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Recently at work, our discussion, which is frequently in line with Health & Wellness, landed on the subject of the benefits of apple cider vinegar. And while I was aware of a few – gargling with it when you have a sore throat – upon further research I was blown away by the laundry list of powerful benefits contained in a bottle of organic apple cider vinegar.

Thought I’d share:

The truly useful apple cider vinegar is not the clear vinegar you find in many stores. There’s no health benefit from clear vinegar. The powerful benefits are found in the natural organic Apple Cider Vinegar with a brownish tinge to it and floating stuff inside. The floating matter is called “mother” (like what’s used to make kombucha!) and is formed from the pectin and apple residue. This brown vinegar is the one creating all the buzz, the one with the minerals, amino acids and vitamins.

So, what’s Good About Apple Cider Vinegar?

Well, several ingredients found in Apple Cider Vinegar serve to enhance its reputation as a true health benefit. Calcium, iron, sodium, potassium, malic acid and pectin are several of the minerals which it has in perfectly balanced amounts, which gets most people’s attention.

Potassium – to avoid runny nose, hair loss, brittle teeth
Malic Acid – to fight infections from harmful bacteria and fungus
Acetic Acid – accounts for the sour taste of vinegar; lowers the blood’s pH levels thereby creating an inhospitable intestinal environment for bacterial & fungal infections.
Pectin – facilitates regulation of blood pressure and removal of bad cholesterol

INTERNAL BENEFITS:

Rich in enzymes & potassium; natural antibiotic germ fighter – fights E Coli and other bacteria; helps control and normalize weight; helps improve digestion assimilation; helps relieve arthritis stiffness; helps relieve dry sore throats; helps remove body sludge toxins.

EXTERNAL BENEFITS:

Helps maintain healthy skin; helps promote youthful, healthy bodies; soothes pain of sunburn; helps prevent dandruff; itching scalp, baldness; soothes tight aching joints and sore muscles.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Why is it raw?

Pasteurization is the heating process intended to remove potential problem bacteria from consumable liquids such as milk, juices etc. However the heat process of pasteurization will also remove delicate nutrients and enzymes that may constitute a major portion of the nutritional value of that food.

In the case of Bragg’s Raw Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s also have a great, organic version of Apple Cider Vinegar though they aren’t raw), pasteurization would eliminate the “mother”, a major health-giving factor of our vinegar. The strands of complex proteins constitute important delicate enzymes that are a major part of Bragg ACV’s health properties.

How does it fight E Coli and other harmful bacteria?

Raw Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, unlike juices or ciders, CONTAINS NO SUGARS which would be the growth medium for potentially harmful bacteria such as E Coli. Additionally the high acidic nature of ACV assures that none of these bacteria could exist or propagate.

How can ACV help against premature aging?

When acid crystals harden in the joints and tissues of any animal, the joints become stiff and the tissues hardened. The meat becomes tough and tasteless. But, when the animals are given apple cider vinegar regularly, the precipitated acid crystals enter into a solution and pass out of the body, thus making the body tissues healthier and tender. This applies to human flesh also.

When body tissues hold all the precipitated acid crystals they can, the crystals then appear in the muscles and the joints of the body, resulting in arthritis and bursitis. 1 to 2 tsp of apple cider vinegar with 1 to 2 tsp of raw honey in a glass of distilled water daily will help relieve the stiff aching and prematurely old joints.

How can ACV keep joints and tissues youthful?

If you suffer from premature old joints and hardened tissues, take the ACV mixture several times daily. Eliminate or cut down on animal proteins and stop all refined sugars and see how very youthful your body will feel.

You will find after several months of the ACV and honey cocktail taken once or twice daily, the misery will be gone from your joints. You will discover you can walk or run up several flights of stairs without any effort. You will notice that you look younger and above all, that you feel younger than you have for years.

How to take it:

You have three options for taking ACV as part of your detox. Take it before you eat in water or a fruit juice, add it to your meal as a dressing, or take a bath in it!

Before your meal - Try adding 2-3 teaspoons of ACV in a large glass of water or your favorite juice. It works well with tomato juice. Be sure to dilute Apple Cider Vinegar as it is highly acidic. Don’t drink it straight or you could damage your tooth enamel. Ideally, drink the diluted ACV with a straw to protect your teeth. If you can’t bear the taste or if it feels uncomfortable to drink alternately, you can buy capsules from your local health food store.

During your meal – Apple Cider Vinegar can also be used to dress a whole array of foods. Here are a couple of really easy recipes for dressings.

ACV & Olive Oil Dressing
3 Tbsp ACV
3 Tbsp olive oil
salt, pepper to taste
ACV, Garlic & Canola Oil Dressing
3 Tbsp ACV
3 Tbsp canola oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
Salt, pepper to taste
ACV, Honey & Yogurt Dressing
3 Tbsp. ACV
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
3 Tbsp. organic yogurt
1/4 Tsp. honey
Salt, pepper to taste

Mix ingredients well, ideally in something you can really shake up. Add to salads, grilled veggies, fish and chicken, then enjoy!

In your bath - A hot baths with ACV is also a great detoxification method. It is great for flushing out toxins through your skin, and any excess uric acid from the body. Just add 2-4 cups of ACV to a hot bath, lie back and soak for 20 minutes!