Apple cider vinegar is an amazingly versatile product with so many uses that it's almost unbelievable... almost. From the best acid in a coleslaw dressing to an indigestion aid, this is one product you need in your kitchen.
Go back in time and you'll see numerous folk remedies saying apple cider vinegar will transform your life. Science hasn't gotten on side with some of these claims yet. Still, with people repeating these claims for a couple centuries without getting debunked, maybe there's truth to them.
From weight loss to diabetes control, ACV isn't just for salad dressings. In fact, there are a plethora of health benefits of apple cider vinegar. Here are 12 surprising ways you can put this budget-friendly elixir to use.
1. Diabetes controller
Science proves ACV is a great way to keep blood sugar levels under control. Its anti-glycemic superpowers come from blocking the absorption of some starches into the blood supply.
2. Anti-bacterial household cleaner
With equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water in a spray bottle, you've got a house-cleaner that cuts through grease, deters bugs, and kills bacteria. The smell goes away once it's evaporated, and you're left with a house that just simply smells clean.
When I switched to using vinegar as a cleaner in my park-side home, my number of spiders and other bugs plummeted! Not just for a few weeks, but for the next two years that I lived there.
3. Weed-killer
Some gardeners swear by this recipe. Mix a half-gallon of apple cider vinegar, a cup of salt, and a teaspoon of enviro-friendly dish soap, put it in spray bottles, and spray it on the offending weeds.
Be careful and use a narrow spray, because it reportedly kills (with enviro kindness) any plant it hits.
4. Itches and sunburns
For surface yeast and funguses like athlete's foot, bug bites, and nasty sunburns, apple cider vinegar can soothe and heal troubled skin. Apply to a cloth to rub over the afflicted areas, or even add a cup of vinegar to a cool bath to sooth an all-over sunburn.
5. Wart-remover
Some people swear by soaking a cotton ball with apple cider vinegar, adhering it to the wart with some medical tape overnight, and repeating nightly until it's gone or fallen off.
6. Workout drink
Packed with potassium, amino acids, antioxidants, nutrients and enzymes, apple cider vinegar is a great addition to water when you're working out. This dietary change can do wonders for your energy and muscles.
Drinking apple cider vinegar will fight lactic acid buildup while helping you restore electrolyte balance. However, be careful to drink it in small amounts to avoid potential side effects like tooth enamel erosion and acid reflux.
7. Cramp-killer
If you're getting leg cramps and restless legs at night, it can be a sign of low potassium levels. Enter ACV to the rescue, thanks to potassium. Apple cider vinegar helps with these issues, and you simply have to take a tablespoon or two daily to help keep that in check.
My brother had leg pains and began drinking a tablespoon in every pint of water he consumed, and no longer has problems. Anecdotal healthcare evidence at best, but can't hurt to try. If you dislike the taste, mix with some natural honey to make it palatable.
8. Hair-rinse
My aunt used apple cider vinegar her whole life in her hair. She'd occasionally wash with dish soap when needed. Every week she'd rinse her hair with ACV, then rinse it with water.
She swore it's why her hair was so soft and manageable. She never had dandruff or flaky scalp, either.
9. Body odor beater
If you're prone to B.O., especially under the arms, wipe with a cloth soaked in apple cider vinegar to kill the bacteria causing the odor. Same thing with smelly feet. Once the vinegar evaporates, there'll be no vinegar after-smell and you'll smell clean.
10. Sinus-saver
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When sick with a sore throat and filling with mucus, apple cider vinegar's acetic acid helps kill germs and bacteria. The potassium is said to thin the mucus, which helps you breathe easier and expel all the gunk. Enjoy ACV in a marinade or simply have a tablespoon of Bragg apple cider vinegar in a glass of water.
11. Acne-buster
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As a toner, apple cider vinegar is a great skin aid. It helps your skin to look fresh and clean while also killing acne. The malic and lactic acids exfoliate dead cells and also reduce redness.
With a 1:1 ratio of ACV and water in a bottle, give it a good shake, apply to cotton balls, and just wipe as you would any toner. It works! In fact, when traveling, I have apple cider vinegar pills for all kinds of maladies. I'll break open a gel capsule, rehydrate ACV powder with water, and apply like a mask to keep acne at bay.
12. Weight-loss
We're all looking for the miracle butt-buster, but the jury's still out on apple cider vinegar. WebMD scoffs at weight-loss claims, but others claim there are some factors that apple cider vinegar consumption can, in fact, help body weight management and aid in losing belly fat.
You already knew it was an amazing healthy diet option for salad dressings, vinaigrettes, barbecue sauces, and other cooking uses. Now it's time to let it be the home-remedy superhero that folk history have long chalked it up as.
Get some quality unfiltered apple cider vinegar for your house today!
This post was originally published on July 20, 2018.
