Reported Uses and Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

The scientific method has been of great service to all of us since well before Galileo in the 17th century. However, not every idea can be tested scientifically. Doing detailed studies costs money and it would be inappropriate to devote resources to testing a simple, inexpensive product like apple cider vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar has been credited with curing everything from the arthritis to zits. Many of its supposed benefits are unproven with rigid scientific studies, but some experts think adding a little of the sour liquid to your life is healthy. I do.

We’ve been using it at our house and I’m convinced that many of the claims of medical benefit are true. There’s not much hard scientific proof out there, just some anecdotal reports and my own personal experience.

Because it’s safe and there are many possible benefits, a person should at least give it a trial. Here’s a list of some popular suggestions I’ve tried with success.
•    Apple cider vinegar’s effect on sugar metabolism is well documented. One study demonstrated that taking two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before bed resulted in lower glucose levels by morning.
•    Hiccups can be stopped by swallowing a teaspoonful of apple cider vinegar straight.
•    To soothe a sore throat, mix apple cider vinegar with an equal amount of  warm water and gargle every hour or so.
•    One 2006 study found that apple cider vinegar lowered bad cholesterol in rats.
•    Mix 1 tablespoonful of apple cider vinegar with water and drink before each meal to aid digestion. The same mixture can soothe an upset stomach.
•    Drinking a mixture of one teaspoonful of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water helps sinus drainage.
•    Improve your complexion by diluting apple cider vinegar 50/50 with water and apply it to your face with a cotton ball. Apply it straight up as a spot treatment to target blemishes.
•    To remove dandruff, mix 50/50 with water and saturate your scalp. Wrap your head in a towel and let it sit for 15 minutes to an hour. Then, wash it out as usual.
•    Reduce or eliminate nighttime leg cramps by drinking a glass of warm water into which you’ve mixed a tablespoonful of apple cider vinegar. May also be useful for restless leg.
•    Gargle with apple cider vinegar, or drink a teaspoon (diluted with water if you prefer) to kill odor-causing bacteria and improve breath. To whiten teeth, swish a little in the mouth and then rinse with water.
•    Dab straight apple cider vinegar on a bruise to help fade the discoloration. It can also soothe sore muscles and joints when applied topically. To relieve sunburn pain and itch add about a cup of apple cider vinegar to bath water and soak. It can also be applied directly to bug bites, poison ivy, even jellyfish stings, to stop the itch.
•    To top it off, there have been reports that the acidic nature of apple cider vinegar can improve pH, which has been shown to prevent and even cure certain kinds of cancer.

There are several brands of apple cider vinegar available. The most widely available is Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar. It’s the brand we use.

One caveat, do not test any of these ideas on children less than two years of age without consulting a health care professional.

I vinegar. Do you vinegar?