I have one secret weapon that’s eased sore throats, cleared up grumpy pimples and settled my stomach on days where it felt like nothing would. You’ve probably heard of my good friend, apple cider vinegar, before.
A name that’s both feared and loved – sometimes at the same time.
If you’re still on the fence when it comes to giving the way of the mighty apple a go, here’s an open-letter on why apple cider vinegar should become your next handbag essential (just don’t let it spill).
Who am I to be offering Apple Cider Vinegar advice?
In my early years, my mom taught me about the power of The Natural Way – taking cues from Mary-ann Shearer’s epic book which educates on how to enjoy nature’s goodness not for the purpose of diet, but lifestyle.
This meant that I became privy to a lot of (for the time) well-kept healthy hacks – like apple cider vinegar (ACV).
I’ve seen the bottle of everyone’s least favourite smell doing the rounds on TikTok, so I figured it was time to dust off some of my decades-long wisdom and spill the cider (read, tea).
How about them apples
What are the benefits and are they worth it?
Back in the day, Hippocrates who’s also known as the father of modern medicine is believed to have used vinegar to clean wounds. While we have a lot more options today (thankfully) there is still some proven truth in the benefits of certain practices-of-old, and apple cider is one such prevailing remedy for many people.
I’m no nutritionist, but there are lots of people who are. According to the experts, ACV can be a champion for many when it comes to managing blood sugar levels, combatting high cholesterol, dealing with scalp irritations, clearing acne and pimples and soothing sore throats to name a few.
Where I’ve personally seen the wonders of good old ACV has been across the board. It’s my first go-to before heading off to a doctor – something that anyone who tries to stay off prescribed meds for as long as they can before it becomes absolutely necessary will understand.
Every time my throat starts misbehaving, gargling in a cap-full of ACV with warm water for a few days has done more for me than much else. Whenever I’ve dealt with tonsillitis (which I battled with a lot in my youth) ACV was the soothing element that helped my throat ease up.
Drinking it with tea (especially green tea) kickstarts smoother digestion antics for me and rumour has it, it can help your metabolism too – although this depends on your daily dietary needs.
Heartburn incoming? A little ACV has come to the rescue.
Not to mention, when it comes to blocked pores, ACV has worked wonders for my skin.
Useage
According to WebMD, “apple cider vinegar is made through a process called fermentation. The yeast in the mixture digests the sugar in the apple juice, turning it into alcohol after a few weeks. Then, natural bacteria break the alcohol down into acetic acid, which gives vinegar its tangy taste and odor.”
With this being said, ACV is not a medication and should never be used in place of what your doctor prescribes you. Think of it as the natural side-kick that sometimes spots a crime before it happens, or helps the main character complete the mission with more ease.
When it comes to how much ACV to use, remember that it packs a punch. Overdoing it could lead to certain issues, like burning your throat or drying out your skin.
- 1-2 tablespoons mixed with water or tea for drinking is the recommended intake.
- If you’re gargling in ACV, again stick to a tablespoon with hot water. Gargle, don’t rinse as ACV can impact your teeth.
- For your skin, dab lightly on problem areas with cotton wool and make sure that you’ve done your homework to ensure it won’t upset your specific skin type.
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