Reading Time: 4 minutes Interesting Ways to Use Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is made from apple juice that ferments after the addition of yeast. The yeast turns the sugar in the juice into an alcoholic cider, and bacteria transform it into acetic acid. This turns the mixture into vinegar, with its sharp taste and pungent smell.
Apple cider vinegar has long been used as a home remedy by millions of people worldwide. Researchers have done extensive work to determine whether apple cider vinegar has healing properties. Here are some ailments that apple cider vinegar can help you with:
Antibacterial and antifungal
Acetic acid is a powerful substance with antibacterial properties that can be used for disinfection.
Acetic acid’s acidic properties kill or neutralize germs, including E. Coli, that could be ingested in food. We live in a world surrounded by bacteria, some of which are harmful while others are deadly. Harmful bacteria and fungi can easily enter the body and apple cider vinegar ideal for treating them. It is highly effective in the eradication of lice, nail fungus, and warts.
Blood sugar management
People with type 2 diabetes have experienced some success using apple cider vinegar to help keep their blood sugar under control. A small study suggests that Ingesting some apple cider vinegar before consuming a meal of complex carbohydrates can reduce the sudden spike in blood sugar that occurs after eating. Another has shown that using apple cider vinegar before bed seems to regulate blood sugar levels upon waking the next day.
Naturally, apple cider vinegar is not a replacement for a doctor’s prescribed treatment regimen. However, it can help limit how much medical intervention is necessary, just as improving your diet does.
Weight loss
Acetic acid is a short-chain fatty acid. Upon entering the body, it dissolves into acetate and hydrogen. Acetate seems to play a significant role in weight management. It lowers blood sugar levels, decreases insulin levels, improves metabolic processes, minimizes fat storage, burns fat, and acts as an appetite suppressant. These functions were established through several animal studies using apple cider vinegar. Each of the above processes, when triggered, will facilitate weight loss.
While there might not be too much formal research on apple cider vinegar’s effectiveness in facilitating weight loss in humans, anecdotal evidence from users suggests that it helps. They have seen a marked difference, which acts as a psychological booster that motivates them to work toward their weight goal.
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Again, using apple cider vinegar should be accompanied by a healthy, balanced diet and exercise. The substance is not a miracle cure for being overweight, and much of the work is still down to you. Obesity is a leading cause of chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension, and it is in your interests to maintain a realistic, healthy weight.
Skincare
Apple cider vinegar is popular among many users who feel that it can help keep their skin healthy. You can create a face cleanser by diluting a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a quarter-cup of warm water. This cleanser will remove debris and bacteria from the skin’s surface and is far less harmful than harsh soaps and chemicals.
Apple cider toner will cleanse and tighten the skin, protecting it from bacteria and other harmful impurities. As an astringent, apple cider vinegar makes a perfect toner when mixed using a ratio of one part apple cider vinegar to two parts purified water. Apply it to the face using cotton balls or put the toner mixture into a spritz bottle.
If you have a blemish outbreak, you can apply neat apple cider vinegar to the area using a cotton pad. Test it on a small patch of skin on the inside of your arm first to ensure that it will not irritate the facial skin. As an antibacterial, apple cider vinegar effectively treats acne, which is a form of bacterial infection.
Cholesterol
Excessive amounts of cholesterol and triglyceride in the body raise your chances of experiencing high blood pressure, heart attack, or stroke. It places significant strain on the heart, leading to other cardiac disorders that weaken this vital organ. As mentioned above, apple cider vinegar seems to prove effective for people trying to lose some weight.
The processes that apple cider vinegar triggers in the body also seem to lower triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. You might have heard someone speak about ‘bad cholesterol’. This is LDL, which causes fatty deposits in vital arteries and veins, hampering blood flow. Apple cider vinegar also seems to raise levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, often referred to as ‘good cholesterol’.
Next: Check out 50+ Ways to Use White Vinegar
Rachel is an Austin blogger, educator, mom, wife, young breast cancer survivor writing about health, saving money, and living a happy life in Austin, Texas.
Rachel has written for HuffPost and Hometalk and has been featured on KXAN, Studio 512, Fox 7 Austin, and CBS Austin.