Apple cider vinegar has many uses. It can be applied topically to the skin to treat many conditions, including eczema and acne. However, most of the effects of apple cider vinegar are experienced when it is taken orally. Apple cider can be taken straight out of the bottle, but its strong taste and smell might put off many potential users. Most recipes recommend diluting the apple cider vinegar in water or fruit juice, or sweetening mixtures with honey to allow even reluctant users to experience the benefits of apple cider vinegar.
Calming Nerves
Shamanistic healers recommend apple cider vinegar for its soothing effects. It reduces stress, calms nerves and helps create a state of relaxation within the body. A mixture of 2 tsp. of honey, for sweetness, 2 tsp. of apple cider vinegar and 1 cup of water should be consumed before bed each night.
Lowers Blood Glucose
Practitioners of natural medicine are not the only health care providers touting apple cider vinegar's ability to lower blood glucose levels. Physicians at the University of Lund in Sweden also concluded that drinking 7 oz. of water mixed with 1 oz. of apple cider vinegar produced lower post-meal blood glucose and insulin levels.
Weight Loss
Apple cider vinegar has long been touted as a tool for weight loss. According to Correct-Weight-Loss.net, apple cider vinegar promotes weight loss in two ways. First, apple cider vinegar slows down the rate at which glucose is released into the blood after a meal. Less blood glucose translates to a lower amount of insulin needed to make use of the glucose. The lower your insulin levels are, the easier it is to lose weight. Secondly, apple cider vinegar has an effect on the genes that promote fat storage. According to the "Journal of Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry" the acetic acid present in apple cider vinegar inhibits the ability of fat storage genes to express themselves effectively.
Digestion
Vinegar aids in digestion by stimulating saliva and neutralizing acid in the stomach. According to simple-remedies.com, the acetic acid contained in apple cider vinegar helps break down fatty foods that can be difficult for the body to break down and ultimately get stored as fat.
References
- Life Events: Apple CIder Vinegar with Honey
- National Institutes of Health: Effect of apple cider vinegar on delayed gastric emptying in patients with type 1 diabetes -- a pilot study
- Correct-Weight-Loss.net: Apple Cider Vinegar WEight Loss
- Simple-Remedies.net: Benefits of Using Apple Cider Vinegar for Digestion
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