What is up with Apple Cider Vinegar?

If you would have told me a couple of years ago that I would be spiking my water with ACV I would have never believed you. Nonetheless, here I am googling it and drinking it.  After using ACV during my spring cleanse I was surprised that my allergy symptoms seemed to go away.  I was not expecting this and had to know more about ACV. 

There is not a lot of official information ACV.  (There is a lot of info on drugs because there is a lot of money to be made on pharmaceuticals...not a lot of money in apple cider vinegar!)  There have been a couple university studies done to try to figure out what this simple tonic can do.  (It is important here to note that I am writing about raw and unfiltered ACV, the dirty looking bottle, not the pretty apple juice looking kind. ) There was promising results showing that that ACV does help in the battle against obesity and diabetes.  The remainder of the claims about ACV (including my accidental find of allergy relief) have just been passed down from great grandmothers and ancient medicine from around the world.  I think that my favorite research thoughts were from the National Arthritis Foundation which said (and this is my butchered paraphrase) “ACV is harmless, and unproven but what is it going to hurt to try it?  If it works, that’s great!” 
Remember how the mother on My Big Fat Greek Wedding thinks that Windex will cure everything?  As I started reading about ACV I began to have that same affinity for it!  The problems that raw, unfiltered ACV is credited to helping are endless!

·         Obesity

·         Diabetes

·         Warts

·         Lice

·         Acid Reflux

·         Sinus Infections

·         High Cholesterol

·         High Blood Pressure

·         Heart disease

·         Acne

·         Indigestion

·         Diarrhea

·         Constipation

·         PMS

·         Arthritis

·         Flu

·         Candida

·         Sore throats

·         Migraines

·         Chronic bad breath

·         Allergies

Now, I thankfully cannot give testimony to everything on this list, but the last one has me giddy.  I am taking 2 teaspoons of ACV (diluted in water) twice a day and no allergy meds.  I have been using my NettiPot before bed.  I am not sure that I need to, but I still cannot believe that the ACV is working.  I was telling my mom about my experience with ACV this weekend, and she agreed that my skin looked better too.  I fell like singing after I drink it because my throat is so clear.  I wish I would have known about this back when I was in solo competitions and performances!  It is said that ACV works because it regulates blood sugar, suppresses appetite, decreases inflammation, reduces mucus, kills bacteria, kills fungus, balances the body's ph, detoxes and aids digestion.
The recommendation is to dilute 2 teaspoons in 8 ounces of water.  ACV is very acidic.  Drinking it straight can erode the enamel off teeth and/or burn the esophagus.  I double the amount of water and drink it through a straw to keep it off my teeth.   There were reports of problems with drinking excessive amounts of ACV for an extended amount of time.  (Excessive amounts being 2 cups a day!  That is a lot of ACV!) 
I plan on continuing taking the ACV.  It is like the National Arthritis Foundation said “ACV is harmless, and unproven but what is it going to hurt to try it?  If it works, that’s great!” 


This post was linked to the Barn Hop at http://homesteadrevival.blogspot.com/ and http://www.nourishingtreasures.com/  and http://wearethatfamily.com/

4/19/12 NOTE:  I am getting a lot of questions about this post which is fun! I will try to do a follow up post soon, but really wanted to clarify that this post is about Raw, Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar.  (Braggs is a common brand.)  Locally I can get it at Fareway or Hy-Vee.  Don't buy the one that is "pretty" and looks like apple juice.  The one that you want is a little dirty looking.  The bottle often says that is "contains the mother."  I have no idea what "the mother" is but I know that the filtered ACV will not have the enzymes that raw does (making raw the effective ACV.)  It is also available on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Bragg-Apple-Cider-Vinegar-liquid/dp/B001AIWAAE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334839136&sr=8-1