Health benefits of apple cider vinegar
I have been on a bit of a health kick lately - trying to loose a few kilos and tone up before winter, because I know that I tend to chow down on hearty foods during the winter months. One product I have added to my diet is apple cider vinegar, and I decided to research the benefits of this product and how it can help you lose weight.
Apple cider vinegar is one of those products you don't normally find in a pantry - but it should definitely be in there. There are so many healthy benefits of adding a little apple cider vinegar to your life and your home.
Here are just some of the ways that you can use cider apple vinegar in the home:
Personal use
Weight loss
Apple cider vinegar has long been associated with weight loss. It is generally believed that the nutrients, enzymes, and organic acids in apple cider vinegar cause weight reduction by acting as an appetite suppressant (it is even listed as such in the rankings of the appetite suppressants), by increasing the body’s metabolic rateand helping to reduce water retention.
A 2009 study on mice showed that consuming acetic acid (the active component in apple cider vinegar, upregulates the expression of genes for fatty acid oxidation enzymes in the liver causing a suppression in body fat accumulation.
In a Japanese experiment, obese subjects were assigned to different groups based on similar body weights and waist circumference. Each group drank a 500 ml drink containing either 30 ml, 15 ml, or 0 ml of vinegar daily for 12 weeks. Those in the 30 ml and 15 ml groups had lower BMI, waist circumference and body weight to the control group of 0 ml. The 12-week weight losses were modest: 1.2 kg in the 15 ml group and 1.7 kg in the 30 ml group. These two groups consumed a similar number of calories to the control group and also performed a similar amount of exercise, so the effect is not likely to have been due to an impact on appetite or other lifestyle changes. It was concluded that consumption of vinegar might reduce obesity.
[wikipedia]
As part of my weight loss program, a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar was added to a glass of lukewarm water and consumed before meals. Having lost a total of 7 kilograms in just over two months, and allowing for a reduced fat intake, I will definitely continue with my pre-meal time drink.
Apple cider vinegar tablets can also be taken, although there is much evidence against there being value in taking the tablet version, as these are not well regulated, and may vary dramatically in terms of vinegar content from brand to brand
Reduction of cellulite
When added to aqueous cream, apple cider vinegar massaged onto the body with a massage glove can reduce the appearance of cellulite if done on a regular basis over a period of time.
And because apple cider vinegar is rich in alpha-hydroxy acids, it helps to dissolve fatty deposits under the surface of the skin.
My personal experience of combining a teaspoon of cider apple vinegar in a cup of aqueous cream has resulted in the reduction of abdominal cellulite and fatty deposit as a result of various operations. The cream was massaged into the problem area with a massage glove over a period of 3 months and a significant result was achieved - to date a total loss of 10cm.
Body and facial care
Dilute apple cider vinegar with two parts water to make up a tonic for your skin.
Apple cider vinegar not only tones the skin, it's also said to lighten age spots or acne scars.
Apple cider vinegar has long been used as a natural treatment for warts.
Apply a few drops of apple cider vinegar to a BandAid and apply this over the wart and leave on overnight. There may be slight swelling of the area but the wart will eventually flake off.
Continue the treatment for a few more days to reduce the chance of re-occurence.
Take the 'burn' out of sunburn by adding a cup of cider apple vinegar to bath water.
Or mix up a solution of 2 tablespoons of cider apple vinegar to a litre of water and apply to sunburn with a cotton ball.
Health
There are many health benefits associated with apple cider vinegar, ranging from a healthy detox for your body by adding a teaspoon a day to your morning glass of water (preferably tepid), helping the body remove candida or yeasts due to its rich enzyme content, or helping to control heartburn and acid reflux.
As with any self-medication, it is always better to discuss with your doctor beforehand. Although, having successfully managed acid-reflux with a glass of warm water and a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar before bed, my doctor admitted it was time to do more investigation on this treatment and its efficacy.
Home care
Apple cider vinegar works just as well as white spirit vinegar for keeping your bathroom clean - without the vinegar smell.
Mix 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup water, and you can use this solution to clean microwaves, flush out your dishwasher and washing machine and wipe kitchen surfaces.
Where to buy cider apple vinegar
Firstly, don't buy off the shelf at your local supermarket. It is far better to buy apple cider vinegar that has been double-fermented from whole apples, and should not be distilled, filtered or pasteurized, as the processing destroys many of the benefits of this product. Visit a health shop or ask at your local pharmacy if you are not sure.