The sour taste of apple cider vinegar: is it worth it? Are there even any benefits? The answer is yes. Studies say that apple cider vinegar can help your skin, hair, nails, teeth, and even help with dandruff. It can even amp up your metabolism, so there are ways that apple cider vinegar can make you healthier.
What essentially is ACV? ACV is made from apple cider that has undergone fermentation to form health benefits by promoting probiotics and enzymes, where it has less sugar and fewer calories than regular apple cider and apple juice. 1-2 tablespoons of ACV is all you need, which is a total of 3-5 calories depending on how much you take. It definitely isn’t the best tasting drink, so if you don’t like drinking it by itself, add some into a eight ounce glass of water. ACV has a high pH level due to it being highly acidic. There are studies that say drinking ACV as a shot is not good in the long run due to it damaging your teeth enamel and esophagus. So maybe don’t drink it as a shot everyday, but these studies aren’t 100% proven, so you can take it as shot one day and add into some water the next. Read on to see why you should keep ACV handy in your pantry.
ACV helps your tummy problems.
ACV has many antibiotic properties. ACV contains pectin, which helps with intestinal spasms.
ACV helps prevent indigestion.
Indigestion is having impaired digestion with symptoms of heartburn, abdominal fullness, nausea, and abdominal pain. ACV will help relieve acid refluxes. Sip some ACV before you indulge in some food with some honey or water.
ACV helps get rid of dandruff.
Dr. Oz recommended ACV as a dandruff treatment. The acidity of ACV changes the pH of your scalp, making it harder for your yeast to grow. Put some ACV in a spray bottle and spritz your scalp, then wrap your head in a towel to let it sit for anywhere from 15-60 minutes depending on if you are in a time crunch or not. One to two times a week will give you the best results for a clear scalp.
ACV helps soothe a sore throat.
Since most germs can’t survive in the acidic environment that vinegar creates, ACV will help soothe that scratchy and uncomfortable sore throat. Gargle with a mix of water and ACV every hour or so to make sure that you get the relief that you need.
ACV aids in weight loss.
The acetic acid suppresses your appetite, increases your metabolism, and reduces water retention. Studies say that ACV interferes with our body’s digestion of starch. Instead of the the starch enzymes being absorbed into our bloodstream, they’d be broken down. Drinking ACV before a carbohydrate filled- meal can reduce blood sugar spikes that would usually occur after eating. ACV gives a feeling of fullness after eating, which will keep you from snacking.
ACV boosts energy.
ACV contains potassium and enzymes that may relieve that laziness and/or tired feeling. Drink some ACV with water or a veggie drink to get energized.
ACV helps clear acne.
ACV acts as a natural toner, which leaves your skin looking healthier. ACV’s antibiotic properties help keep acne under control, and the malic and lactic acids which are found in ACV soften and exfoliate skin, reduce red spots, and balances the pH of your skin.
ACV won’t cure all these problems, but it can definitely help in ways. There won’t be immediate results after a day, but two to four weeks could yield some beneficial results. ACV is not for everyone. It is very acidic and has a strong taste, so some may not be in favor of it. A popular brand of ACV is Bragg Organic apple cider vinegar. It comes in a glass bottle, but you can get ACV pretty much anywhere. You do not want to take too much of ACV as it could lead to decreased levels of potassium and burning of the throat. Start with a low dose and work your way up. ACV mixed with a nutritious diet and healthy lifestyle will end in the best results.
