Monday, July 16, 2012

Battling the A's with an A: Apple Cider Vinegar

Arthritis, Allergies, Acne & Anxiety..... Some of the fun things I, as well as many of you deal with!  But luckily I have found something that helps lessen the severity of all four of these, and its apple cider vinegar!  Apple cider vinegar or ACV is a great addition to your alkaline diet.  It helps balance out your pH as well as many other amazing benefits.

*Just a refresher if you have not yet read the "Getting Started" and other earlier posts.  Although vinegar is acidic... after it is processed through the body it creates an alkaline "ash" which is what matters!  What happens after it is processed is the key.  We want our diets to be more alkaline which in turn helps you achieve optimal health.  ACV is a staple in my diet and has helped me greatly in keeping my body healthy.

Allergies- It will greatly help your allergies!  I have had tremendous success with drinking my daily doses of the ACV tonic.   I drink 2 tsp in 8 oz of water with 1 tsp of honey (local honey is the best, this too will help you fight allergies)/do this 3 times a day.

Arthritis- ACV dissolves the calcium build up around joints with its high potassium content, which also helps promote the growth of tissues and cells. Drink 1-2 tsp in 6-8 oz of water with honey 3 times a day.  This can also be applied externally on the area giving you problems.

Hair- It will help remove buildup which will leave it clean and shiny.  Use 1/2 c of ACV to 1 liter of water and apply to hair, let it sit for 15 minutes, then rinse.  Will also kill bacteria on your head that cause dandruff and itchiness.  It is also known to stimulate hair growth so for those who are dealing with hair loss they suggest applying 2 Tbsp with a pinch of cayenne pepper an hour before shampooing.

Mood-  Lots of times when we are suffering from depression, fatigue, anxiety, lack of energy it is because simply our bodies are "off" or not working at their full potential.  ACV will help cleanse the body and make sure that all the organs are working properly like the liver which will help rid the body of toxins that are contributing to the problem.  It will also make sure the process that is responsible for producing serotonin is functioning properly. Serotonin contributes to feeling happy, and makes you less likely to feel stressed.

Odor- ACV will help bad breath when you gargle 1 Tbsp in 6 oz of water for 30 seconds.  If stinky feet is your problem then soak those dogs in 50/50 ACV and water (this will also help athlete's foot as well.) If it's your underarms that need some help apply it there straight or slightly diluted for a few days to get yourself back to normal.

Skin- It will help clear acne.  Drink 2 tsp in 8 oz of water 3 times a day. Also, you can use it as a toner diluted 50/50 with water.  It will also help cellulite (massage it diluted into trouble areas), lessen varicose veins, age spots, treat fungal infections, sunburn (will soothe and prevent itching and peeling when applied externally), insect bites, get rid of warts (put some undiluted directly on wart and cover with bandaid, do this until it is gone) skin tags, psoriasis and many other skin conditions!  Due to its awesome detoxifying and antibacterial properties, drinking it (use the directions suggested above) as well as applying it externally will help get rid of these problems by working from the inside out as well as the outside in! Some people have been known to add ACV to their bath and soak for awhile.  Do whatever works best for you!

Weight loss & diet- It is great at helping control cravings and appetite.  It is full of a fiber compound called pectin. I drink the ACV tonic (suggested in arthritis and allergy section) 15 minutes before meals.  It also helps with excess water retention, speeding up your metabolism, and helps reduce the amount of fat absorbed in the body, which in return leads to weight loss!

Other Health Fixes- It helps with basically everything... lowers blood pressure & bad cholesterol, helps overcome bladder & kidney infections, helps protect you from food poisoning, helps heartburn, helps cramps, helps prevent stomach ulcers, contributes to good bone health, helps digestion, helps balance out hormones, has lots of substances like beta carotene, pectin, acetic acid.. which help fight and prevent cancer, free radicals, and premature aging,  helps canker sores (swish around in mouth-diluted), sore throats (gargle-diluted), boosts overall immunity which will help fight and prevent loads of things!... and I could go on and on!

Not all vinegar is created equal:  To truly get all these benefits you need to drink organic, unfiltered, apple cider vinegar.  The brand I would stick with that is tried, tested and true is Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar.  It has been around for a long time and is probably the best one available.  You can get it at most health food stores and can be purchased online.

Warning:  It is important you do not drink ACV undiluted... This can be harmful to your esophagus and other internals!

 Once again.. the suggested daily tonic is 2 tsp in 8 oz of water (with honey or royal jelly for added benefits) 3 times a day.  You can also start out once a day to let your body get use to it, but do whatever feels best for you!

:)






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