Using raw apple cider vinegar as a part of your daily nutritional routine has many benefits. According to the Global Healing Center, raw apple cider vinegar has been used for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years. Raw apple cider vinegar is not processed, filtered or heated. It is made when organic apples are smashed and the juice is fermented in wooden barrels until it turns a rich brown tone. As it cures, a stringy, web-like bacteria forms within the vinegar called the "mother." This portion of the vinegar has enzymes and nutrients that help give raw apple cider vinegar its health-boosting properties.
Raw vs. Clear Apple Cider Vinegar
Raw apple cider vinegar is superior because of the presence of the "mother." The mother of the vinegar is the beneficial enzymes, minerals and vitamins that make raw apple cider vinegar a staple in alternative health care methods, according to the Global Healing Center. Bottles of clear apple cider vinegar will not have the brownish, stringy substance of the mother. The filtering and processing of apple cider vinegar removes the life-giving nutrients and bacteria, stripping it of its health-giving properties.
Health Benefits
According to the Home Remedies Web website, raw apple cider vinegar can be used to help skin ailments, fight disease and lose weight. Raw apple cider vinegar can be diluted (2 tsp. in 8 oz. of water) and drunk throughout the day as an overall tonic to promote health and well-being. Many people prefer to sweeten the mixture with honey or add lemon to cut the vinegar taste. Apple cider vinegar can also be used topically for skin ailments, either diluted or at full-strength, depending on the condition.
Skin Treatment
Because of its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, one common use for raw apple cider vinegar on the skin is for treating acne. Mix 2 tbsp. of apple cider vinegar in 8 oz. of water, then apply daily to acne with a cotton ball. Apply undiluted apple cider vinegar to sunburns, burns, insect bites and stings, varicose veins and the scalp to treat dandruff, according to the Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits website. This will help stop pain and decrease infection. To treat eczema, poison ivy or poison oak, mix 1 part apple cider vinegar with 1 part water and apply to affected areas.
Disease and Infection
Apple cider vinegar is rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals, just like apples are. These natural properties protect against certain cancers. Apple cider vinegar is also high in pectin, a soluble fiber that promotes digestive health, according to the Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits website. Drinking 2 to 3 tsp. in 8 oz. of water daily will help provide the enzymes and nutrients needed to downplay night sweats, hot flashes, leg cramps and menstrual cramps, as well as create a hostile environment for opportunistic bacteria in the urinary tract.
Weight Loss
According to according to the Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits website, using raw apple cider vinegar to promote weight loss is one of the oldest folk remedies around. Drinking the usual adult dose (2 tsp. in 8 oz. of water) of apple cider vinegar before mealtime has been known to decrease the appetites of some people, when taken on a regular basis. Be cautioned, using apple cider vinegar for weight loss is not a quick cure. Weight will decrease, but expect it to take time.
Member Comments