Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar
Lower blood sugar
Apple cider vinegar is said to help diabetics control blood sugar levels. Some studies show that consuming vinegar after a high-carbohydrate meal can improve insulin sensitivity by up to 34% and significantly lower blood sugar levels. However, if you are taking medications to treat diabetes, you should consult a health care professional before taking apple cider vinegar.
Helps you feel full
Apple cider vinegar is sometimes recommended as a weight loss aid. This is because it helps you feel full. Some short-term studies suggest that consuming apple cider vinegar may help you eat fewer calories, lose weight, and reduce belly fat if that's your goal. However, its long-term effects on weight loss are unknown and likely to be small unless a person also makes other dietary and lifestyle changes.
Soothes sore throat
Gargling with apple cider vinegar is a popular home remedy for sore throats. Rumor has it that its antibacterial properties can help kill bacteria that may cause sore throats. However, there is no evidence to support its use in this way. If you try this method at home, be sure to mix the vinegar with water before gargling. This is because apple cider vinegar is highly acidic and has been known to cause throat burns when consumed undiluted.
Uses of apple cider vinegar in food
Preserving food
Just like other types of vinegar, apple cider vinegar is an effective preservative. In fact, people have been using vinegar as a pickling agent to preserve food for thousands of years. It works by making food more acidic, which inactivates enzymes and kills any bacteria that might cause spoilage. You can find many recipes online on how to use apple cider vinegar to preserve or pickle food.
Making Salad Dressing
An easy way to use apple cider vinegar is to make a simple salad dressing, like this one. Homemade salad dressings are much less processed than store-bought ones, and they're usually tastier, too.
Cook better-tasting eggs
Adding vinegar to the water you use to boil or poach eggs can help you produce consistently high-quality eggs. This is because the proteins in egg whites harden faster when exposed to more acidic liquids. When you're poaching an egg, you want the whites to harden as quickly as possible so the egg can hold its shape. Using vinegar when boiling eggs can also speed up the setting, or setting, of the egg whites. This is useful if the eggshell cracks while cooking the egg.
As a marinade
Another way to use apple cider vinegar when cooking is to make a marinade. In fact, apple cider vinegar is a popular ingredient in many steak marinades. This is because it gives the meat a nice sweet and sour flavor. Mix it with wine, garlic, soy sauce, onions, and peppers to give your steak a flavorful kick.
Wash fruits and vegetables
Pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables can be a concern for many people. This is why some people like to use apple cider vinegar to clean their fruits and vegetables. Hopefully it will remove more chemical residue than water alone. While it's not entirely clear whether it removes more pesticides than simply washing with water, it may help kill any dangerous bacteria on your food. For example, washing food with vinegar has been shown to remove dangerous bacteria like E. coli and salmonella.
Add to sauces, soups, hot drinks
Apple cider vinegar can be a great ingredient in creating rich sauces for your food. Try adding it to tomato-based sauces to give them a fuller flavor.
Adding vinegar to soup can liven up its flavor. If your favorite homemade soup is a little bland, try adding a little vinegar at the end. Add gradually, tasting as you go, until you reach your preferred taste.
As an alternative to hot chocolate or hot tea, mix 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 tablespoon honey and 2 tablespoons lemon juice into 355ml hot water.
Personal care uses of apple cider vinegar
As a facial toner
Interestingly, apple cider vinegar is said to help treat skin conditions and provide graceful aging support. Therefore, many people like to use apple cider vinegar to make skin tonics. A general recipe is 1 part apple cider vinegar to 2 parts water. You can then apply it to your skin using a cotton pad. However, if you have sensitive skin, you may need to make a more dilute solution by adding more water. There is an insufficient amount of research to support the safety of using apple cider vinegar for this purpose.
Clean dentures and clean toothbrush
You can also use apple cider vinegar to clean your dentures. Although there's no consensus on the best way to clean them, it's thought that the residue left behind by apple cider vinegar may be less harmful to the skin of your mouth than other cleansers.
Given the antibacterial properties of apple cider vinegar, you can use it as a homemade cleaner for your toothbrush. To make your own toothbrush cleaner, mix 1/2 cup (120 ml) water with 2 tablespoons (30 ml) apple cider vinegar and 2 teaspoons baking soda. Mix well and leave the toothbrush head in the mixture for 30 minutes. Make sure to rinse the brush with water before use. Otherwise, the acidity of undiluted vinegar may damage your teeth.
Add in bathtub
For the same reason people love using apple cider vinegar as a homemade toner, they also love using it in the bath. If you want to try it, add 1-2 cups of apple cider vinegar to your bath water and soak in the tub. Be sure to dilute the vinegar thoroughly. Larger proportions of vinegar may irritate your skin.
As a shampoo, as a dandruff treatment
Apple cider vinegar shampoo is said to remove product buildup, detangle hair and add shine. Try mixing 1 part apple cider vinegar to 1 part water and pour the mixture on your hair. Leave it on for a few minutes before washing it off. If you have sensitive skin, try using a weaker dilution first, as vinegar is very acidic.
Massaging diluted apple cider vinegar into your scalp may help get rid of dandruff. It's unclear how effective this is, but the theory is that the acid in vinegar can help stop the growth of Malassezia, which can cause dandruff.
As a mouthwash
Apple cider vinegar is often said to be a useful alternative to commercial mouthwash. Its antibacterial properties may help relieve bad breath, although no studies have examined its effectiveness. If you try using apple cider vinegar as a mouthwash, be sure to dilute it well with water (usually 1 tablespoon per cup or 240 ml of water) as the acidity of the vinegar may damage your teeth.
Application of apple cider vinegar in hygiene and cleaning
Trapping fruit flies
Fruit flies can be pests, and it's really easy to make an inexpensive fruit fly trap using apple cider vinegar. Just pour some apple cider vinegar into a cup, add a few drops of dish soap (so any trapped flies will sink), and you're good to go.
Create an all-purpose cleaner
Apple cider vinegar is often a popular choice for a natural alternative to commercial cleaners. This is because of its antibacterial properties. Mix 1 cup of water with half a cup of apple cider vinegar and you'll have a natural, all-purpose cleaner. However, it's worth noting that while vinegars, including apple cider vinegar, can kill some bacteria, they are not as effective as commercial cleaners at killing harmful bacteria.
As a deodorant
Apple cider vinegar is known to have antibacterial properties. For this reason, people often claim that apple cider vinegar can eliminate bad odors. There are no studies to support these claims, but you can try mixing 1 part apple cider vinegar to 1 part water to make a deodorizing spray. This is a natural alternative to odor neutralizers. You can also mix apple cider vinegar with water and Epsom salts for a foot soak, like this one . This can help get rid of unwanted foot odor by killing odor-causing bacteria.
