Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV): 9 Top Uses & Health Benefits

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Posted by Millie (Memphis, Tn) on 11/18/2011

Actually, for those of you saying that you should not take vinegar orally, there are three well done, peer reviewed studies in recognized medical journals such as Diabetes Care. These show an improvement in blood sugar and insulin levels taking either at bedtime or before a meal. These studies were done with both apple cider and white vinegar. I wouldn't mix with baking soda as I saw no studies on that, but to say that it is harmful to take vinegar by mouth (I think 2 tbsp was the dose) is not backed up by research. (No studies were about toe fungus, however, they do promote the use of vinegar by mouth for systemic effect)

Replied by Marwa
(Toronto, Canada)
11/21/2011

Hi Loraine,

I have been searching for posts on ACV and most posts are from 2008-2009 but I finally found yours. I have a question I take a table spoon of apple cider vinegar in a half liter water. I wonder if it is better to take the vinegar on its own.

I want to use it for acid reflux or just reflux. I avoid most foods that are acidic and know which ones are alkaline but I get reflux as soon as I eat what is normal meal for most people... If I want to stay away from trouble I need a child meal or very little food and also drinking water far away from meals. I went to the restaurant yesterday and it was bad but I didn't want to leave tasty and expensive food on my plate!

Anyone who is reading this let me know if taking ACV without water would be better for me since having water around lunch and dinner makes me regurgitate.

Also, is it good to mix my honey with the ACV. So far I take honey on an empty stomach.

Thanks

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Posted by Katy (Alexandria, Virginia ) on 11/16/2011
★★★★★

My great great aunt takes 2 tsps ACV straight every morning. She is 89 and still going strong. As soon as I turned 20 I started taking a "shot" of ACV in the morning. The vinegar was much too strong on my stomach first thing so after a few days I started mixing it with some local honey and water and would mix it all in a glass. It is so good it tastes like apple cider with a kick.

Replied by Mary
(Hyderabad, Ap, india)
11/18/2011

Where do I get apple cidar vinegar in India, especially Hyderabad? I had a hard time finding it in stores.

Replied by Mary
(Hyderabad, Ap/india)
11/21/2011

Got it in QMart

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Posted by Ethelsue (Cincinnati, Ohio) on 11/13/2011

I drink a shot of apple cider vinegar with water every evening. I have heard taking Apple Cider Vinegar when taken daily causes esophagal, pancreas and liver cancer. Have you heard this too?

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Posted by Patricia (Hanover, Ontario Canada) on 11/09/2011

Hey there. Just reading the ACV cures section and I have to say it is a load of info to sift through. I would like to start taking ACV for a number of different reasons but have the odd reaction of gagging when I drink anything dissolved in water. I tried ACV straight up and was totally fine (almost) with the taste and am wondering if that is ok, in the long run, to take it that way. I can drink the water a few minutes later and drink a fair bit in a day anyway. Do most people take it everyday or do they take breaks with it? What are the thoughts on this?

Replied by Ralph
(Miami, Fl Usa)
11/09/2011

No harm will come in taking ACV straight up daily. I drink 1 once with half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper every day with no problems. I workout every day and it prevents lactic acid build up.

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Posted by Tom (Houston, Tx) on 10/09/2011

Please help me to understand this about vinegar being alkaline. Apple Cider Vinegar is Acetic ACID with a ph of about 4.5. It is not alkaline when ingested. How can it be good for gastric reflux and other acid casuing illnesses when the acetic acid is very irritating to the esophagus and temporarily lowers blood ph to the acid side until the kidneys balance the ph back to 7.4 which is the boy's normal ph, slightly alkaline. Where am I going wrong?

Replied by H. Anton
(Danbury, Ct)
10/09/2011

You are quite right that apple cider vinegar is quite acidic. Just as it is with lemon juice, after it is metabolized, the residue (ash) is alkaline and helps to alkalize the body.

However, it could be irritating to the esophagus as you drink it since it is still acidic at this point.

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Posted by Ann (Kingston, Jamaica) on 09/21/2011

Doesn't ACV bleach your face. Does it work the same for black people?

Replied by Tracy
(Boulder City, Nv, Usa)
09/10/2012

Hi Ann, I'm not sure about ACV bleaching the face but hydrogen peroxide will bleach your face. However, They both will dry your skin out, so be sure to use some coconut oil as a fabulous moisturizer to replenish your skin :) I am an Esthetician and I use it daily.

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Posted by Doddie (Lawrenceville, Georgia, Usa) on 09/19/2011

I read on here that under certain conditions Apple Cider Vinegar should not be used. Can you tell me what they are ? And under what conditions should only baking soda should be use (if any) ? Thank you for your feedback. I may have missed the answer in my reading EC but I think this is important to know.

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Posted by Cho-aquarius (Las Vegas, Nevada) on 09/04/2011

My question is about the acv, is it ok for me to take Apple Cider Vinegar even my uric acid is very high? I have type 2 diabetes too and my tryglycerides is 400 im not taking any medicine for my tryglyceride coz im having a muscle pain with the medicine theyre giving me. Im taking metformin 1000 morning and evening but my sugar still 160 fasting and after 2hrs (aftermeal) 175 my a1c is 7 so im wondering is Apple Cider Vinegar can help me with all my problems please help im getting depress and stress thank you very much

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Posted by Christine (Nottingham, England) on 08/14/2011

to ti. Thank you for your suggestion I will give it a try. christine

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Posted by Christine (Nottingham, England) on 08/13/2011

can ted or anyone tell me if apple cider vinegar contains histamine. I would like to try it to reduce histamine levels. I am not sure what to do. I do not want to make things worse. thanks

Replied by Ti
(Houston, Usa)
08/13/2011

Christine, A natural product to reduce histamines is Standard Process 'Antronex'. Hope it helps. You can find it on amazon.

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Posted by Marina (New York) on 08/13/2011

Dear Earth Clinic,

Thanks so much for your website. It is priceless. One question about ACV -- is it just as effective eating it with olive oil in a salad, or does it work better/faster in water? Thanks again for a great resource!

Marina

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Posted by Rapunzel (Hotlanta, Usa) on 08/09/2011
★★★★★

@Aricegirl,

There's no harm whatsoever in taking the vinegar straight or in less water than suggested above. In fact, I take mine either straight, or I will put the ACV in a tablespoon or two of water and down it in a single gulp. (Sometimes to sweeten it a bit, I'll put in a couple drops of liquid stevia. If you go this route, just make sure that you rinse out your mouth with clean water b/c you don't want the ACV to wear down the enamel on your teeth.

Also (and perhaps most important of all), be sure to purchase an ACV that is unrefined - meaning that it is raw/unpasteurized and with the "mother" still in it ... And preferably organic. The "mother" is the natural fermentation base that allows the apple cider to become vinegar. Always shake up the bottle before you pour the vinegar in order to get those wonderful enzymes, beneficial bacteria, and great nutrients all mixed together.

WRT your own allergy issues, you might also try finding a local honey source and take a small amount each day. (Some take 1 tsp, others 1Tbsp. ) Honey from a local source will have the pollens in your area, and this will allow your body to become accustomed them, naturally.

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Posted by Antonia (Bulacan, Baliwag, Bulacan, Philippines) on 08/09/2011

Can I use the heinz apple cider vinegar in the absence of _____ brand with the mother. We don't have _____ brand in the Philippines.

Thank you, antonia

Replied by Kelly
(Cambridge, Ma)
08/10/2011

Hi Antonia - Yes, you can substitute Heinz ACV for _____'s. I've actually had better results with Heinz. When I switched to _____'s, my symptoms returned (go figure), so I went back to using the Heinz brand.

Replied by Mmsg
(Somewhere, Europe)
08/10/2011

I find wine vinegar doing the same as ACV, mainly: more energy and better skin. I dilute it a lot. I suspect many other vinegars might work the same as ACV at least for some things and for some people!

Replied by Dud
(Somewhere In, Wv, Usa)
08/11/2011

Antonio, Kelly:

Both _____s & "Tree of Life" raw apple cider you buy off the shelf is now sub-standard & inferior vinegar. They are still "green" and un-finished ferment products that have not been "finished" to real vinegar yet.

You can tell this by their taste alone. They are still in some in-between stage. They are not true vinegar. Just taste them.

They used to be the real thing, but not any more. I used to use those brands, until about 6 months ago, when I noticed the change in taste. Then I began using regular store brand apple cider instead. [non raw]. I will continue to do so, until the _____ company starts selling real [raw] vinegar again.

I do not believe that _____s or TREE OF LIFE brands are true vinegars now, and therfore they can not give you the medicinal effects of true vinegar.

I suppose they are selling so much of it, that they can not keep up with production. So they are bottling the green un-finished product to sell us instead.

Replied by G
(Ny)
08/12/2011

Everyone's health/body needs are different. What works for one does not mean that it will work for all. You can tell by the "yeah"'s and "nay"'s on here for any remedy listed (not just with ACV. ) Some people have found that regular ACV works for their ailments. Some only found relief with organic…. While some have found that white vinegar works best.. Trial and error for each individual. I have found that white vinegar works better on my face than ACV. I was giving my dog regular ACV to try to help with her ear issues. No improvement until I switched to organic ACV. She is a much happier dog. Trial and error... Patience. Thanks.

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Posted by Ctbrgr (Newton, Nc, Usa) on 07/29/2011

I am giving this stuff a try (acv and honey) and it hurts so bad that I may overdo the treatment. Last couple of days I've done the Apple Cider Vinegar concoction a few times a day, and it seems to be better for a short time then rebounds back, so I take it that it is not a fast cure, so here I go for a couple days fasting food and drinking this stuff, I don't want the hurt to come back, so I am drinking about 2 cups water, 2 Tbsps _____s, and half of a tsp of local honey. If I do this every hour and lots of plain water in between, is that too much acv???? I also got the neti pot things together and will be starting that every hour after I get done with this..... Any other suggestions?.... Warnings????

Replied by Janet
(Kendal, U.k)
07/30/2011

E.C always tends to suggest to start any new treatment on low dose and increase steadly, giving your body chance to adjust. Sounds good advice.

You didn,t say why you were taking it, But with my own experiance I found I too had to reduce for awhile. Otherwise the side affects off balanced the benefits. Good Luck!!

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Posted by Abedog (Kirkland, Wa, Usa) on 07/22/2011

Hi there,

Can you take ACV every day forever? Or should you only take it when you have an acute symptom?

With all the benefits I see for it, I'm wanting to know if I can just take it always? What about my children and pets? I would be terrified to stop it with the horrendous health problems we have had in this family and the relief the ACV has brought us.

Thank you so much to this site and all the contributors.