I traveled recently. You might have noticed. I traveled with some truly odd things. One of the oddest was a bottle of apple cider vinegar.
To qualify for a spot in my pack, an item had to have a dual purpose. As a minimum requirement. Well, ACV certainly passed the test.
Read here about what else I packed to travel.
People often ask me, however, what the big deal is with ACV and what one is meant to do with it. Well, I’m here to say I can name five things…
1. Drink it with warm water in the morning and before meals
I take a tablespoon in slightly cooled, boiled water as soon as I wake up, and again before dinner.
Why? Personally, it gets my appetite going (in the morning) and it gets my juices fired up ready for food (before dinner). Having an autoimmune disease, I lack the crucial HCL required for proper digestion. ACV kicks in and does the job of the missing acid. That said, everyone can benefit from the practice – it alkalises, and as I’ve said before, disease is unable to exist in an alkaline system.
The more you alkalise, the better you are.
Here’s some stuff to know:
* ACV works by correcting acid issues. It acts as a buffer in the body – the acetic acid reacts with base or acid compounds to form an acetate, therefore rendering them chemically bioavailable for the body’s utilization.
* A 2009 study in Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry found consuming acetic acid for 12 weeks led to significant declines in body weight, abdominal fat, waist circumference and triglycerides.
* Also, it’s full enzymes that can help rid your body of candida due to the malic acid and acetic acid.
* It can reduce the toxicity of certain compounds, by converting the toxin into an acetate compound, which is much less toxic.
* If you have a hard time drinking it, try it with hot/warm water…it’s kind of warm ciderish and tastes sweeter when warm (somehow). Or try these ideas here for making it taste better.
PS: I like to use Bragg’s brand, or any other organic brand I can find.
2. Use it in dressings
Anyone who’s read my I Quit Sugar: an 8-week Program ebook will know that balsamic vinegar is 15 per cent sugar. ACV, by contrast is less than 1 per cent.
I make a simple dressing by mixing 3 tbls apple cider vinegar, 3 tbls Dijon mustard, 4 tbls olive oil in a jar and shaking.
3. Or just pour it on cucumber for a quick snack
Cucumber Salad
- 1 cucumber, peeled and chopped into 1/2 cm slices
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon celtic sea salt
Combine all the ingredients in a nice dish. Eat.
4. Use it to thicken your hair
Fill an old shampoo bottle with 1/2 a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and a cup of cold water. Pour the solution through your hair after shampooing several times a week – it makes it shiny and thicker. My hair has really struggled on this trip (thyroid stuff) and this rinse has made a big difference.
5. Use it to smooth your skin
Dilute apple cider vinegar with two parts water, and spread over your face with a cotton ball or dab it on pimples.
