vinegar with mother the most nutritionally potent option.

Avoid apple cider vinegar pills: Although you can also buy apple cider vinegar pills, stick to using raw, liquid ACV. Apple cider vinegar pills contain no live probiotics, and have caused esophageal damage. Plus, in a study of several available brands, researchers were left unsure if ACV was even an ingredient in ACV pills.^[17] The good news, apple cider vinegar is delicious, and easy to add to so many different recipes.

Apple cider vinegar recipes

From salad dressings to bone broth, there are countless recipes to help incorporate apple cider vinegar into your diet.

Apple cider vinegar drink: If you’re looking for a more direct dose, here’s how to make your own apple cider vinegar tonic: Dilute 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar into an 8-ounce glass of water. Always rinse your mouth with water afterwards, and never take a straight shot of apple cider vinegar. Its acidity can damage your esophagus, stomach, and tooth enamel.

I had apple cider vinegar every morning for 56 days, and this is what happened-Health News , Firstpost

Losing weight is not easy. So when I found out about a simple solution that might make my exercise-and-mindful eating routine work faster, I jumped on it.

Losing weight is not easy. So when I found out about a simple solution that might make my exercise-and-mindful eating routine work faster, I jumped on it.

I drank apple cider vinegar for more than a month. No, not your ordinary, distilled apple cider vinegar bought off a supermarket shelf. I tried apple cider vinegar “with the mother” after reading about its supposed benefits for weight loss, heart health, managing cholesterol and blood sugar levels and improving digestion.

Representational image. Image source: Getty Images.

Here’s what I found (spoiler alert: I didn’t lose much weight):

What is apple cider vinegar “with the mother”?

If you have ever bought apple cider vinegar to make a salad dressing at home, you know that the commonly available variety is a clear golden-brown liquid. So, what does “with the mother” mean and what difference does it make?

Simply put, this means that the original bacteria culture used to make the vinegar (by fermenting the crushed apples) was not filtered out during the manufacturing process. The nutrients and bacteria were not distilled or pasteurised after the vinegar was ready, and so this vinegar is murky or cloudy, and the bacteria culture can be seen at the bottom of the bottle.

In case you are wondering, the use of apple cider vinegar “with the mother” isn’t just another new and trendy diet fad. The ancient Greeks used it for its medicinal properties, especially when mixed with honey. Hippocrates, the Father of Modern Medicine, recommended its use to treat ulcers, sores and coughs way back in the 4th century BCE. With such antecedents, it is a wonder why apple cider vinegar “with the mother” isn’t more popular than it already is.

I first came to know about apple cider vinegar “with the mother” after watching an interview of actor Orlando Bloom, where he explained how he had had this vinegar for over two decades and exactly how he benefited from it. Bloom isn’t the only proponent of this ingredient. Celebrities like Katy Perry, Scarlett Johansson and Miranda Kerr have also talked about the benefits they’ve seen from drinking apple cider vinegar “with the mother”.

Before and after

I decided to give apple cider vinegar “with the mother” a try after reading up extensively on the ingredients, watching every fitness influencer and doctor’s video about it on the internet, and finally, taking a go-ahead from my general physician (in case of any side-effects). My motive was not just weight loss but to also manage my cholesterol levels, which generally stay right above the borderline when I get lax about controlling my diet.

When I started drinking apple cider vinegar on 10 October, I weighed 59.8 kilograms. On the first day, I decided to try a day-long cleanse. I mixed two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar with a litre of water and drank it gradually over six hours. While I did feel much lighter than the day before, this was probably because I peed a lot throughout the day as an after-effect of drinking the vinegar.

But since going to the washroom 12-15 times in six hours is not something you can practically do every day, I switched to a different approach the very next day. I mixed a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and half a teaspoon of honey with a cup of water first thing in the morning and drank it within five minutes—this is the precise ritual I follow to this day (I am still continuing my ACV morning ritual). Here were a few things that I observed over this period:

• The water retention or bloating that I had in my limbs came down drastically. This left me feeling lighter, and more active too.
• Acne breakouts stopped completely, especially on the face. My skin cleared up and some of my acne scars also disappeared after I started drinking apple cider vinegar daily.
• My digestive system became more regulated, and at the same time, my appetite got smaller. My hunger pangs are now easier to control. I am also able to counter cravings better, but this could just be a placebo effect.
• My cholesterol levels, especially the triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), haven’t shot up over this 56-day trial.
• My weight has not reduced drastically. Although I am 700 grams lighter today, I have to say that I have also been eating a more balanced diet. Nothing too crazy, just more green veggies and fruits and lots of fibre.

Takeaways from my 56-day cleanse

I did not increase my physical exercise — duration or intensity — during this period, so I could measure the effects that apple cider vinegar “with the mother” specifically was having on my overall health and well-being. The nearly negligible weight loss aside, this ingredient has done a good job.

Given that significant weight loss without increased physical activity is not possible—more so if you lead a sedentary lifestyle, or just have a daily stretching and 30-minute walk routine like me—even this slight reduction was welcome. I am determined to pair it with a better exercise next to reap even more benefits in the long run!

This article was written by Shreya Goswami, a food writer associated with myUpchar.

Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, India’s first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health. For more information, please read our in-depth article on Apple Cider Vinegar: Benefits and Side Effects.

Is Apple Cider Vinegar Really Good for You? I Put It to the Ultimate Test.

Collage: VICE / Images: Koh Ewe

But Y Tho explores a plethora of funny, strange, and peculiar trends to provide long sought-after answers to questions that have been swimming in all our heads.

We all love a good homemade hack for life’s various ailments. In the age of pseudoscience wellness trends and DIY health remedies, apple cider vinegar (ACV) seems to have achieved a cult-like status among holistic health experts and social media influencers.

While the anti-infective function of ACV has long been recognized in folk medicine, the sour substance is now in the spotlight for claims that it aids in weight loss, improves skin conditions, and boosts hair health. However, these supposed holistic health benefits have also been seriously questioned by casual observers and medical experts.

So why do people keep drinking and using ACV? Does it actually live up to all the wellness hype?

“There’s not a huge amount of data on the health benefits of apple cider vinegar, but there is some science … to back some of the things that are said,” Naras Lapsys, a Singapore-based consultant dietician, told VICE.

But I needed more answers, so I decided to put ACV to the ultimate test, incorporating the substance into every aspect of my life for two whole weeks.

Every morning, I drank a glass of diluted ACV before going about with my day; every night, I showered with ACV hair rinses and nourished my face with an ACV toner. I also tried curing a stubborn patch of eczema-prone skin with — you guessed it — ACV.

I didn’t want to rely on gut feel, so I ran identical health checkups right before and right after my two-week experiment, focusing on any changes in my blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and body composition.

This ACV fever dream saw me immersing myself in the life of a wellness influencer, and I’d like to think that I’ve emerged a little wiser.

Here’s what I know now. 

Does apple cider vinegar help you lose weight?

Me doing bioelectrical impedance analyses on the same machine, two weeks apart. Collage: VICE / Images: Koh Ewe

Weight loss is one of the most raved about benefits of ACV, which is regularly featured in fancy detox drinks and flashy fad diets.

In several rat studies, acetic acid, a compound found in ACV, has been found to lower blood sugar levels, improve metabolism, increase fat burning, and suppress appetite. However, studies on human consumption of ACV have proved inconclusive.

Lapsys said that it’s difficult to assess any weight loss after drinking ACV. 

“That weight loss, we don’t know whether it’s fat loss or muscle loss or water weight loss,” he said. 

He added that we don’t yet know if ACV brings about weight loss at all, or if it just acts as an appetite suppressant. Drinking ACV usually gives one the feeling of fullness, which could lead to consuming less food. 

That makes sense, and may well be the case for some people, but I found that it didn’t curb my appetite. I was eating the same as I usually do even while chugging a glass of water with two tablespoons of ACV on the daily. 

Collage: VICE / Images: Koh Ewe

I looked and weighed pretty much the same before and after the experiment but my body composition results revealed a slight decrease in my body fat. After two weeks of drinking ACV daily, my visceral fat area (the amount of fat surrounding the inner organs) dropped by 6. 5 percent. Meanwhile, my body fat percentage decreased by 0.3 percent — was this the working of ACV? Were my exercise sessions slowly paying off? Or have I been eating healthier without realizing it? According to Lapsys, it could be all of the above.

“I think a lot of people believe that [ACV is] just a great weight loss tool,” said Lapsys. “There’s no guarantee that a small sip of something that you have first thing in the morning is going to be this ticket to eating and drinking whatever you like and and you’re going to lose weight.”

“It needs to be partnered with appropriate eating and exercise patterns, and then it might have some kind of impact,” he added.

Is apple cider vinegar good for your health?

Some claim that ACV can reduce the risk of heart disease and lower blood pressure.

“There’s not a lot of science to support the health benefits of apple cider vinegar,” said Lapsys. However, he pointed out that there is a “reasonable number of studies” showing the positive effects of vinegar (apple cider or otherwise) on blood sugar levels. The regulation of blood sugar levels can then help to better manage conditions like diabetes.

Did I feel healthier downing a glass of an ACV solution every day? The burning sensation that throbbed in my throat said yes. If things that are good for you generally taste pretty bad, something that tastes so rancid should work wonders, right? After a while, the bubbly taste of acidity did grow on me. But was I really healthier?

Taking blood tests before (L) and after (R) drinking a glass of apple cider vinegar every day for two weeks. Collage: VICE / Images: Koh Ewe

According to my health checkup results, ACV did nothing to my blood sugar levels and blood pressure, which were in the healthy range to begin with. My LDL (“bad” cholesterol) remained the same while my HDL (“good” cholesterol) increased by 15 percent. High levels of HDL can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, so the increase in my HDL level appeared to be a good sign. I don’t know if my increased HDL was just a result of natural fluctuation or the work of ACV, but after the rancid ACV cocktails and grueling blood tests, I’ll take any good news I can get.

Is apple cider vinegar good for your hair?

There are several supposed functions of ACV. One argument proposes that hair that’s brittle and frizzy usually has more alkaline, so the acidity of ACV should restore its pH balance. Another claim suggests that the antimicrobial function of ACV can resolve scalp problems that stem from infection. Some also believe that it can reduce dandruff by exfoliating the scalp.

These claims all made sense, but I needed to see results to be convinced. For 14 days, I massaged my scalp and hair with a diluted ACV solution, then let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing out. Thankfully, I didn’t end up smelling like Warheads candy. 

I had a pretty dry scalp and frizzy hair, so I was excited to see if ACV would give me that shampoo commercial-worthy shine. Unfortunately, my hair condition stayed exactly the same.

My hair before (L) and after (R) the intensive apple cider vinegar treatment. Still a straggly mess. Collage: VICE / Images: Koh Ewe

Is apple cider vinegar good for your skin?

ACV’s legendary reputation has also found its way into the skincare industry. Despite little scientific evidence to prove the benefits of ACV to skin health, many swear by using it as a toner, citing anecdotal experiences of acne reduction and enhanced radiance. It’s also a popular face mask ingredient.

My current skincare routine is quite minimal. Besides a daily facial wash, I just apply toner before bed. Sometimes I use moisturizer on my nose, when my skin is especially dry and flaky. But as a chronic face-toucher who suffers from periodic acne spells, I knew I had to try this beauty tip. So I replaced my nightly toner with the same diluted ACV solution that I used on my hair, and embarked on a new two-week skincare routine.

Collage: VICE / Images: Koh Ewe

Unlike my usual toner, diluted ACV doesn’t have the slippery texture that would allow it to glide onto my face. It felt very much like I was just patting on water until it naturally dried — which was a relief, since I was half expecting my acidic homemade toner to irritate my skin. And it looks like the ACV actually helped with my breakout.

My face before (L) and after (R) using apple cider vinegar as a nightly toner. Collage: VICE / Images: Koh Ewe

“If you have any kind of skin condition that is made worse because of a bacterial infection, it might work as an antibacterial,” Lapsys told me, pointing to the antimicrobial function of the acetic acid found in ACV.

I also applied the ACV toner to a patch of skin behind my knee that has suffered from persistent eczema. Halfway through the experiment, I experienced a particularly bad eczema flare-up, so I stopped applying ACV for a few days. After it subsided, I started using ACV again and, thankfully, did not experience a negative reaction. But no positive change either.

My skin before using apple cider vinegar (L) and an eczema flare-up while I was using apple cider vinegar (R). Collage: VICE / Images: Koh Ewe

I’m not sure what role ACV played in this flare-up episode, but I think I’ll stick to my tried-and-tested prescription ointment instead of homemade remedies.

Can too much apple cider vinegar be bad for you?

Considering that I did literally soak my head in ACV and guzzled it like a thirsty marathoner every day, I had one important question: Was my ACV experiment too, for lack of a better word, immersive? 

“I don’t think there’s any risk but if you are having too high a concentration of it, [there’s] definitely the issue of corrosion … of the teeth,” said Lapsys, when I asked him if I was overdoing the ACV.

I did encounter instances of mild diarrhea during the two weeks, which disappeared after I stopped drinking ACV. When I told Lapsys about my tummy troubles, he suggested that I might have started out with too high a concentration. However, he also said that we may encounter gastrointestinal issues with anything we try for the first time.

My two-week experiment showed me that ACV may have some benefits, but it’s no panacea to all your health and beauty woes. While my skin cleared up over the two weeks, my hair, weight, and health experienced little to no changes.

Despite its iffy scientific track record, Lapsys thinks there are still benefits to be reaped in making ACV a daily habit. 

“By having that in the morning, and if it’s with a big glass of water, you’re hydrating yourself to begin the day. So if nothing else, it’s a good ritual to make sure you start the day well hydrated,” he said.

And even if ACV has done nothing for you, health or beauty-wise, at least it still makes for a kickass salad dressing.

Follow Koh Ewe on Instagram.

5 benefits of apple cider vinegar (and a few duds), according to experts

1. It can lower blood sugar

Registered dietitian Carol Johnston has been studying the effects of acetic acid, the main component of vinegar, on diabetic blood glucose levels, since 2004.

No vinegar, including apple cider, has been shown in studies to significantly alter or prevent diabetes, said Johnston, a professor of nutrition and an associate dean in the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University.

“If I was to show that vinegar slows progression to diabetes, then I would need hundreds of people and millions of dollars to do the studies, because diabetes has a lot of causes, including genetics,” Johnston said.

RELATED: 5 ways to cut sugar from your lifeBut studies do show acetic acid can be used as one tool in helping people lower blood sugar. A 2019 randomized clinical trial found “a 10 point decrease in fasting glucose concentrations,” Johnston said. “They used two ‘spoons’ of vinegar in a glass of water twice a day (with the lunch and dinner meals).”

In Johnston’s research, the people who benefited most from the use of vinegar were insulin-resistant, a condition called prediabetes.

“In those with prediabetes, it was too good to be true,” she said. “It fell a good bit and stayed that way. It may be this is the group that could benefit the most.”

It’s not just apple cider — the antiglycemic response can be induced by any sort of vinegar: red and white wine vinegars, pomegranate vinegar or even white distilled vinegar.

But, it only worked in the presence of a starch, she stressed.

“Basically, what acetic acid is doing is blocking the absorption of starch,” Johnston said. “If my study subjects eat a starch and add vinegar, blood glucose will go down. But if they drink sugar water and add vinegar, nothing happens. So if you’re having bacon and eggs, don’t bother. It only helps if you are consuming a starch.”

If you choose to use apple cider vinegar, be sure to tell your doctor, said registered dietitian and CNN contributor Lisa Drayer.

“If you’re taking a diabetes drug, the vinegar could amplify the effects of your meds,” she warned, “and your doctor might want to adjust your dosage.”

2. It can help — a bit — with weight loss

Weight loss, or dieting, is another popular use for apple cider vinegar, and there is some evidence that it can help. The most cited study was done with 175 heavy but otherwise healthy Japanese subjects. The 12-week treatment produced lower body weight, body mass index, visceral fat, waist measurements and triglyceride levels. Sounds great, right?

“People didn’t really lose that much weight,” Drayer said. “Only 2 to 4 pounds in three months over a placebo. That’s only a third of a pound a week.”

Johnston agreed the study showed “a very, very modest weight loss. In fact, I would say most people who are on a diet for 12 weeks and only lose a couple of pounds aren’t going to be very happy.”

If you are using apple cider or other vinegars as one part of an overall plan, combining it with a healthy diet, portion control and exercise, it might help, Drayer said. She suggested using balsamic vinegar on salads, in a 4:1 ratio with oil, or adding it to sauces for poultry and fish.

“If you were doing all the other things to lose weight, it might give you a slight edge. Also, if you’re drinking it in water, that’s good, as water makes you feel full,” Drayer said.

“Sometimes, people get really excited to try something new, and then their other behaviors change, too,” she added. “If this helps people be more careful overall, that’s a good thing. “

But be careful. A paper published last year by Johnston found vinegar can erode tooth enamel. If you do take vinegar for blood sugar, “this stresses the importance of taking the vinegar in a diluted form and with a meal to minimize this effect,” Johnston said, adding that “drinking through a straw might even be better!”

3. It’s a food preservative

Used for centuries to preserve food items such as pickles and pig’s feet, vinegar is now becoming popular as a natural preservative in processed meat and poultry items as well. RELATED: How to get started on a Mediterranean dietMost home pickling uses 5% distilled white vinegar because it doesn’t affect the color of the vegetables or fruits, but apple cider vinegar is a popular choice because of its mellow, fruity flavor. Do know, however, that it will turn most fruits and veggies dark.

Another popular use for apple cider and other vinegars is as a food wash to reduce bacteria or viruses on the surface of fruits and vegetables. Studies have had varying results, often depending on the type of fruit or vegetable and the amount of time spent in the vinegar solution.

Canada’s National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health says vinegars “may damage the organoleptic properties of produce,” or how they taste and smell, and has “limited antimicrobial efficacy.”

4. It helps mosquito and bug bites

The internet got this right: Apple cider vinegar is good to ease the sting or itch of bug bites.

“I do love it for bites, especially mosquito bites,” said dermatologist Dr. Marie Jhin, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology.

“It’s a very underutilized home remedy. If you have a lot of bites, put two cups in a full tub of water and soak. It will help with itching,” she said.

The internet also touts apple cider vinegar as a treatment for skin infections and acne, a way to fight lice and dandruff, as a natural wart remover or an anti-aging treatment.

“It will dry out a pimple, but it’s not an anti-aging method,” Jhin said. “I wouldn’t recommend it. We have much more effective and safe methods today than this.”

RELATED: Apple cider vinegar helps blood sugar and body fat, studies say

While it can help with sunburn, there are many other good remedies so “we don’t usually suggest that to patients,” Jhin said.

Don’t turn to it to get rid of head lice or warts, either. One study found vinegar to be the least effective natural method to eliminate lice, and as for warts, they “are caused by a virus, so there’s no cure,” Jhin explained.

“You can dab a diluted version of apple cider vinegar on a wart with a Q-tip, and it’s going to help remove dead skin, which is what we do in the office by paring it down, cutting it out or burning it with liquid nitrogen. But it’s not going to be as fast or effective as what we do in the office,” she said.

American Academy of Dermatology spokesperson Dr. Michael Lin, director of the Advanced Dermatology and Skin Cancer Institute in Beverly Hills, has a more negative perspective on home use.

“I’ve had quite a few patients harmed by apple cider vinegar,” Lin explained. “One terrible example was a man trying to treat genital warts. When he came into the office, the entire area was raw, burned by the vinegar.

“I don’t know if he was using it full strength, but whatever he was doing it was too strong,” he continued. “He probably has permanent scarring from that natural home treatment.”

Lin said he feels more comfortable recommending distilled white vinegar, as it is created to a standardized formulation of 5% acidity.

“With apple cider vinegar, you don’t know what strength you’re getting,” Lin said. “It depends on the brand, and even among batches within a brand, you could get different concentrations of acidity.”

“If you do choose to use apple cider vinegar, try to buy a name brand that clearly labels the acidity level. And whatever you do, don’t use it full strength.”

He suggested a 1:10 ratio.

5. It can be an all-purpose cleaner

Because of apple cider vinegar’s antimicrobial properties, it is often suggested as a natural cleanser for the home.

The acid is effective against mold, but according to the Pesticide Research Institute, an environmental consulting firm, so are salt, lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil and baking soda.

Many of those also smell better.

Apple cider vinegar is biodegradable, and because of its low pH, it’s great against alkaline grime such as hard water and mineral deposits, as well as soap scum.

But it won’t cut grease. Why not? Just think of a simple oil and vinegar salad dressing. After mixing, the oil and vinegar quickly separate because oil is nonpolar, while vinegar and water are polar, meaning they are not attracted to each other.

Will apple cider or other vinegars sanitize or disinfect your home? Probably not enough to make you feel germ-free.

This 1997 study showed that undiluted vinegar had some effect on E. coli and salmonella, but a study conducted in 2000 showed no real impact against E. coli or S. aureus, the common staphylococcus bacteria responsible for most skin and soft tissue infections. That 2000 study also showed vinegars to be quite effective against the waterborne bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, mostly found in hospitals and untreated hot tubs. It was also effective against Salmonella enterica, a rare pig-borne version of salmonella.

If you do choose to use a vinegar to clean your home, never mix it with bleach or ammonia, because it will create toxic chlorine or chloramine gases.

Now for the ‘duds’

It’s a no for coughs and sore throats. The use of vinegar medicinally starts with the father of modern medicine, Hippocrates. He would mix it with honey and use it for chronic coughs and sore throats, and the suggestion continues today across the internet.RELATED: How honey can help treat your coughs and colds

Many parents might think this is a natural and safe option for their children. The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn’t have an official stance on the use of apple cider or other vinegars as a health aid, but spokeswoman Dr. Jennifer Shu urges caution.

“I would just think that the vinegar would irritate the throat even more,” said Shu, an Atlanta pediatrician and author of “Food Fights.” “But diluting it and mixing it with other ingredients such as salt or honey might decrease any pain that the vinegar might cause.”

Arizona State’s Johnston cautions against trying any vinegar straight, because of the risk of inhaling the liquid and damaging the lungs.

“Vinegar has that strong smell and puckering taste, so if you take a breath, you could inhale it into your lungs as you swallow,” she said. “It can burn the lungs a little, because it is an acid.”

“It can also burn your esophagus,” said Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular prevention at National Jewish Health in Denver. “And if you’re predisposed to reflux, ulcers or stomach problems, it could certainly make those worse.”

It’s a double NO for teeth cleaning and whitening. “Some people like to use it to remove stains and whiten their teeth,” according to one of many online articles touting apple cider vinegar for this purpose.

“I let out an audible gasp when I read about this! It made me cringe, to be honest with you,” said Chicago dentist and American Dental Association spokesperson Dr. Alice Boghosian. “You’re putting acid on your teeth, the last thing you’d want to do to promote oral health.”

RELATED: Coffee as a health food — myth or fact?

A pH of 7 is neutral, and anything less is acid, Boghosian said, adding that many of today’s popular apple cider vinegars are in the 2 to 3 pH range — about the same as stomach acid.

“Anything acidic which contacts your teeth will wear out the enamel, the protective coating, and that will cause cavities,” Boghosian added. “This is totally, completely wrong, unless you want to be paying more visits to your dentist.”

A healthier option would be to brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes with a whitening toothpaste with the American Dental Association seal, she said. “That shows it’s been tested to do what it’s supposed to do.”

Other articles promote rinsing your mouth with apple cider vinegar, soaking dentures with a diluted mixture or using it to clean a toothbrush.

“You just have to rinse off your toothbrush, get all the toothpaste out, and let it air out. That’s all you have to do,” Boghosian said. “Cleaning dentures or rinsing with vinegar is not a good idea. It, too, could put your teeth at risk. And just think how it might affect the metal on partial dentures.”

Heart disease and cancer? Only if you’re a rodent. If you’re a rat worried about heart disease, put apple cider and other vinegars on your shopping list.

Studies show the vinegar can reduce blood pressure, triglycerides and total cholesterol in rodents fed a high-fat, cholesterol-rich diet. But full-blown studies have not been conducted in humans.

Freeman, who serves on the American College of Cardiology’s prevention board, said there could be some benefit because of its antioxidant properties, like other heart-healthy fruits and vegetables, such as broccoli and blueberries.

“There are some indicators that using vinegar can improve arterial health and improve blood cholesterol, and there’s even more power if combined with green leafy vegetables,” Freeman said.

“The data is not particularly strong or overwhelming, but vascular health may be enhanced,” Freeman said. “What’s best to avoid heart disease is to exercise and eat a low-fat, plant-based diet.”

Freeman further recommends using apple cider or other vinegars on salads to maximize the benefits and reduce any reactions to the acidity.

What about cancer? Japanese scientists have inhibited the growth of human leukemia and other cancer cells in petri dishes by exposing them to sugar cane vinegar and Japanese rice vinegar. Other studies showed a reduction in tumors and a prolonged life by adding rice vinegars to drinking water and food in rats and mice, respectively.

Studies in humans are nonexistent.

What’s the bottom line?

So, does apple cider vinegar measure up to its positive internet reputation? If you consider that almost any other vinegar will produce the same benefits, not so much.

There are also some serious downside, if used full strength and inappropriately. As the experts suggest, make sure you check with your doctor before giving it a try.

“When you do a search for apple cider vinegar, you see so many claims, and people will try it, searching for that natural cure-all,” Drayer said.

“Whether any of those claims are based on science is another matter.”

This is an updated version of a 2017 story.

Taste isn’t why consumers are flocking to apple cider vinegar drinks

People turning to apple cider vinegar tonics as a homeopathic remedy to kick a cold or lose weight might want to consult a doctor before making it part of their routine.

Apple cider vinegar beverages, often called fire cider or switchel, date to the Colonial era when the drinks were created to replace nonpotable water. For decades, the beverage faded from view, but more recently it has been popularized by celebrities like Katy Perry and natural health proponents, who see the tonic as a trendy cure-all for everything from acne to hangovers.

From sparkling switchel to probiotic tonics, brands like Bragg, CideRoad and Pepsi’s KeVita, among others, have jumped in and offered up their own take on the drink.

“Homeopathic types of remedies probably have some merit,” said Ken Harris, managing partner at Cadent Consulting Group. He noted that the beverages are part of an effort to “contemporize home remedies” and appeal to a consumer who is seeking healthier alternatives.

But the acidic treatment could do more harm than good, said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

“There’s no regulated formulation,” Stanford told CNBC. She said if the cider is not diluted properly, tooth erosion and ulcers in the stomach, esophagus and intestines can occur, not to mention burning of skin.

However, the majority of the beverages on the market contain only one to two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. It is usually mixed with water and sweeteners or spices to make the drink more palatable. Stanford’s own apple cider vinegar recipe, which she uses as an energy booster, is usually diluted in at least 8 ounces of warm water.

New Jersey-based CideRoad’s switchel contains about a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in its 14-ounce bottles and is mixed with ginger, water and natural sweeteners like maple syrup and cane sugar, according to the company’s founder and CEO, Kevin Duffy.

Duffy told CNBC he doesn’t make any claims that the beverage is a health tonic, but he does tout it as “delicious” and “refreshing.”

Pepsi’s KeVita’s Apple Cider Vinegar Tonic, on the other hand, is advertised as a “cleansing probiotic” that helps support digestive and immune health. Each bottle contains four strains of live probiotics, according to the company.

Stanford said there haven’t been any very “robust” studies conducted on the effects of apple cider vinegar on humans. The majority of tests, which are very few in number, have been on mice and rats.

Researchers found that apple cider vinegar helped protect the animals from high-fat diets, improved their blood-sugar levels and had cholesterol benefits, but these results don’t always replicate themselves in a human study, Stanford said.

Despite the lack of empirical evidence of its benefits, apple cider vinegar’s popularity is growing, with many of its fans citing health benefits for their use.

“I have been learning of some of the benefits from colleagues of mine who are nutritionists and in the health and fitness industry and they explained that it promotes food digestion and nutrient absorption,” Wade Swikle, a business owner and crossfit athlete in Gainesville, Florida, told CNBC. He said he also uses apple cider vinegar he thinks it will curb insulin production and fat storage.

“It is important to me to stay lean and absorb nutrients so I can function at high energy levels throughout the day,” he said.

Swikle was drinking the apple cider vinegar straight, but it burned his throat and caused indigestion. Now, he dilutes a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar into 8 ounces of water without any additional sweeteners.

“The taste is very strong and sour, but as I have started diluting it, it has grown on me a bit,” Swikle said.

For many devotees, it seems that taste is secondary to what they think are the benefits.

“I don’t enjoy the taste, I just drink it to clear the sinuses during allergy season,” said Gina B., a medical student in Washington who requested that her last name be withheld from publication. She said she has since stopped using her own concoction of vinegar, water and honey because it upset her stomach.

“I decided a little sniffly was better than that,” she said.

Others have grown accustomed to the taste and continue to use it as a remedy because they see it as effective for their lifestyle.

“I’ve been using it for about eight years now as needed and the taste just sort of grew on me,” said Colleen Reilly, an English teacher in Roanoke, Virginia. She uses it for sinus infections.

The beverage appears to be catching on. CideRoad’s Duffy said the company did about $1 million in sales in 2016. The company’s sales grew more than 226 percent between 2015 and 2016, according to SPINS data provided by CideRoad.

KeVita’s drinkable vinegars have seen growth of 80 percent year-over-year, Andrew Thomas, director of marketing for KeVita, told CNBC.

“We’ve had a partnership with PepsiCo for over three years, which has allowed us to expand our distribution and provide people across the country access to our delicious and better-for-you drinks,” Thomas said. “The acquisition has not only taken our distribution opportunities to the next level but also provides us access to more resources to drive awareness and trial of our products.”

While sales of carbonated soft drinks have remained flat in recent years, sales of niche beverages have grown significantly, according to Gary Hemphill, managing director and COO, of Beverage Marketing Corporation research.

“Niche usually stays niche,” he said, adding that it’s likely these beverages will appeal to a very specific subset of consumers and will not become mainstream. However, these consumers tend to be exceptionally loyal to brands.

So, if you’re going to reach for an apple cider vinegar beverage, just heed Stanford’s advice and drink in moderation.

90,000 Apple cider vinegar for acne: action, application, recipes

Traditional medicine is a serious supplier of acne prescriptions, which quite often help to solve the problem quickly and inexpensively. Today we will look at another way and decide how true the statement that apple cider vinegar is effective for acne is.

Apple cider vinegar for acne is considered by many people to be a good remedy , but if viewed from a medical point of view, then vinegar does not remove acne, but simply is an assistant in the fight against them.It must be used correctly and very carefully, since, despite all its beneficial properties, apple cider vinegar can cause some cosmetic problems. The main thing here is to understand how to use this tool correctly.

Reviews about apple cider vinegar for acne testify to the many benefits of the remedy used, and if you still want to try a natural preparation on yourself, we will be happy to tell you how to most correctly apply vinegar against acne.

How does apple cider vinegar work against acne?

Apple cider vinegar is a natural acid that is produced through certain processes. This acid helps to have a beneficial effect on some of the causes of the appearance and development of inflammation on the human skin. Vinegar cleanses the skin of dead cells of the epidermis, lowers excessive oiliness of the skin, and kills a number of bacteria. It is for these reasons that we can say that apple cider vinegar for acne helps a person get rid of the problem, as well as prevent new formations on the skin.So let’s take a look at the effects of apple cider vinegar on the skin.

• Rich in minerals and vitamins, the product normalizes the pH balance, tones the skin.
• In addition, apple cider vinegar reduces fat content by breaking down body fat.
• You can use apple cider vinegar for acne, as when it gets on the skin, it expands the pores, while dissolving the plugs in the pores of the skin.
• At the same time, vinegar kills a huge number of bacteria, which are the main causative agents of skin inflammation.
• Vinegar has an excellent exfoliating effect and dissolves dead skin, which is a common cause of acne.
• Vinegar saturates the skin with iron, potassium, magnesium, copper, alpha hydroxyl acid.
• In addition, it is an excellent supplier of vitamins A, B, C.

Topical application of apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar for acne should be used with caution, as, due to its high concentration, it can have the opposite effect on the skin, and not help with its treatment.Therefore, this remedy is recommended only in mixed form – with clay for masks, with water for lotions, with other acne remedies to create lotions, and so on.

It is recommended not a single moxibustion with vinegar or applying it as masks with other components, but a long-term treatment, moreover, it will be correct to use apple cider vinegar against acne in combination with medications that will work to eliminate the cause of acne from the inside. Of course, it is not recommended to get involved in the remedy especially, but a course of treatment of 7-8 days would be very helpful.

Side effects of apple cider vinegar

If you ignore the rules for using vinegar for acne, try to change recipes to speed up treatment by increasing dosages, you can run into serious trouble that you definitely do not need.

• The simplest side effect is skin redness and discomfort.
• More complex effect – skin irritation, itching and flaking.
• A dangerous and already really unpleasant side effect of apple cider vinegar is dry skin and noticeable burns on the surface of the skin.

If, while using apple cider vinegar to treat acne, you notice something like this, reduce the dosage of vinegar in the preparations that you use, but if itching, redness and peeling still appear after that, then you must refuse from acne vinegar. It is quite possible that you have an individual intolerance to this remedy.

To neutralize the strong acidic effects of vinegar on the skin, use nourishing creams or special skin softeners after each use.

Apple Cider Vinegar Acne Remedies

Acne tonic with apple cider vinegar

To prepare a light cosmetic product, you will need to stir apple cider vinegar with water, a decoction of chamomile, celandine, calendula or green tea (any of these products, 1: 5). Ideally, prepare a small amount of tonic, say 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and 5 tablespoons of tea. As a result, you will get an excellent product that can degrease the skin and cleanse the pores, which means not only to act on acne, but also to remove acne.If your skin is too dry, then this product will need to be prepared sparingly, for example, in a ratio of 1: 8 or even 1:10.

Apple Cider Vinegar Acne Mask

As usual, for the preparation of healing masks we most often use clay. Therefore, we take blue, pink or white clay, water or tea, and, in fact, apple cider vinegar itself. Vinegar with water 1: 3 mixes well, and then the clay of your choice is gradually poured into the mixture. Gradually add this component of the anti-acne mask and stirring the product, bring it to a creamy one, and at this moment the mask is ready for use.The mask, which removes toxins from the skin and cleans it of acne and blackheads, is applied for 20 minutes, after which it is carefully removed with a napkin and washed off with warm water.

Apple cider vinegar for acne inside

With apple cider vinegar, we have two sides of the same coin, in principle, as with its external use. Vinegar can normalize blood circulation, cleanse the human body of toxins and toxins, increase immunity, but it can also cause an allergic reaction, negatively affect the functioning of the digestive tract, and so on.Therefore, choose only high quality apple cider vinegar to take by mouth, or make your own.

It is very simple to prepare a healthy and even pleasant drink from apple cider vinegar – take only two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and a little honey in a glass of water, mix everything thoroughly and take inside. Remember that water can always be replaced with almost any light decoction of medicinal herbs. The drink is drunk on an empty stomach, in small sips, 20-30 minutes before breakfast.The mouth is rinsed well so that acids do not remain in the cavity. If, after this drink, you feel an increase in acidity and heartburn, quench the acid with soda by simply adding half a teaspoon of baking soda to the drink. As a result, a permanent effect and an even more pleasant, already slightly carbonated drink.

How to use apple cider vinegar for acne (video)

To obtain a beneficial result, never increase the concentration of vinegar on your own, in whatever means you use it, and also try to use a natural product.

Today we have become even closer to clean and healthy skin, because apple cider vinegar for acne really works . Try to do everything right so that the substances aimed at combating acne do not negatively affect your body, and you will soon notice the result.

90,000 The benefits of apple cider vinegar: myths and reality

In Italy, it is added to salads, in Japan – to rice for sushi, in Korea it is used as a sauce for pho-bo soup.It imparts a mild, pleasant acidity to food. The oldest sauce has taken root in the cuisines of all countries of the world, and especially in Russia, where there has never been a shortage of apples.

“We take apples, cut them – we put them in a container, and the most important thing is that it is not metal – glass. We put it, fill it with water and leave it for 10 days,” the hostess Olesya shared her recipe for making apple cider vinegar.

Olesya uses her own homemade vinegar not only in the kitchen, but also as a beauty product: it dilutes with water, adds sea salt, and now an express hand bath is ready.And if you mix vinegar with water and mint essential oil, you get eye patches that are no worse than store-bought patches.

“We mix everything, and our magic water is ready. We take cotton pads, dip in this homemade mixture – and you can on the eyes. The skin of the eyes is quickly put in order,” the girl said.

Such a solution can really be called magic in part. Apple cider vinegar is a real vitamin-acid bomb. It contains a huge amount of organic acids: malic, citric, lactic, nicotinic.The product took the most useful from the apple: potassium, magnesium, sodium, calcium, iron, zinc and pectins.

But all the miraculous properties can be neutralized with one big drawback: if you mix up the dosage, the acids will simply burn the skin. In a tonic or face mask, the product can be added no more than in a ratio of 1 to 10. Cosmetologists warn: the product is so strong that it can be used as a medicine – the antibacterial effect is so tangible. But they must be used in strictly minimal quantities.

“It can be used for the treatment of lichen and as a deodorant – wipe the armpits, and it kills the smell of sweat,” – said the chief physician of the cosmetology clinic Tatiana Balerano about vinegar.

But the merits of the product in the field of nutrition are, to put it mildly, exaggerated. The only proven property of apple cider vinegar is that it regulates blood sugar levels. This is because it slows down the rate of gastric emptying. Experts are still studying the mechanism by which vinegar has such an effect, which, however, is quite subtle.So losing weight on a “vinegar” diet is unlikely to succeed.

“Studies have been carried out that show that vinegar does not have a fat-burning effect. It does not regulate appetite, so we cannot say that vinegar regulates body weight,” noted Tamara Pruntseva, a nutritionist at the Federal State Budgetary University of Nutrition and Biotechnology.

Moreover, you should not follow the popular advice and drink it in the morning on an empty stomach. According to doctors, even apple cider vinegar diluted with water can provoke problems not only with the stomach, but also with the teeth.Acids can lead to increased sensitivity of the enamel and even the development of caries.

Diet for acne and problem skin

Bread bread , dried wheat, dry crackers, cereal bread

Apple cider vinegar for acne – should you trust?

Problematic skin is always unpleasant, especially when it comes to acne and acne.Recently, these problems have been encountered not only among adolescents, but also among people in the age range of 20-40 years. The reasons can be very different: heredity, hormonal imbalance, bad habits, etc. The cosmetic industry offers a huge number of products, most of which are expensive. However, their effectiveness is low, and there is a risk of an allergic reaction. It is much more effective and safer to use natural remedies.

One of the popular natural remedies to fight acne and acne is apple cider vinegar.You can buy it in the store or prepare it yourself. It is highly recommended that you choose the second option, as store-bought vinegar may contain preservatives and dyes.

Apple cider vinegar has been used for acne and acne for a long time. The remedy is still relevant today thanks to its effective results. In order to get a “clean” face, you can regularly lubricate your face with a lotion prepared from vinegar and water (1: 5) in the morning and in the evening.

Make a gruel from 2 tablespoons of strawberries or strawberries, fill it with the same amount of apple cider vinegar, diluted in half with cold boiled water.Leave to brew for 2-3 hours and apply on face for 20 minutes. After that, the mask must be washed off with warm water.

To narrow the pores on oily skin, you can use a tonic prepared as follows: add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to a glass of melt water. Lubricate the skin with it in the morning and evening. This recipe is only suitable for oily skin, while dry skin can be dried even more with this product.

To get rid of blackheads, you need to buy one of the types of clay at the pharmacy: blue, white, pink.A mixture (1: 3) is prepared from apple cider vinegar and water and the clay is diluted with it to the consistency of thick sour cream. The mask is applied to the face for half an hour, after which it is washed off with cool water. This clay-vinegar mask draws out toxins accumulated under the skin well, thereby reducing the number of acne breakouts.

But as with any other treatment, the most effective is the complex treatment. It is necessary to take care of the skin not only from the outside, but also from the inside. For this, apple cider vinegar is also used.Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar and a little honey to a glass of warm water. It is advisable to drink it in the morning on an empty stomach, or in the morning. Such a drink will have a beneficial effect on the condition of the whole body.

90,000 Apple Cider Vinegar for Acne and its Benefits

The product is made by natural fermentation of apples with yeast and bacteria in special wooden barrels. Apple cider vinegar is rich in vitamins A, C and group B. It also contains large amounts of bioflavonoids, potassium, magnesium, iron, copper, beta-carotene and alpha-hydroxy acids.

It is the presence of these enzymes and minerals that makes the use of apple cider vinegar effective for acne. Hydroxy acids dissolve fat deposits on the skin’s surface, remove dead skin cells, kill bacteria and help balance the pH of the skin, leaving the face soft and smooth.

Apple cider vinegar for acne is not used in its pure form. It is diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 8 (about half a teaspoon per glass of water). Soak a cotton swab in the solution and rub it over pimples and blemishes.Leave it on overnight without rinsing.

One way to use the product to treat acne is to make a green tea solution. Place a tea bag in a glass of boiling water and leave for 15 minutes. Refrigerate and add 1/3 cup vinegar and water. This solution allows you to deeply cleanse and tone the skin, preventing the formation of acne.

Oily skin is most prone to acne, so it is very important to use an astringent to tighten the pores.Apple cider vinegar can be used as a very effective tonic. To do this, use a mixture of boiled or melted water and vinegar in a 1: 3 ratio. Wipe your clean face every day.

The use of masks for acne is known to be very effective. Use a special mask based on clay, water and 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Mix the ingredients well until smooth and apply in a thick layer on the face. Let the mask dry for 20 minutes and rinse off with cold water. Never wait for the mixture to dry completely on your face.This procedure is good for removing toxins, thereby reducing acne and acne breakouts.

This product can be used not only for external use. Mix 2 tbsp. l. in a glass of water, add a little honey to taste. This drink perfectly removes toxins, cleanses the body and improves blood circulation. This has the best effect on the health and beauty of the skin.

Applying apple cider vinegar to treat acne is a safe option for all skin types.Most people saw positive results within 2-3 weeks.

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90,000 Acne Diet: 5 Foods for Perfect Skin | Proper nutrition | Health

Acne does not just appear, and in order to get rid of them once and for all, you must first understand the cause of their occurrence. Often, for this you need to visit a doctor who will identify the true cause of your face problems.

But if you have acne, but not so often, then you just need to change your diet and think about whether you are taking care of your face properly?

Nutritionists have developed a special program to improve the health of the body, highlighting products that must not only be included in the daily diet, but also used for facial skin care.

Nutritionists have selected five foods that can improve skin health and get rid of acne:

1. Clean water. To cleanse the body, it is worth drinking as much water as possible, which will help keep the skin young and healthy.

A woman should drink at least 8 glasses of plain and still water every day, which is an excellent solution to prevent acne and renew skin cells.

Washing with special water at home is also very useful for daily skin care.For example, you can add lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to the water. For 1 liter of water, use no more than 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice.

2. Olive oil. Olive oil contains vitamin E, which significantly prolongs the youthfulness of the skin, and vitamin A is responsible for its hydration and elasticity.

First, you need to cook food with olive oil – it is a natural healthy source of essential fatty acids.

Secondly, you can wipe your face with olive oil, even if you have an oily skin type.Your skin will take just as much oil as it needs, and the remainder can be gently wiped off with a tissue a few minutes after applying the oil.

Olive oil retains moisture in the skin for a long time without clogging pores.

3. Green tea is a source of catechin, an anti-inflammatory chemical. Green tea helps clear acne and fights free radicals that damage your skin.

To get rid of skin rashes, brew green tea, let it brew for about 10 minutes, and then wipe your face with a tissue or cotton swab dipped in green tea.

It is also very useful to wipe your face with ice cubes, especially in summer. Ice has an invigorating and tonic effect on the skin.

4. Wheat and nuts are sources of selenium, which plays a vital role in the health of skin cells. Selenium prevents acne by repairing damaged skin cells. In addition, nuts contain omega-3 oils that make the skin smooth and velvety.

Sprouted wheat can be used to make nourishing face masks.Two tablespoons of sprouted wheat must be ground, mixed with carrots grated on a fine grater, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of honey and 5 drops of fir oil. This mixture is enough for several masks, which are best done in a course within a week.

5. Meat and fish – the best source of protein. The consumption of protein-rich foods is the prevention of many diseases and a great help in the fight for perfect skin.

Note that women are not recommended to abuse fried meat, it is better to bake it, steam it or grill it, or, in extreme cases, boil it.

By the way, raw meat can also be an ingredient in a face mask. For example, you can apply thinly sliced ​​meat on your face and leave it for 30 minutes, then wash your face with warm water. You can also make a mask with minced meat mixed with olive oil and whipped yolk. You will have to keep such a mask on your face for an hour.

See also:

Apple saved a fur coat supply – MK

Carotenes are not the only advantage of a small vitamin miracle – an apple.If you eat one fruit a day, you can forget about diseases. This is what experts say.

And apples also protect the human body from radiation, thin the blood, lower the level of cholesterol in the blood, they are recommended for anemia. The acid in apple cider vinegar helps cleanse the body of drugs and alcohol.

No wonder: apples contain dozens of vitamins and minerals.

“Anything can be cured with apple cider vinegar,” said the doctor of medical sciences, professor Ivan Pavlovich NEUMYVAKIN once at a meeting , who devoted many of his works to the study of the beneficial properties of apples.- During fermentation, they release more than 20 basic elements, without which our life is impossible – fiber, enzymes, pectins, vitamins, amino acids. But the most important thing is that beta-carotene is formed: it also kills old age (free radicals), saves a person from various diseases, including cancer.

No more, no less. What’s new science discovered in apples? And how to use the fruits for your own benefit? The land near Moscow is now almost everywhere covered with apples that have ripened ahead of schedule due to the abnormal heat.

Burning excess

One of the famous inventions of Ivan Pavlovich Neumyvakin is apple cider vinegar. Today, a great many “modifications” of his recipe have already appeared – making a magic drink at home. It is no coincidence that apple cider vinegar has gained such popularity among the people in recent years. For example, one cup of a drink made from whole, fresh apples contains 240 mg of potassium. Doctors emphasize the importance of the ratio of sodium to potassium in the body for the normal functioning of the nervous and muscular systems.Potassium neutralizes the harmful effects of excess sodium in the body and prevents the accumulation of fluid in the body. As a result, normal blood pressure is restored. Traditional healers claim that in this way it is possible to normalize memory impairment and chronic fatigue – precisely due to the fact that apple cider vinegar contains a large amount of potassium. By the way, alcohol, coffee, tea and sugar are recognized by experts as diuretics that remove potassium from the body. If you drink too much coffee, you may feel tired due to potassium deficiency.

And – the dream of all women – with apple cider vinegar, you can effortlessly lose weight! It is enough to drink a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with a glass of warm water every morning. There are studies that support the effect of apple fiber on weight loss. The secret is that fresh apples and apple cider vinegar contain pectin, a type of fiber that reduces appetite. A person eats less and does not experience hunger also because, thanks to malic acid, the body maintains a balance (balance) of sodium and potassium.By the way, the daily intake of potassium is 1.875 mg, and apple cider vinegar can fully compensate for this deficiency.

Apple cider vinegar also promotes the normal production of hydrochloric acid, which helps to digest food. This is especially important with age: the content of hydrochloric acid in the stomach decreases, therefore, to normalize digestion from a certain age, you should regularly drink apple cider vinegar. To achieve balance and normalize stomach function, you need to drink some natural apple cider vinegar before or during meals to help digestion.

The technology for making apple cider vinegar at home is about the same.

RECIPE. Wash the apples well, remove the rotten or wormy parts, grate on a coarse grater or mince them, using the core as well. Put the resulting mass in an enamel or glass vessel with a wide neck. Top up with warm boiled water at the rate of 1 liter of water per 1 kg of apples. For each liter of water, put another 100 g of honey or sugar, 10 g of bread yeast (20 g of dry black bread can be used).Cover the vessel with gauze and put in a dark, warm place (temperature 20-30 degrees), but not in the sun. Stir daily with a wooden spoon. After 10-20 days (depending on temperature), squeeze out with a gauze bag. Strain the resulting juice again through cheesecloth, pour into a vessel with a wide neck and add another 50-100 g of honey or sugar to each liter of juice, stir well. To carry out the 2nd stage of fermentation, cover the jar with gauze and store in a dark, warm place until the end of fermentation.After about 40-60 days, the apple cider vinegar will be ready. Fermentation is considered complete when the liquid stops fermenting and brightens. Then filter it again through cheesecloth. Pour into bottles, cork tightly, cork with wax. Store in a cool place. Homemade apple cider vinegar has a shelf life of approximately two years.

For weight loss: 1 tbsp. a spoonful of apple cider vinegar in 1 glass of warm water, take in the morning on an empty stomach half an hour before meals. You can reduce your appetite and lose weight.If you want to enhance the effect, use one tbsp. a spoonful of apple cider vinegar before breakfast, the second – at night, the third – at any convenient time. For vivacity: in the morning immediately after getting up, drink 1 tbsp daily on an empty stomach. a spoonful of apple cider vinegar mixed with 1 teaspoon of honey, stirred in 1 glass of water at room temperature.

Contraindications. Despite such wonderful medicinal, nutritional and other useful properties of apples and apple cider vinegar, one should take apple cider vinegar with caution.Doctors do not recommend it for people with high stomach acidity. It is fraught not only with heartburn, but also pain in the stomach, in the bladder and even in the joints. And the constant consumption of sour apples causes chronic disorders, inflammation and an excessive increase in the acidity of the affected tissues in such people. And for cystitis, apple cider vinegar and sour apples can increase pain, urinary incontinence, and urinary frequency.

After taking apple cider vinegar, be sure to rinse your mouth out, as vinegar can damage the enamel of your teeth, just like any other acid.

We treat the incurable

Surprisingly, the mainstream medicine already recognizes the fact that malic acid can reduce the risk of cancer. In principle, scientists have long got to the bottom of the fact that one of the mechanisms for preventing cancer is proper nutrition. Studies have confirmed the antioxidant effects of fruits and vegetables, especially when combined with apple cider vinegar, which contains beta-carotene, carotenoids. And carotenoids act in the body as a building block for the production of vitamin A.Carotenoids and vitamin A work together to protect the body from cancers associated with chemical toxins. Advanced physicians know that foods rich in antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, as well as beta-carotene, can extinguish free radical molecules that cause normal cells to degenerate into malignant ones. Carotenoids and a residual element found in apple cider vinegar also help neutralize free radicals molecules and promote the transformation of healthy cells into malignant ones.

The same principle of saving the body from type 2 diabetes. It is known that today in Russia and in the world, diabetes mellitus is one of the most common diseases. An increase in blood sugar or glucose indicates the body’s inability to produce its own insulin, a hormone needed to convert sugar, starches, and other food components into energy. And he needs help. Most people with type 2 diabetes, as well as those with high cholesterol, can control their disease through diet and lifestyle changes.Researchers have found that consuming green apples and apple cider vinegar helps slow the rise in blood sugar levels that occurs after eating carbohydrate-rich foods. By the way, the first signs of diabetes are unusual thirst, feeling of hunger, “unreasonable” weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision and frequent urination.

Experts also note the cleansing properties of apple cider vinegar. It is believed, and not without reason, that the acetic acid found in apple cider vinegar helps cleanse the body of drugs and alcohol.Many doctors are sure that the use of apple cider vinegar by mouth kills all disease-causing microbes in the gastrointestinal tract. The acetic acid contained in it promotes the combination of toxic substances with other molecules, as a result of which new components are formed – a biologically inert compound that is easily excreted from the body.

With the help of apples, you can easily avoid the iron deficiency in the body, which leads to anemia. Apples and apple cider vinegar contain iron, which our body cannot do without.Moreover, this substance is in a perfectly assimilable compound.

For beauty and … kindness

To improve the skin of the face, hands, feet apple cider vinegar can be used. Experts have proven that by treating the affected areas with apple cider vinegar, you can normalize the pH of the skin and speed up its healing.

For acne and for the healing of small scratches: Add finely chopped marigold flowers to apple cider vinegar, insist.Lubricate the damage several times throughout the day.

Rejuvenating Face Lotion: beat 1 egg, add 1 tsp. honey and 1/4 tsp. apple cider vinegar. Apply the mask to face and neck. After 15-20 minutes, wash off with warm water. Blot with a napkin. This mask significantly improves complexion, nourishes, and has a rejuvenating effect.

To improve the structure of the hair: 2 tbsp. Dissolve tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in 2 cups of warm water – we get an excellent solution for rinsing hair after shampooing.With this solution, residues of chemical constituents in shampoos are removed from the hair, which gives the hair a shine. Cosmetologists believe that vinegar can not only restore dry, brittle hair, but also strengthen strands weakened by paint, perm and restore the acid balance of hair.

From age spots: With age, hateful age spots appear on the skin of the face and hands. If you are not too lazy and daily wipe your face and hands with apple cider vinegar, its lightening will not slow down.

To soften the skin of the feet: Apple cider vinegar is considered the best emollient for the feet. Pour some warm water into a bowl, add about 1 cup of apple cider vinegar and soak your feet in this solution for 5 minutes. After that, the skin on the legs becomes soft and smooth.

Apple cider vinegar is also applicable in cooking: for preparing a variety of sauces for potatoes, vegetables, meat, fish. It is also suitable for soaking meat for barbecue.And even for preventive rinsing of vegetables and fruits (especially in hot weather from gastrointestinal infections).

SPECIALIST COMMENT

Sergey TURISHCHEV, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Head of the Phytotherapy Course at the Department of Family Medicine, MMA named after Sechenov, famous herbalist:

– Apples certainly have medicinal properties. This is explained by their healing composition. They contain vitamins C, B1, B2, P, E, carotene, pectins, sugars, organic acids.In the composition of fruits of various varieties (in%): sugars 5-15, fiber 0.6, starch 0.8, pectin substances 0.27, organic acids 0.3-0.89 (malic acid 0.37, citric acid 0.11 , tartaric and chlorogenic acids).

Apples are rich in vitamins (in%): vitamin C – 8-22.4 vitamin P – 60-400, vitamin B1 – 0.8-2.3, vitamin B2 – 0.05, vitamin B6 – 0.08, carotene 0.02-0.03. They contain a large amount of trace elements: potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, aluminum, boron, vanadium, iron, iodine, copper, molybdenum, nickel, fluorine, chromium, zinc.The peel of these fruits contains flavonoids. In apple seeds – up to 15% fatty oil, amygdalin glycoside up to 0.6%. The leaves contain vitamin C.

And in apple cider vinegar – an even greater storehouse of useful:

– boron is an important residual element, good for the health of the whole organism, but especially for bones. Boron plays a major role in the utilization of calcium and magnesium, which prevents bone loss;

– calcium – a mineral that is especially important for the transmission of nerve impulses and muscle contractions.If your diet lacks calcium, your body will start using it from your bones. This, in turn, weakens the skeleton and causes the bones to become brittle and brittle;

– enzymes – for good digestion, these are protein molecules that practically digest food. The source of enzymes is only plant foods, such as apples and apple cider vinegar.

The best way to stock up on enzymes is to eat plenty of vegetables and fruits seasoned with enzyme-rich apple cider vinegar;

– soluble fiber – interferes with the absorption of fats, which lowers blood cholesterol levels, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and hypertension;

– amino acids – vinegar contains some residual elements of amino acids, useful for chemical reactions of the brain and the emotional state of a person;

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