Uses For Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is made by adding yeast to the liquid mash of crushed apples to create alcoholic apple cider, and then adding acids during the fermentation process to convert the alcohol into vinegar. It has many common uses as a cooking ingredient, a cosmetic aid, a dietary supplement and even as medicine, though not all of apple cider vinegar's abilities have been confirmed through clinical research. Some apple cider vinegar is filtered and pasteurized, but you can also buy unfiltered apple cider vinegar which contains intact enzymes from the fermentation process and may be easier to tolerate.

Weight Loss Aid

Apple cider vinegar began to gain popularity as a weight loss aid after the 1958 publication of Dr. D. C. Jarvis' "Folk Medicine: A Vermont Doctor's Guide to Good Health." In this book, Dr. Jarvis claims that gradual and lasting weight loss can be achieved through a regular regimen of drinking eight ounces of distilled water combined with one to two teaspoons each of apple cider vinegar and raw honey.
This is to be combined with a low-fat, low-calorie daily diet, however. Modern clinical testing has not verified the effectiveness of this approach, and a common criticism of the diet is that the fat and calorie reduction alone would typically result in measurable weight loss. Still, there is a large body of anecdotal evidence suggesting that this is an effective weight loss method, and unfiltered apple cider vinegar is affordable, available and has few risks of side effects, so this approach is still promoted and attempted by some as a natural weight loss system.

Treatment of Cold and Flu Symptoms

High-quality, unfiltered apple cider vinegar is powerfully acidic, but becomes an alkaline substance when consumed. When you develop a cold or flu, the pH balance in your body skews acidic, and balancing your body's pH can help reduce the severity of flu-like symptoms and shorten the duration of the illness. An unfiltered apple cider vinegar regimen that begins as soon as the first cold or flu symptoms are detected may diminish mucous production, make mucous thinner, relieve chest congestion, soothe sore throats, lighten chronic coughing and reduce watery eyes. One way to achieve these results is to drink one or two tablespoons of unfiltered apple cider vinegar in eight ounces of water, apple juice or hot tea. To specifically address a sore throat, combine equal parts apple cider vinegar and water and gargle with the solution, rinsing your mouth well afterward. Adding two to four tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to the water tank of a vaporizer and breathing the vapors overnight may relieve congestion and sinus issues.

Acne Treatment

Unfiltered apple cider vinegar may also be an effective natural alternative to medicated acne treatments. When a diluted apple cider vinegar solution is applied to acne-prone skin, it can help balance the skin's pH levels, neutralize harmful bacteria and dry the skin by wicking up and absorbing oils.
You can make a mild solution with a 1:4 mixture of apple cider vinegar and water, or a more hardy solution with a 1:3 mixture. It should be applied with a cotton ball, and while the weaker solution can be left on overnight, the stronger solution should be rinsed off after it has fully dried.
Other recipes for apple cider vinegar-based acne solutions include similarly proportioned dilutions with green tea, and vinegar infused with horseradish. To make the latter recipe, combine a pound of grated horseradish with two cups of unfiltered apple cider vinegar and store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for two weeks. Strain the mixture and apply the liquid as a spot treatment using a cotton swab.