26 Ways To Use Apple Cider Vinegar

Not one, two or ten, but there are impressive 26 healthy ways to use apple cider vinegar every day for reaping its immense health benefits.

While white vinegar rules households, its brownish cousin, apple cider vinegar is the new star in the making because of the numerous ways to use apple cider vinegar. Made from fermented apple pulp and teeming with good bacteria, apple cider vinegar is a health elixir with its numerous uses and benefits. The best and the easiest way to avail the maximum health benefits of apple cider vinegar is to drink it after diluting with water, on an empty stomach.

The raw, unpasteurized vinegar contains strands of ‘Mother’, which is a cobweb like structure and a blend of healthy nutrients. According to several natural-health sources, apple cider vinegar is packed with amino acids, pectin, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, potent antioxidants, B-complex vitamins, bi-flavonoids, acetic acid, enzymes, and minerals like potassium, copper, calcium and magnesium. Together, these essential nutrients work as a powerful detoxifying and purifying agent. You can use apple cider vinegar to help in offset age-related damage, boost energy, enhance immunity, aid better digestion and improve well-being in 26 unique ways.

How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar?

Here we discuss A to Z uses of apple cider vinegar and how it helps in improving your well-being:

1. Alkaline System

Alternate health practitioners believe that the major missing piece of the healing puzzle is to move the body’s pH to a slightly alkaline state. This is because many inflammatory diseases like allergy, diabetes, and arthritis have their roots in the acidic pH. Drinking tonic of apple cider vinegar with warm water in the morning helps in flushing toxins out of your system and maintains the alkaline state of your body.

2. Banishes Bad Breath

Where mints and mouthwash fails, apple cider vinegar prevails. Other than plaque and bacteria, indigestion contributes greatly to bad breath. Drinking apple cider vinegar tonic ignites the digestive fire and cures indigestion. Gargling with this concoction kills bacteria and plaque that gives rise to bad breath.

3. Cures Cold and Cough

In 300 BC, Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, prescribed apple cider vinegar with honey for coughs and colds. Even today, if the change of seasons bothers you with a stuffy nose and prickly throat, apple cider vinegar can come to your rescue. The potassium rich content of ACV helps in thinning of mucus, and the acetic acid prevents germ growth. Gargling with apple cider vinegar infused drink can also soothe that sore throat, as acetic acid present in ACV nixes germs.

4. Diabetes Management

The most promising aspect of many health benefits of apple cider vinegar is its effect on blood sugar levels. Several studies have found that vinegar helps in lowering blood sugar levels, which is very important for diabetics. A 2007 study conducted on 11 people with type 2 diabetes found that taking two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before bed lowered their glucose levels in the morning by four percent to six percent.

5. Energy Booster

When you overwork your body either at the gym or somewhere else it starts building lactic acids, which is considered to be a common cause of fatigue. Amino acids and potassium in apple cider vinegar act as an antidote to that lactic acid build up, thereby reducing the changes of fatigue. Next time, you feel tired and worn out, reach out for that apple cider vinegar tonic

6. Fabulous Hair

Did you know that diluted apple cider vinegar when used as a last rinse after hair wash gives a wonderful bounce to otherwise limp and listless hair? Adding ACV to your regular shampoo ritual can help a great deal in preventing and controlling dandruff too.

7. Glowing Skin

Sipping on the apple cider vinegar infused drink every morning is a cleansing ritual for Hollywood celebrities like Megan Fox and Miranda Kerr, which they follow religiously. Acetic acid present in apple cider vinegar works as a wonderful detox drink and helps banish acne and pimples. Apply the apple cider vinegar tonic on your face for an excellent toning effect and spotless skin.

8. Heart Health

Rich in acetic acid, apple cider vinegar reduces bad cholesterol and triglycerides in arteries. It also increases good cholesterol. Together, they help in normalising high blood pressure and improve your overall heart health as well.

9. Indigestion and Acid Reflux

Soothing indigestion is apple cider vinegar’s biggest claim to fame. Dilute apple cider vinegar in water, add honey, and have it at least thirty minutes prior to a sumptuous feast to avoid indigestion and acidity. Acid reflux results from too little acid in your stomach. When you include apple cider vinegar tonic in your morning ritual, you increase the acid content of your stomach, which lowers the incidences of reflux. The pectin in apple cider vinegar may also help to soothe intestinal spasms.

10. Joint Pain Relief

Painful and swollen joints are a classic symptom of arthritis and a result of the deposit of metabolic waste in the connective tissues. Drinking apple cider vinegar tonic in the morning helps flush out toxins from the body and provides relief from joint pain.

Moreover, in the absence of magnesium, your body is not able to absorb calcium. The mineral and antioxidant rich content of apple cider vinegar helps in promoting flexible and pain free joints.

11. Kidney Stone Dissolver

Excess minerals get deposited in kidneys in the form of stones, which can be as small as a grain of sand to as large as a pearl. These mineral deposits can be excruciatingly painful. However, the acidic nature of apple cider vinegar helps alkalize your body and enables kidneys to flush out these stones naturally. All you need to do is to mix two tablespoons of unpasteurized vinegar in a tall glass of water and drink it twice a day for quick relief.

12. Lines and Wrinkles Eraser

We have already discussed the benefits of apple cider vinegar for skin glow. However, did you know apple cider vinegar is an inexpensive alternative to expensive creams and lotions to erase fine lines and wrinkles as well? Mix apple cider vinegar and water in equal amounts, and store it in a spray bottle. Spritz your face with this solution to minimise pore size, which is a giveaway of skin ageing. Drinking the apple cider vinegar tonic in the morning detoxifies your body and keeps your skin glowing, healthy and youthful.

13. Manicures and Pedicures

Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid, which works as a wonderful exfoliating agent. Put half a cup of apple cider vinegar in a basin of hot water. Dip your feet and hands in this solution. After a while when you scrub, you’ll notice dead cells coming off. Apart from this, the acetic acid content of ACV helps reinvigorate tired feet as well.

14. Nighttime Leg Cramps

Leg cramps are a symptom of potassium deficiency. To earn relief from leg cramps, mix 10 ml of apple cider vinegar with a teaspoon of honey in water and drink it to give your legs that much needed potassium shot. Therefore, apple cider vinegar benefits and relieves you from nighttime leg cramps in the long run

15. Overcomes Odour

Body odour is an embarrassing subject to talk about, but do you know that ACV can come to your rescue in this too? Apply apple cider vinegar with a cotton ball in your armpits to neutralise the odour. Hot summers may bring the concern of smelly feet for few. Prepare a foot soak with half a cup of apple cider vinegar in a tub of lukewarm water and soak your feet in that mixture for 15-20 minutes to banish odour causing bacteria

16. Plants and Pets

If your plants have less than average growth, then potassium deficiency is the most probable culprit. Since apple cider vinegar has 5 percent acid, you should dilute it in water (20 ml in half a bucket of water) and use it to spray on your plants. The same solution of apple cider vinegar can be used as a last rinse for your furry friends to keep fleas at bay. Spray straight vinegar to get rid of weeds.

17. Quick Fix for Hiccups

The common hiccup is caused by an involuntary contraction of the diaphragm. For quick relief from hiccups, mix 10 ml of vinegar in a glass of warm water and sip slowly. It works better when the water is drunk from the far side of the glass, as it triggers a set of nerves in the mouth or throat to quell hiccup reflex. Such is the effect of apple cider vinegar for fixing hiccups that it is available commercially in the form of candies.

18. Reduces Rashes

According to the book, “Dr. Earl Mindell’s Amazing Apple Cider Vinegar,” by Dr. Earl Mindell, diluting the vinegar in water and wiping it over the rashes with a cotton ball helps in relieving inflammation, reduces irritation and itching, and encourages healing.

19. Soothes Sunburn

An impromptu outing in the sun results in red, angry sunburn. To get instant relief from that stinging sensation, soak a clean washcloth in vinegar and apply it directly on the sunburn. Let it stay for a couple of minutes and see how ACV helps in soothing sunburns. You can even mix a cup of apple cider vinegar in your bath water and soak in it or prepare a toner by mixing 10-20 ml in 240 ml water. Spray this cider vinegar solution on your face and other sun affected areas for instant relief.

20. Teeth Whitener

Coffee and tobacco stains on your teeth make their appearance unpleasant every time you smile, talk or eat. Forget expensive teeth whitening treatments and mix half a cap of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water and gargle with this solution to have a shining, white and bright smile.

21. Upset Stomach Remedy

Upset stomach is a kind of stomach flu where the gastrointestinal tract is inflamed as a result of contracting viral infection. Body aches, vomiting, diarrhoea and nausea are other symptoms of upset stomach that appear after 48 hours of exposure to the virus. Though, an upset stomach heals on its own, drinking an apple cider vinegar infused drink can expedite the process.

Add one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water or any fruit juice. Drink it before meals until you get complete relief from stomach flu symptoms. Pectin in apple cider vinegar soothes irritated stomach lining. You can also add a tablespoon of vinegar to your apple cider vinegar tonic. Drink this every few hours and you’ll begin to feel better.

22. Varicose Veins Symptoms’ Treatment

Varicose veins are dark purple or blue in colour and may appear twisted and bulging, and are a result of poor blood circulation. People suffering from varicose veins experience dull aching pain and itchy feeling in the legs. As apple cider vinegar improves blood circulation, you can massage it onto the affected area to get relief from that itchy sensation.

23. Weight Loss

You can use apple cider vinegar for weight loss because the acetic acid in it suppresses appetite, lowers water-retention and increases metabolism. It may also interfere with assimilation of starch which helps to lose weight. Mix a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in warm water. Consume apple cider vinegar for weight loss prior to meals along with regular exercise to get in shape.

24. Helps Improve Immunity

Raw, unprocessed apple cider vinegar contains pectin that not only improves digestion but helps your body get rid of toxic substances. This allows probiotics to flourish in your gut. Moreover, ACV gently nudges your body’s pH towards alkalinity, which makes it difficult for disease causing pathogens to thrive in such an environment.

25. Yeast Infection Treatment

Candida Albicans is a species of yeast — a single-celled fungus — and a common kind of microbes that live in your gastrointestinal tract. Antibiotic overuse and weakened immunity due to diabetes results in overgrowth of this fungus in the mouth as well as genitals. Apple cider vinegar is one of nature’s strongest antibiotics that helps in killing yeast fungus. 

All you need to do is to use apple cider vinegar tonic every morning to recolonize good bacteria in your system. Do not add honey to this concoction because the fungus can thrive on sweetness, thus reducing its effect.

26. Reduces Sleep Issues

It is recommended to use apple cider vinegar with warm water and honey before bedtime. This is because apple cider vinegar benefits you by reducing sleep issues.

Conclusion

Apple Cider Vinegar is acidic in nature. You need to dilute it in water and drink it as a beverage. Common dosages range from 1-2 teaspoons (5-10 ml) to 1-2 tablespoons (15-30 ml) per day. Use only natural, unpasteurized Apple Cider Vinegar with ‘mother’ to reap in all the health benefits of apple cider vinegar. Add honey for improved taste. Always look for organic apple cider vinegar to avail the maximum health benefits.

You can not only consume the apple cider vinegar drink on a daily basis but also use it in salad dressings for improved taste. Go ahead sip, gargle, dab, or soak in the goodness of apple cider vinegar.

ACV is considered likely safe to be consumed in moderation by healthy individuals on a daily basis. However, even though there are little to no apple cider vinegar side effects, you may consider consulting a physician before using. Your health is going to remember the favour you have done to it long after you’ve enjoyed this special tonic.