Legend has is that Cleopatra once
dissolved a pearl in a measure of vinegar before drinking the
concoction, thus winning a wager against Mark Antony that she could
spend a fortune on a single meal.
Truth or apocrypha, we may never know, but the Queen of the Nile most likely knew the
special qualities
of vinegar. Since 5,000 BC, the Babylonians had been using it as a
preservative and condiment; and long before Cleopatra’s costly cocktail,
Hippocrates had extolled vinegar’s medicinal qualities. In fact, the
Vinegar Institute touts the tart liquid as one of our earliest remedies.
Throughout the ages, vinegar has been made through the fermentation
of a long list of materials, including molasses, dates, sorghum, fruits,
berries, melons, coconut, honey, beer, maple syrup, potatoes, beets,
malt, grains and whey. But of all the vinegars on the block, the vinegar
made from apple cider is the darling of contemporary remedies.
Apple cider vinegar has long been used as a folk remedy, but it
came to superstar prominence in the 1950s when D.C. Jarvis sang its
praises in the best-selling book, "Folk Medicine: A Vermont Doctor's
Guide to Good Health." Now it is revered as a health tonic with
seemingly magical powers, rumored to have the properties needed to cure
everything from warts to diabetes.
While science has yet to prove many of the claims made about apple
cider vinegar, it remains a wildly popular product, serving duty in a
variety of roles, from beauty and homemaking to heath. The following
uses include some supported by science and some backed by folk wisdom.
1. Freshen your mouth
Some swear by using a rinse of apple cider vinegar mixed with water and swished about the mouth to reduce bad breath.
2. Treat acid reflux
In
13 surprising home remedies for acid reflux,
the treatments include taking one to two teaspoons of apple cider
vinegar daily. As it’s explained, most people mistakenly believe that
acid reflux is caused by an overproduction of acid, but it’s actually
the opposite for many people — not enough acid.
3. Alleviate GI distress
Those who prescribe to folk remedies
tell us that if one suffers from
diarrhea
caused by a bacterial infection, apple cider vinegar may help due to
its antibiotic properties. As well, some experts suggest that pectin in
apple cider vinegar can help calm intestinal spasms. If you're
suffering: Mix one or two tablespoons into water or apple juice and
drink.
4. Prevent indigestion
If you’re planning on indulging in a meal that you expect might not
get along very well with your stomach, try drinking one teaspoon of
apple cider vinegar mixed with one teaspoon of honey mixed in a small
glass of warm water 30 minutes before you dine.
5. Halt hiccups
If there was a clear-cut cure for the hiccups, we would all know about it and never
suffer the spazzy things
again. Alas, it’s eat peanut butter, hold your breath, drink water
upside-down, be scared, and any number of other folksy remedies. But
eventually, it seems like one of these sticks and does indeed seem to
stop them in their tracks. So next time you have a round of
uncontrollable hics, you might want to try the apple cider vinegar
remedy (if you dare): A teaspoon straight down the hatch.
6. Spoil your hair
It seems that whatever hair camp you fall into, vinegar can help. Consider the following:
7. Soothe a sore throat
There are a host of great
natural remedies for sore throats
out there, and employing apple cider vinegar is one of them. As soon as
you feel the first signs of a sore throat, try one of two methods. Mix
1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar with warm water and gargle every hour; or
mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with hot water and a shot of
honey and sip.
8. Fight the itch
9. Brighten skin
Many who suffer the angst caused by
skin problems —
from psoriasis and eczema to dry skin and blemishes — praise apple
cider vinegar for reducing inflammation and generally minimizing
problems. Try dabbing it on affected areas with a cotton ball.
10. Decrease glucose levels
Of all the ways in which people use apple cider vinegar, that which perhaps has the most potential is in
helping with diabetes.
Several studies have shown its positive effect on blood glucose levels;
a 2007 study of participants with type-2 diabetes found that two
tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before bed lowered glucose in the
morning by 4 to 6 percent.
11. Lower cholesterol and high blood pressure
If you’re a rat, that is. Several studies with rats have shown
vinegar’s beneficial contribution to lowering cholesterol and high blood
pressure. There’s no evidence that it can work on people, but research
in these areas continues.
12. Lose weight
If there’s one promise that most supplements and superfoods love to
claim, it’s their ability to aid in weight loss. For millennia vinegar
has been used to help lose weight; whether to factual effect or not has
yet to be proven by science, but many people cling to the practice with
devotion. One small study in 2005 did find that people who ate a piece
of bread with small amounts of vinegar felt fuller than those who didn’t
have the vinegar. Yet when it comes to vinegar and weight loss, the
Mayo Clinic reminds us that there is no magic bullet … aside from
eating fewer calories and exercising more.
Another thing the Mayo Clinic thinks we should know is the
following: Taking small amounts of apple cider vinegar should not offer
many risks, but taking in larger amounts on a regular basis could prove
problematic. It is highly acidic and may cause problems ranging from
harm to the teeth to lower potassium levels, lower bone density, and
interaction with some medications. As with all supplements, talk to your
health care provider before starting a new regimen.
