Why does apple cider vinegar have dozens of beneficial properties?
The beneficial properties of the product are explained by the presence of components such as acetic acid, magnesium, potassium, enzymes and probiotics.
Acetic acid, acting as a natural antibiotic, has a detrimental effect on pathogens and promotes the proliferation of “good” bacteria. This explains the fact that it has a positive effect on the condition of the skin, digestion and immunity without any adverse reactions.
Apple cider vinegar is also a good source of polyphenols, which are actively involved in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and cancer, osteoporosis and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.
Debunking the Most Popular Health Myths
Editing: Maxim Petrakov
Source: https://tonic.vice.com/en_us/article/d3m77v/biggest-health-myths-wellness-myths
Raise your hand if you have a friend who has tried anything on this list: apple cider vinegar, infrared saunas, the ketogenic diet or detox. How about a friend who avoids gluten and refined sugar? Or maybe you know someone who drinks hydrogen water to be healthier? Be sure to send this article to them.
Often, many recommendations for improving health turn out to be very exaggerated or incorrect. To save your time, money and, most importantly, health, we are publishing a list of myths about certain things that supposedly make us healthier.
- Pink Himalayan salt is no more “nutritious” than regular table salt. Although it may contain higher amounts of some minerals, these amounts are negligible and do not provide any health benefits.
- Lectins are not harmful. This family of protein compounds found in beans and other plants does not make these plants harmful to your health.
- Probiotics probably won't improve your mood, immune system, or overall health. However, they may help with irritable bowel syndrome.
- Kombucha does not make you healthier. Yes, it contains everyone's favorite probiotics, but as stated above, they probably won't impact your overall health.
- “Natural sugars” such as agave syrup and coconut sugar are no better than regular refined sugar. All carbohydrates have basically the same amount of calories and nutrients.
- Alkaline water will not make you healthier. You can't change your body's acid-base balance (pH balance) through food, and you wouldn't want to.
- Apple cider vinegar is a good addition to salads. But not for treating acid reflux or treating acne.
- You don't need a juice detox. Your body has a built-in detoxification system in the form of the liver and kidneys.
- Activated charcoal is only useful when you are in the emergency room and need to pump your stomach. Not for your skin or digestive system.
- Charcoal toothpaste does not strengthen your teeth. And it can damage your enamel.
- The ketogenic diet is not magic. It works just like any other diet by creating a calorie deficit.
- Lemon water will not speed up your metabolism . It will also not detoxify the body, but the acid it contains can damage tooth enamel.
- Dark chocolate is probably no better than other sweets. Studies that have found a link between chocolate consumption and better health simply show that there is a correlation; they don't prove that chocolate is the cause.
- Gluten is completely harmless for the vast majority of people. The only reasons you should eliminate it from your diet are if you have celiac disease (disease) or experience discomfort (stomach pain, nausea or diarrhea) after consumption.
- Infrared saunas do not remove toxins or burn fat. Yes, they heat you up and you sweat, but any weight you lose is water.
- Coconut oil will not help you lose weight, lower your cholesterol, or kill germs or viruses. But most likely it helps with eczema.
- Oil pulling will not help your mouth. If coconut oil pulling does anything for your oral health, it's likely due to its mechanical effect, not because it disinfects or "cleanses" your mouth.
- Weighted blankets do not cure mental disorders. However, some people like to sleep under them.
- Organic cotton tampons and menstrual cups are not safe. They do not protect against toxic shock syndrome (TSS).
- Red yeast rice supplements are not as effective at lowering cholesterol levels. Oh, and there is no way to confirm how much active ingredient is in these supplements.
- You should not eat your placenta. There is no evidence that it may have a positive effect on depression, lactation, or maternal bonding. It's also potentially harmful.
- Microwave ovens do not have any negative effects on your health. They do not cause cancer, do not destroy all the nutrients from your food, and are completely safe to use.
- There is no healing, stress-relieving energy in crystals. There is some magic there, but it is only in your head.
- You don't need colon therapy to cleanse your colon. If you're constipated, there are safer, cheaper ways to try, and if you're doing it for weight loss, you're just paying for someone to give you diarrhea.
- Don't drink red wine because you think it's healthy. At least drink it (if you decide to anyway) because it’s delicious.
- Epsom salt does not reduce muscle pain. And hot baths can actually only enhance it.
- You can't cure depression with exercise. Exercise is beneficial for people with poor mental health (and almost everyone!). But they do not replace other treatments, such as psychotherapy and medication.
- Meditation is not always calming. In some people it can cause hyperarousal, sensitivity to light and sound, and intense negative emotions.
- Cryotherapy (cold treatment) does not help your muscles recover. There is unlikely to ever be conclusive evidence that being in a cold chamber reduces inflammation and muscle pain.
- Food intolerance tests are pseudoscientific. Many of the food intolerance tests are actually antibody tests, which show that you have recently been exposed to a certain food, not that your body is sensitive to it.
- Soy does not make men's breasts grow. Soy does not have a feminizing effect on men, even men in Asian countries who get much more protein from soy than Americans.
- Birth control pills do not cause breast cancer. Studies that have found an association have only found one thing: a connection. And that's small.
- Hydrogen water is no better than water. There is no evidence that hydrogen water, in which H2O contains additional H molecules, will have an anti-inflammatory effect in healthy people.
- You don't need to exercise on an empty stomach to burn fat. One workout before breakfast may burn more fat than a workout after eating, but after a few weeks your body will adapt and there will be no difference.
- Vitamin drips have no effect on healthy people. However, they may help those who have conditions such as celiac disease that make it difficult for them to absorb nutrients.
- The effects of high-intensity interval training on fat loss have been exaggerated. But HIIT takes less time than long workouts.
- The concept of "superfood" is misleading. Blueberries, kale, or any other food alone will not make you healthier.
- There is no reason for healthy people to avoid the nightshade family. No, nightshade fruits and vegetables do not cause inflammation in the body.
- Celery juice will not cure your health problems. And eating whole celery is probably better than drinking it.
- You can lose weight without cutting carbohydrates in your diet. Maintaining a low-carb diet over the long term is challenging and may not be entirely healthy.
- There are no known health risks associated with consuming genetically modified foods (GMOs). Corn, soybeans and other genetically modified foods are safe to eat.
The real benefits of apple cider vinegar
There are 20 main reasons why it should be consumed daily.
- Detoxifier Unfiltered apple cider vinegar for the liver and lymphatic system is a tonic that is used to cleanse the body. It restores normal pH values, stimulates the cardiovascular system, lymphatic drainage and intestinal motility. For this reason, the drug acts as one of the key ones in the treatment of drug addiction and alcoholism.
- A Natural Oral Care Remedy – Dental Whitener To whiten your teeth, soak your finger in vinegar and rub your teeth with it for a minute, then rinse your mouth with water. The whitening effect is made possible by the pH of the vinegar.
- Natural Hair Conditioner To give your hair a healthy shine, just take an old shampoo bottle, add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and a glass of water. Experts recommend washing your hair with this composition three times a week.
- Getting rid of heartburn and acid reflux One of the reasons for the development of heartburn or acid reflux is an imbalance in the pH of the stomach, insufficient production of enzymes and the lack of probiotics, which apple cider vinegar is rich in. How to use it in such situations? Add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a cup of water and drink the contents 5 minutes before meals.
- Eliminating Candida Yeast and Increasing Probiotic Content Countless people around the world are seeking to get rid of yeast infections in the body, which can manifest as loss of energy, bad breath, digestive and urinary problems. Apple cider vinegar contains probiotics and itself promotes their growth, which leads to the death of yeast. To do this, just give up sugar and consume 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar daily.
- Regulating the body's pH Acetic acid in apple cider vinegar is acidic in nature, but can have an alkaline effect on the human body. Balancing the body's pH reduces the risk of developing chronic diseases such as cancer, and also helps you stay energized throughout the day.
- Weight loss and normalization of metabolism Studies in the Journal of Diabetes Care indicate that apple cider vinegar leads to weight loss in overweight people. At the same time, detoxification improves and sugar cravings decrease. Studies have shown that in experimental mice the fat content in the body decreases by 10%.
- A universal cleaner for household needs. Antibacterial qualities and a perfectly balanced pH make apple cider vinegar an excellent household cleaner. To clean, you need to add vinegar and water in equal proportions to the bottle, and then spray the liquid onto the surfaces to be cleaned, followed by wiping.
- Treating Sunburn Apple cider vinegar quickly soothes sunburned skin. A composition prepared from apple cider vinegar, essential and coconut oil is applied to the affected areas.
- Normalization of blood sugar levels in diabetes mellitus Medical studies have shown that apple cider vinegar is able to balance blood sugar levels and restore the sensitivity of insulin receptors. You can add it to salads or separately in the amount of 1 tablespoon diluted with water before meals.
- Treatment After Exposure to Poison Ivy Raw apple cider vinegar contains potassium, which reduces the inflammatory response that occurs after exposure to the poison ivy plant. The number of side effects of the plant on the body is reduced, due to which damaged skin heals in a shorter time.
- Flea Treatment for Pets The pet's fur should be washed with a mixture containing equal parts water and apple cider vinegar. This must be done once a day for several weeks until your pet is free of fleas.
- Normalization of blood pressure in hypertension Back in 2009, studies were conducted according to which apple cider vinegar leads to a decrease in triglycerides in the blood and a decrease in blood pressure.
- Combat Seasonal Allergies Apple cider vinegar helps protect mucous membranes and maintain normal levels of lymphatic drainage, which helps improve immunity. If you are allergic to a glass of water, take 2 tablespoons of the product and drink it three times during the day.
- Remedy for skin fungus For greater effectiveness, add oregano oil and coconut oil to apple cider vinegar. The composition is rubbed into the area affected by the fungus twice a day.
- Help with Acne and Eczema Apple cider vinegar has healing effects on the skin due to its pH level. The affected area of skin is first treated with apple cider vinegar, and then a mixture of coconut and essential oil is applied for speedy healing.
- Varicose veins Apple cider vinegar increases venous circulation and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent when applied to areas of skin with varicose veins. The product is mixed with witch hazel. This composition is rubbed into the skin in a circular motion with your hands. Improvement is usually observed within two weeks.
- Natural deodorant It is known that unpleasant body odor comes from yeast fungi that actively multiply in the moist armpit area. To neutralize it, simply rub a little apple cider vinegar into your finger and rub it under your armpit.
- Treating a Sore Throat Containing acetic acid, probiotics, and vitamins, apple cider vinegar is great for quickly treating a sore throat. You need to dilute two tablespoons of the product in a glass of water and gargle with the mixture three times a day.
- Reducing Warts Apple cider vinegar is applied to the wart and the area is covered with a bandage overnight. The results often appear within a week.
It should be noted that this article shows only some of the beneficial properties that apple cider vinegar has.
Side effects
Drinking apple cider vinegar may cause some unwanted side effects.
For example, one 2014 study shows that many people experience nausea after drinking apple cider vinegar ().
The study authors say this may explain why drinking apple cider vinegar may curb your appetite. With this in mind, they do not recommend it as an appetite suppressant.
Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid. Consequently, a person who frequently drinks apple cider vinegar may experience erosion of tooth enamel. Some studies also show that drinking vinegar daily causes tooth wear ().
Making your own vinegar
Apple cider vinegar prepared at home is distinguished by higher quality, good taste and beneficial properties due to the fact that selected apples are used as raw materials. Its concentration is lower compared to industrial.
There are several ways to make apple cider vinegar. They all require 4 to 6 weeks to complete the fermentation process. Therefore, if you need vinegar now, we recommend buying it at the store. If you want to cook for the future yourself, we are not giving you the fastest, but the highest quality recipe. This recipe was proposed by Dr. D. S. Jarvis.
Apple Cider Vinegar Recipe
- Wash the apples, remove damaged parts. Grate on a coarse grater and place in an enamel or glass vessel. As an alternative, you can chop the apples very finely.
- For every 800g of chopped apples, add 1 liter of warm boiled water. Add honey or sugar to the resulting mixture (100g per 1 liter of water). To speed up the fermentation process, you can add dry rye bread to the slurry (20g per 1 liter or 10g of yeast per liter).
- Keep the mixture in an open container at a temperature of 20–30°C. Stir the fermenting pulp with a wooden spoon 2-3 times a day.
- After 10 days, squeeze the mixture through cheesecloth. Strain the resulting liquid and place in a jar, add sugar or honey (50–100g per 1 liter of juice), cover with gauze and place in a warm place to continue fermentation. gauze and place it in a warm place to continue fermentation. The processes leading to the formation of apple cider vinegar, according to Dr. Jarvis's recipe, last 40-60 days.
- The resulting vinegar should be filtered again, bottled, and tightly corked. It is best to keep vinegar in a cool place at a temperature of 6–8°C.