Apple Cider Vinegar Health Benefits

Did you know that the answer to the natural treatment’s health benefits could be in a cloudy substance? Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is a highly raved natural product and as a popular natural home remedy. There are a lot of claims about apple cider vinegar health benefits. The all-natural, all-purpose staple has been utilised for centuries. Its many applications range from making use of it for kitchen solutions; such as a salad dressing for food to medicine and health remedies to treat various health complications. Individuals from all over the world even claim that there is an extensive variety of apple cider vinegar beauty uses.

We take a closer look at the apple cider vinegar health benefits, as well as apple cider vinegar beauty uses. You are about to be pleasantly surprised about how millions of people make use of the powers of ACV. Even countless celebrities, including Victoria Beckham, Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom and Kim Kardashian swear by it. Keep on reading to understand why apple cider vinegar is so highly praised as a natural home remedy and why you should get hold of this household staple.

What is Apple Cider Vinegar?

Just as you would think, apple cider vinegar is made from fermented apple juice. In the production of ACV, when apples are crushed, the resulting liquid is exposed to yeast. With this addition of yeast, the sugar in apple juice turns into alcohol. Essentially, this process causes this liquid to ferment. This, in turn, brings about acetic acid, which is the key active ingredient in ACV. This ingredient is what gives apple cider vinegar its strong taste and pungent smell.

The cloudy and murky substance in unfiltered and unrefined apple cider vinegar is called, the ‘Mother’. It consists of healthy bacteria, natural proteins and enzymes.

Apple Cider Vinegar Beauty Uses

The all-natural product has so many amazing benefits when it comes to our well-being and overall health. With the demand for natural beauty products growing, it is little surprise that apple cider vinegar has been in an addition in several beauty regimens. As a renowned natural remedy that helps with beauty issues, it has found a place in the bathroom and kitchen shelves. The many apple cider vinegar beauty uses range from apple cider vinegar for skin to hair care. This is due to the fact that apple cider vinegar is proven to improve the health conditions of our hair and skin. Some of the benefits pointed out below may surprise you:

Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Benefits

The popular kitchen staple, ACV is widely used for hair care. The major reason for this is because of apple cider vinegar’s pH level and also since it is an acidic substance, it is made up of acetic acid. So, apple cider vinegar can balance your hair and scalp’s natural pH when incorporating it in your hair care routine. This helps with hair that is prone to breakage, brittle, dull and frizzy. Apple cider vinegar gently restores hair health and helps to normalize the pH level.

Aside from apple cider vinegar hair benefits on bringing hair health back into balance, other ACV hair benefits include: Apple cider vinegar is antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, meaning that it helps prevent bacteria and fungi (that cause infections and itchiness etc.) to maintain the good health of the hair and scalp.

Another thing included in the list of apple cider vinegar hair benefits is the fact that it contains many vital vitamins and minerals. These comprise from Vitamin B, C to potassium. The nutrients in apple cider vinegar are all very good for hair health.

Apple cider vinegar is also a natural exfoliant that clarifies the scalp. It removes dead skin cells, dandruff and product build-up from the hair and scalp. In addition to this, as an all-natural product, it has no added preservatives or chemicals which tend to ruin hair and scalp health of people.

Apple cider vinegar Hair rinse

To reap maximum apple cider vinegar hair benefits, you can make your own DIY apple cider vinegar hair wash or rinse. It is very simple to make. If you are seeking apple cider vinegar for hair benefits, you should give the following natural apple cider vinegar hair rinse recipe a try.

How to do an ACV hair rinse:

1. Before you start the apple cider vinegar hair rinse, shampoo your hair or ensure that it is slightly damped, when you are not considering cleansing it initially.
2. Mix apple cider vinegar and water, using a ratio of 1:3 (e.g. 1 tablespoon of ACV and 3 tablespoons of water.  Or 100ml of ACV in 300ml of water, if you are planning on making a larger quantity of the apple cider vinegar hair rinse.)
3. Optional: Mix a few drops of essential oils or green tea (including for additional benefits) into the apple cider vinegar hair wash mixture to help with the smell, if you find it unbearable. Apple cider vinegar has a very strong smell due to its acidic nature. If you choose not to add anything, do not worry as the smell should disappear immediately after the apple cider vinegar hair rinse.
4. To coat the mixture into your scalp and hair well, use a spray bottle or any type of bottle that has a little opening.
5. Using your fingers, apply the apple cider vinegar hair wash mixture into your hair evenly. From roots to ends. Gently massage your scalp well to fully increase the effects and health benefits of apple cider vinegar on hair growth and exfoliation.
6. Allow the ACV wash mixture to sit for approximately 5 minutes.
7. Rinse it out from your hair and scalp with cool water.

Try including the apple cider vinegar hair wash into your hair care routine a few times. Pay attention to how the hair treatment influences your hair. We advise that you do not carry out the apple cider vinegar hair rinse too excessively, but what feels best for your hair. You can add more ACV in each apple cider vinegar hair rinse over time. Also, feel free to adjust the frequency of the hair treatment.

Apple cider vinegar Skin Benefits

Many people claim that consuming apple cider vinegar in their drink helps them sustain a young-looking and spotless appearance. There is a lot of truth in this claim, as apple cider vinegar contains a large number of nutrients, which are beneficial for healthy skin.  Apple cider vinegar is rich in amino acid, acetic acid, citric acid, minerals, and enzymes, among others.  These healthful substances of apple cider vinegar boost and maintain the health and look of your skin due to its antifungal, antibacterial, antimicrobial, and exfoliating properties. In other words, they keep acne and blemishes at bay and increase skin cell turnover, leaving your skin clear and wrinkle-free.

Therefore, it makes absolute sense to incorporate apple cider vinegar for skin care. ACV can treat a variety of skin concerns.

Here are some ways on how you can include apple cider vinegar for skin care and applying it topically:

Apple cider vinegar Acne Treatment

We’ve provided a lot of information on how to treat acne for good at Glownatura.com already, but are you aware that ACV can also help with getting rid of acne? Apple cider vinegar is a natural astringent and as we mentioned already, it has antibacterial properties. This makes ACV perfect for killing bacteria and removing excess oil and dirt, thus fight acne.

How to use apple cider vinegar for acne:

1. Dampen a cotton wool pad with a combination of ACV and water.
2. Use 1tbsp of apple cider vinegar to 3-4 parts of water.
3. Directly apply apple cider vinegar on face and the affected areas.
4. You do not have to worry about rinsing. – The diluted ACV will make your skin feel refreshed and should not irritate your skin. If you wish, you can rinse it off after letting it sit on your skin for a few minutes.
5. You will surely see optimal results when carrying out this apple cider vinegar acne treatment several times a week.

Apple cider vinegar for Sunburn

Does apple cider vinegar help sunburn? The answer is yes. Due to apple cider vinegar’s pH level, it has the ability to restore and improve the natural pH balance of your skin. Using apple cider vinegar on sunburn is an excellent idea because it promotes healing and immediately reverses sun damage from the harmful UV rays. Apple cider vinegar not only calms down pain, but it also helps in treating blisters and inflammation.

How to use apple cider vinegar on Sunburn:

To make your apple cider vinegar sunburn bath, pour 1-2 cupful of apple cider vinegar in a cool bath. Taking this apple cider vinegar sunburn bath will neutralize sunburns. You can also use a washcloth and apply the diluted ACV on the affected areas on your skin. Another option is to fill a spray bottle with this mixture of apple cider vinegar on sunburn.

Apple cider vinegar: Diabetes and blood sugar

One good plus about apple cider vinegar is that drinking it on a daily basis could help treat type 2 diabetes. In fact, a study indicates that taking at least 2 tbsp of this common natural health remedy, in conjunction with the last meal of the day, substantially reduced waking blood glucose levels. According to researchers, acetic acid in ACV is what keeps the blood sugar levels down by decreasing the digestion of starch. What is more, another study suggests that apple cider vinegar improves insulin sensitivity.

Actually, the best and most efficacious method to manage blood sugar levels is to minimise sugar and carb intake. Yet, apple cider vinegar may also have favourable impacts on this health condition. The studies on the health benefits of apple cider vinegar in managing diabetes and prevent blood sugar spikes are very promising. However, more research is required. Despite that, it is always worth giving natural cures and remedies a try.

If you have an interest in the apple cider vinegar for diabetes dosage and already consume blood-sugar-lowering medications, please confirm with a health care professional first. This step is important because taking ACV as an additional ‘medicament’ may have the possibility to interfere with your current medications.

Does Apple cider vinegar help you lose weight?

Another of the reported health benefits of apple cider vinegar is that it may aid in weight loss. There is some proof that this may actually be the case.

A Japanese study shows that the groups who consumed 1 tbsp of ACV mixed in water a day, lost more weight (2-4 pounds) than those who did not consume ACV. In addition to this, they also benefitted from lower and healthier belly fat, triglycerides, BMI and waist circumference.

Another study suggests that apple cider vinegar consumption increases feelings of fullness. Obviously, such feeling can make one to consume less food in a day, thereby reducing calorie intake and promoting weight loss as a result.

Even though researchers fail to demonstrate how ACV has a head-on influence on weight loss, it only contains about three calories per tablespoon. This makes it very simple to add in a calorie-controlled diet. A completely healthy diet and/or active lifestyle provides weight loss results in the long run.

Try diluting ACV into bottled water or adding it into your meals (such as salad).

Apply cider vinegar for Digestion

Just as other fermented foods, health-promoting probiotic compounds are found in apple cider vinegar. Regular consumption of apple cider vinegar can improve your digestive system due to it containing healthy bacteria. The gut-friendly bacteria have the ability to neutralise stomach acid, while acetic acid combats against toxic bacteria in our body that are bad for us. Apple cider vinegar provides excellent digestion support, as it maintains and controls bowel movement and regularity. This home remedy makes it very suitable for those suffering from digestive problems and symptoms, including heartburn, bloating, gas, constipation and indigestion.

Please note: If your stomach is very sensitive or you have other gastrointestinal woes, apple cider vinegar may not be appropriate in your case.

Lowering Bad Cholesterol

There is some evidence that apple cider vinegar may lower high cholesterol. Several studies demonstrate that consumption of ACV leads to minimised LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. This positive impact of apple cider vinegar happens due to its health-giving antioxidants.

Nevertheless, those preliminary studies have a few limitations; the trials were conducted on rats, rather than on humans. Researchers need to do more studies before reaching a strong conclusion. While these outcomes may still look optimistic, there are more systematically examined practices that could bring about better HDL-cholesterol levels. The authors at the American Heart Association (AHA) strongly emphasise the significance of a nutrient-rich diet, consisting of plant-based foods. A good plant-based diet includes fruits, seeds, cocoa powder, wholegrain foods. These are rich sources of antioxidants. Fat-free dairy foods and seafood are also part of a generally healthy diet and recommended by the AHA.

How To Take Apple Cider Vinegar

As you have read, there are numerous apple cider vinegar health benefits, as well as for hair and skin health. To gain the health benefits of apple cider vinegar thoroughly and easily as a smart addition to apple cider vinegar beauty uses, you can incorporate it into your diet in various ways.

Apple cider vinegar is best taken diluted and with meals or a drink. Due to ACV’s highly acidic concentration, drinking it undiluted could harm your tooth enamel, irritate your throat and stomach, which is something you want to avoid.

Apple cider vinegar Drink

To dilute the apple cider vinegar, stir 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into bottled water. This makes a super convenient apple cider vinegar drink for weight loss.

Apple cider vinegar Salad Dressing

A very simple homemade recipe for apple cider vinegar salad dressing is the following:

1. Whisk ¼ cup of ACV together with 1/3 cup of olive oil, 2 tbsp lemon juice and 1-2 tbsp raw honey. Add spices for extra taste, if needed.
2. Let the salad dressing mixture marinate for approximately 30mins for the best and tasty flavour.
3. Finally, trickle the apple cider vinegar salad dressing over your favourite greens and salad.
4. When storing leftovers in the fridge, shake well before serving each time. In terms of expiration, the apple cider vinegar salad dressing should last for up to a week.

Apple cider vinegar and salt: ACV as an alternative?

Did you know that you can substitute salt for apple cider vinegar? Try sprinkling apple cider vinegar over meals that you commonly eat to give it a better flavour and taste. This fantastic alternative to salt makes it great for those who want to reduce their sodium intake. When you cut back on salt, you can lower your blood pressure. This flavorous alternative is perfect for those with medical conditions, such as high blood pressure (hypertension) who need to eat a low-sodium diet.