Do you have any apple cider vinegar sitting on the shelf in your pantry? Do you only use it as an ingredient in cooking or to add to salads and salad dressing? You may be surprised that the relatively innocuous ingredient has a number of health benefits that can help in all manner of ways. Here are the top 10 health benefits of apple cider vinegar.
Preventing diabetes
Studies have shown there is a correlation between apple cider vinegar and controlling diabetes and lowering blood sugar. One study found that taking 20ml of apple cider vinegar diluted in 40ml of water, with one teaspoon of saccharine, could lower blood sugar after meals. Another study found that taking it before bed helped to moderate blood-sugar levels on waking up. Scientists believe the apple cider vinegar has an anti-glycemic effect on the body, which helps in blocking starch digestion.
Lowering cholesterol
Apple cider vinegar has been shown to reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels in lab rats. Unfortunately, what works in animals doesn’t always work in humans and this is an area that is still being investigated. While apple cider vinegar might be worth trying to lower cholesterol, your best bet is still diet and exercise.
Removing warts
Here is one I can vouch for from personal experience. My daughter had a nasty wart on her foot and we tried chemical treatments and various home remedies, such as rubbing it with banana peel and nothing worked. The thing that finally succeeded was dipping a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar and bandaging it to her foot at night. After three nights the wart was gone.
Soothing stomach pain
Apple cider vinegar is a great way to treat an upset stomach or diarrhoea. If you are suffering from stomach pain or an irritable bowel, try mixing a couple of tablespoons of the vinegar in water and drinking. The alkalising effect will eliminate any nasty bacteria in your digestive tract.
Relieving a sore throat
Gargling with apple cider vinegar can ease a sore throat. Germs will not be able to survive the coating that will form on your throat. Mix one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and gargle.
Clearing a stuffy nose
As we enter cold and flu season, this trick is a beauty. Add one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to a cup of warm, filtered water and stir through. Pour just a little of the mixture into the palm of your hand and sniff it up your nostrils one at a time. The potassium helps thin the mucus in your nose and will help prevent further germ growth.
Stopping hiccups
Forget about trying to give yourself a scare or drinking water or holding your breath. The real solution to your hiccup problems may be as simple as drinking just a touch of apple cider vinegar. The sour taste shocks the nerves and quickly stops the spasms.
Preventing indigestion
If you suffer from indigestion and feeling too full at meal times, try mixing a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with honey and a glass of water and drinking it about 30 minutes before your meal. It should stop that bloated feeling.
Losing weight
Apple cider vinegar contains natural appetite suppressants and has also been shown to increase metabolism and reduce water retention, making it a weight-loss wonder.
Healthy detox
It stands to reason that if apple cider vinegar can help with weight loss you can also include it as part of any detox drink. The acid will stick to any harmful toxins in your body and help flush them out and it also promotes healthy liver function.
Have you got any apple cider vinegar remedies we haven’t listed here? Share your home remedies in the comments section below.
Related articles:
How to heal foot pain
How to save money with DIY beauty
Coping with osteoarthritis
