Apple cider vinegar. There are lots of reasons to love this fermented substance! Who knew it could do more than just make an awesome ingredient in salad dressing? Turns out it can clean, heal, boost immunity, and so much more!
Before we delve into just a few of it’s amazing uses, let me say, it is important to use raw organic apple cider vinegar. I know that there is cheap stuff at Target. Skip it. Get the stuff with “the mother” in it. Yes, it actually says that on the bottle. I usually buy Bragg’s brand, but I know there are a few others on the market as well, such as the one pictured above from Vitacost.
Okay, on to some of the great uses…
Drink or gargle 1 Tbsp ACV a day to ward off sickness. Most germs cannot survive in such an acidic environment. This is great daily practice during flu season.
Drinking ACV at the first sign of a sore throat will help the soreness to pass quickly. Personally, I’ve gotten laryngitis several times, lasting for around 10 days each time, start to finish, with at least 3 of those days being voiceless. Last year I started feeling it coming on again, so I began drinking ACV multiple times a day. I never completely lost my voice, and the whole sickness lasted about 3 days. Powerful stuff!
Rinse your hair with ACV after shampooing for extra shine. The recommendation I’ve heard is 1/2 Tbsp ACV and 1 cup water.
Dilute ACV (1 part ACV: 2 parts water) and use it on your face as a toner. It reduces inflammation and minimizes break outs.
Dab ACV on a cotton ball and hold it in place with a band-aid to get rid of unwanted warts.
To get relief from a sunburn, take a bath and add 1 cup ACV to it. Soak for 10 minutes.
Use 1/2 ACV and 1/2 water as an aftershave.
Drink 2 tsp ACV with 2 cups water, daily, for weight loss. Doing this before meals boosts your metabolism. Plus, drinking this mixture up to three times a day to keep blood sugar levels steady.
ACV helps your body to maintain a balanced pH, which is why it is helpful in warding off infection and keeping your energy levels up.
ACV is a great way to detox.
Use ACV to fight allergies.
Drinking ACV helps rid your body of candida yeast.
For a yeast infection, take a bath with 1-1/2 cups of ACV for 3 days. Soak for at least 20 minutes.
For a skin fungus, try soaking in an ACV bath. For example, if you have a fungal infection on you feet, soak your feet in a mixture of ACV and water.
Taking ACV during a meal or before bed can help prevent heartburn as well. I used this defense during pregnancy, and hallelujah, it worked like a charm!
Along the lines of digestion, drinking ACV is said to help prevent kidney stones. This and heartburn were the two reason I began taking ACV daily. I had a kidney stone a couple months after delivering my first baby, and it was awful. I decided during my second pregnancy to do everything I could do to prevent another! So far, so good. (I’m almost 10 months post-partum.)
ACV can be used as a flea repellent on pets by mixing it with water (half and half) and rubbing it into their fur and skin. I’ve also heard to add some ACV to their water. I have not tried relying solely on this method, since my dog has had fleas before and I know the horror of those pests, but I am intrigued.
Use ACV to calm hiccups.
For a deep-pore facial treatment, mix 1 part bentonite clay with 1 part ACV, and a bit of raw honey, and apply to your face, letting it sit for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with warm water. We’ve had great results with this.
Use it as a cleaner to disinfect! Counter tops, toilets…
Rinse your conventional produce with water and vinegar – 1 part vinegar to 8-10 parts water. This helps to get any pesticide residue off.
Vinegar kills weeds! Put a little vinegar in a water bottle and spray it on your weeds. A natural weed killer.
Many people swear by ACV’s ability to keep one looking youthful too!
When drinking ACV, I almost always mix 1-2 tsp ACV with 1 cup water. Some people add more water, some juice, and even some honey. Whatever you need to do to get the ACV down works! I do this once a day.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or any type of health professional. I love natural living and enjoy learning about it and sharing that information with others. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions you may have for your specific situation.
What do you use apple cider vinegar for?
Sources:
Mind Body Green
One Good Thing by Jillee