Apple cider vinegar has been used for centuries in cooking and medicine.  It has become trendy in the last decade along with quinoa, cauliflower, avocado toast and charcuterie.  Like the father in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, who claims that Windex is a cure-all for everything from psoriasis to poison ivy, many similar vast reaching claims have been made about ACV.  ACV has many incredible benefits; it’s just not a cure-all for every ailment.  

Before I review some of the benefits, it’s essential to understand the difference between apple juice, apple cider and apple cider vinegar. 

Apple Juice

Apple juice is made by crushing, masticating or pulverizing apples to extract the juice from the flesh and skin of the fruit. It is then very finely filtered to create a liquid that is as thin as water. 

Apple Cider 

With apple cider, much of the pulp and even skin is left in the juice, which turns it into a deep caramel colour and adds a lot of heaviness to the final product. 

You can use unsweetened apple juice and apple cider interchangeably in recipes. 

Alcoholic vs Non-Alcoholic Apple Cider

When fresh apple cider is left to ferment, it becomes an alcoholic beverage. In some countries, cider always implies an alcoholic drink unless specifically stated. Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic ciders are available in Canada.  

What is Apple Cider Vinegar?

All vinegar is a fermented combination of water and acetic acid, but the acetic acid can be made from various plants, including potatoes, rice, grains, or fruit.

Apple cider vinegar is made from fermenting apples into natural sugar alcohol and then adding bacteria to convert the alcohol into acetic acid. Acetic acid gives vinegar its strong sour smell and flavour. Organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar also contains a substance called “the mother”, which consists of strands of proteins, enzymes, and friendly bacteria that give the product a murky appearance.

Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

ACV has been shown to have various healthy properties, including antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. 

Researchers believe acetic acid is responsible for apple cider vinegar’s health benefits. In comparison, others believe “the mother” is responsible for most of its health benefits. (1) Keeping the mother intact helps ensure you’ll get the probiotic benefits that come with ACV.

Other benefits:

• Improves digestion

• Aids in weight loss

• Reduces cholesterol

• Lowers blood sugar levels

• Improves the symptoms of diabetes

• Fights infections

How I’ve benefitted from ACV:

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

I’ve struggled with recurrent UTIs and eventually needed to take antibiotics for a few months.  However, the one thing that would settle my UTIs was to take a few tablespoons of ACV with a large glass of water.  Even now, when I rarely feel a UTI coming on, I drink a few large glasses of water with ACV, and the symptoms disappear.

Sugar Cravings

I love, love, love anything with sugar, especially chocolate, and have been known to inhale a large chocolate bar or bag of chocolate chip cookies in one sitting.  I still love sugar and occasionally have sweet treats, but since I started adding a teaspoon of ACV to my water and sip on it throughout the day, I’ve noticed that my cravings have decreased substantially.  I also feel less hungry.  

G.I. Issues

Whenever I experience bloating, gas, indigestion or reflux, I’ll drink 1 tablespoon of ACV with ½ cup of water and feel relief in about 5 minutes.  When I’ve had nighttime reflux, I ensure that I take a sip of this concoction before bedtime, and it prevents that uncomfortable burning sensation in the throat that reflux brings.  

Skin Irritations

I’ve applied ACV to foot fungus, rashes and acne (yes, I still have breakouts at 60!) and the ACV has helped cleared them up quickly.

Tips

Be sure to dilute your ACV to protect tooth enamel since ACV is acidic. It’s great in salad dressings, sauces, soups and baking. Plus, it can be used in cleaning, as a dandruff treatment and for lots of other household needs!

To receive the full benefits, ensure you purchase organic, unpasteurized ACV with “the mother” in a glass bottle. I always buy Bragg’s ACV (see above picture). ACV is also available in tablet form.

Be well.

Anita

Resources:

1. If you are interested in details about studies on ACV.  Healthline-ACV Benefits