Did you over-do it over the holidays? We’ve all been there. But there are a few things you can do to feel a little better (hello salads!), including turning to that familiar bottle of apple cider vinegar.
Home remedies and folk medicine have long relied on apple cider vinegar to aid digestion and prevent or relieve heartburn. Today, apple cider vinegar is revered for all these qualities and more. It is used in detox beverages and in weight loss regimens.
Healing With Apple Cider Vinegar
Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food, is a favorite maxim of modern healthy living advocates. But did you know that this statement is over 2,000 years old?
In ancient Greece, Hippocrates, The Father of Medicine, backed up his admonition by prescribing apple cider vinegar mixed with honey for its healing and cleansing qualities. In biblical times, after laboring in the barley fields, Boaz encouraged Ruth to dip bread in vinegar during their meal. (Ruth 2:14). It was used at this time not only to flavor food but as an energizing drink. Soldiers through the ages consumed diluted vinegar as an energizing and strengthening tonic.
Drinking water with apple cider vinegar between meals, preferably 20 minutes before eating, may help curb cravings, avoid overeating at mealtime, keep you feeling full longer, increase energy, and help stabilize blood sugar levels. It is interesting, yet doubtful, that Boaz understood when Ruth dipped her bread in vinegar that it would help prevent a spike in her blood sugar!
Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar
Acetic acid (AcOH), a major component of vinegar, has been found to suppress body fat accumulation. In a double-blind trial of obese individuals, participants were divided into three groups of similar: body weight, body mass index, and waist circumference. During the 12-week treatment, the subjects in each group ingested 500 ml daily of a beverage containing either 15 ml of vinegar, 30 ml of vinegar, or 0 ml of vinegar in the placebo group. Both groups ingesting vinegar daily showed significantly reduced body weight, BMI, waist circumference, and serum triglyceride levels.
However, this relatively short study does not prove nor suggest that apple cider vinegar alone will reduce obesity. Rather, it can be part of a healthy lifestyle which includes: eating nutritious foods, exercise, and adequate sleep.
Natural health and nutrition professionals recommend consuming only unpasteurized, organic apple cider vinegar with the mother of vinegar, as it contains the beneficial acetic acid bacteria. Learn to make your own apple cider vinegar from scraps!
If you want to try a natural cleanse, this apple cider vinegar detox drink can be added to your diet.
Dr. Axe’s Secret Detox Drink Recipe
(Used with permission)
Per serving
12-16 ounces of water 2 tablespoons organic, apple cider vinegar 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 teaspoon pure ground cinnamon 1 dash cayenne pepper Stevia or honey, to taste
Add all ingredients to a glass and stir vigorously to blend.
Dr. Axe recommends using this drink to cleanse when you’re feeling sluggish.
Like what you read? We’ve got more health benefits of apple cider vinegar here.
- Deborah Tukua
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