The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
General Feedback
Posted by Beccalec (Melbourne, Fl, Usa) on 07/09/2012
I have read many postings about the benefits of ACV, ways to take it, and discussions about its acidic nature. I am a nurse trying to get my head around naturalistic cures as wonderful alternatives to prescription medications, but I'm having a lot of confusion regarding how ACV actually works in the body. I still have a few questions that maybe someone can answer for me.
1. Perhaps I just haven't read enough, but wouldn't natural (unprocessed) apple cider give the same benefits as the vinegar?
2. If the benefits from ACV come from ingesting the "acid", wouldn't it all be neutralized by taking it with baking soda?
3. If the benefits of ACV are related to the acidic nature, wouldn't one get the same benefits by taking other highly acidic foods; lemon juice, tomatoes, etc?
Thanks for your time.
How to Take
Posted by Ed (New Holland, Pa) on 07/03/2012
★★★★★
I hate the taste of vinagar, so I found the best thing to mix with it is grape juice. Chug it down without breathing, then rince cup out with a little more grape juice. Not to bad!
Long Term Side Effects
Posted by Karlapep (Mandeville, La) on 06/13/2012
I am a 57 year old female, who had to go gluten/dairy and soy free a couple years ago. Been extremely strict with my diet and eat extremely healthy these days, excellent hydration habits and lost a ton of weight.
But for the past 6 months I'm plagued with something I can only describe as a dry mouth sensation. It started with stomach pains and spasms, but that went away and left me with the dry mouth. Sometimes this is very bad, sometimes it's tolerable, but it's been with me for 6 months now. It's not a matter of hydration, more water doesn't help. I've been to the doctor and months of testing show me as the picture of health, still I am plagued by this. I'm at the end of my rope. Now I have narrowed this down to my stomach. I am unsure whether this is connected to a low stomach acid problem or an excess stomach acid problem, but my dry mouth is worse whenever my stomach "isn't quite right".
So I am giving the ACV and honey cure a try. Just started this yesterday and so far I'm putting 2 tsp of organic ACV and 2 tsp of raw honey into about 8 oz of spring water and sipping it with my meal. (Tastes really good, I rather look forward to drinking it). At first I notice a very very slight burning in my middle, but it goes away pretty quickly if I sip a little more water. It does make the dry mouth abate for a couple hours. My worry though is that I'll damage my stomach if I actually have excess stomach acid causing the problem to worsen. How do you know if the ACV is doing more harm than good? How long should it take to see sustainable results?
Long Term Side Effects
Posted by Had (White River Junction, Vermont) on 06/15/2012
Stomach 'acid', is actually not enough acid in the stomach, so ACV tonic actually helps. I do the morning tonic, 2 TBS ACV, 1/4tsp Baking soda, 1cp water (i use a scoop of stevia as well but honey is good too). I'm in a treatment for hashimoto's, I get dry mouth, eyes, inside nose. For me, I added, cayenne pepper, 1/4-1 tsp in lilttle bit of warm/hot water, slam it back.... I do feel the 'burn' in the mouth/throat for a few min. , then heat in the stomach that soon moves to the abdomen. Dryness gone in minutes, stomach is soothed. I still do AVC, but having the cayenne everyday makes the difference for me.
How to Take
Posted by Deb (Vancouver, Canada) on 05/27/2012
I find the easiest way to take Apple Cider Vinegar is, put the amount on a spoon, pour it in your mouth but do not swallow, take a glass of water or juice if you prefer and while you still have the ACV in your mouth take a drink of the juice, mix it around in your mouth with the ACV and swallow, voila, done!!! I actually like the flavor so I can take it right off the spoon, but it can burn your throat that way so it's best to mix in some water or juice.
General Feedback
Posted by John (Melbourne, Victoria Australia) on 05/27/2012
★★★★★
In the past 2 weeks I have commenced using a cap full of organic ACV with a glass full of water every morning after breakfast. I am 54 years of age in good health and with the exception of a cholesterol lowering tablet, take no other medication. Over the past couple of months have felt lower energy levels and find it difficult to get going in the mornings. Since using the ACV have clearly noticed that my energy levels have returned and in fact better than what they were. I no longer have trouble getting out of bed and have found that there is no sign of constipation as was sometimes being experienced. I wasn't sure whether this was my imagination but now having read with great interest the feedback that have been posted, I do believe it is as a result of using the ACV. I intend to continue using it and am eager to see what my cholesterol levels will be at on my next blood test. If improved, I will suggest to my doctor that I trial a period of time ceasing the statins and maintaining the ACV. When I have some results from this experiment, I will post the update.
General Feedback
Posted by Erin (Clayton, Il) on 05/19/2012
I bought some of the _____s apple cider vinegar and it says that it is not necessary to refrigerate it, but I prefer it cold for the taste... Will it harm the vinegar if I keep it in the fridge? Also, I was wondering if it would be safe to mix it into my daily Emergen C drinks? Thank you!
Apple Cider Vinegar Tips
Posted by Alice (Oro Valley, Az) on 03/18/2012
Soaking your feet in apple cider vinegar uses a LOT of vinegar.
I've been able to use way less vinegar by putting my feet into the gallon size zip lock plastic bags, putting the bagged feet into a rectangular dishpan from the $1 store, in case the bags leak or spill vinegar.
Recipes
Posted by Tallfir (Vancouver) on 10/17/2016
Having read your comment regarding microwave, I reread the post above, realized she microwaves the water... not the ACV... problem solved?
Apple Cider Vinegar Tips
Posted by Jeri (Macomb, Mi) on 01/12/2012
My doctor says to drink ACV solution with a straw. It by passes the teeth so they don't yellow from it or weaken them. It's easy to tell if its bad on your teeth, they will become more sensitive.
General Feedback
Posted by Julie (Oktaha, Oklahoma) on 01/10/2012
I am wondering if mixing lemon (1/2 of a lemon), 1 cup warm water and agave with the ACV is okay or does it dilute the benefits too much?
General Feedback
Posted by Liam (Co. Westmeath, Leinster, Ireland) on 01/06/2012
★★★★★
Hello, I've taken Apple Cider Vinegar for past 2 months never felt better.
General Feedback
Posted by Rubigirl (Alberta, Canada) on 01/05/2012
★★★★★
I did ACV for a month.. And honestly I found things different.. I was drinking it daily.. Hourly.. And well.. I just think I got addicted to it.. I wasn't even wanting my morning coffee's no more.. Now that is a shock.. Being off it for 1 month now. I feel more bloated and more heavy in weight.. Seems odd but it is true. I am going to start this up again and the brand I enjoy is bought at walmart and a product of Germany. It tastes super with green tea and honey and well of course water. I have read the Blackstrap Molasses info as well and going to be getting that into our lives here.. Especially with my husband who has Pulmonary Fibrosis of lungs and myself a lot of joint pain. Will post in a month.. This all works as long as you are safe and feel good doing it. Good Luck Everyone.
Recipes
Posted by Courtney (Beverly Hills, California) on 12/29/2011
I often dilute with water and add some cinnamon after a run. It's like apple cider. Yum.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Kelli (Demotte, In) on 06/29/2016
I just wanted to add that I also, "take it like a shot of tequila" except that I follow it with a small juice chaser! Orange or any flavor of juice (mixed berry is my fave! ) but it helps with the taste and the "burn." I have been drinking it off and on for over 2 years now and I too, have also had a general "better all over" feeling after doing so. More energy and just better.
General Feedback
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?
General Feedback
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?
General Feedback
Posted by Ralph (Miami, Fl Usa) on 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.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Christine (Perth, West Australia) on 10/19/2011
In Sept, my husband found that he had 3 bladder stones 3mm, 7mm & 14mm. He immediately started drinking diluted lemon juice daily - half a lemon.
This month we went to Singapore & on the 11th bought Heinz ACV as he passed some reddish urine. Shortly after drinking about a capful with some water, we were truly amazed that he passed a small stone - like a crystal with a bit of pain. On the 14th two more stones and on the the 15th, 3 stones at one go and then a larger one later on the day all without pain. We don't know if there are still any more stones present. My husband was also diagnosed with diabetes and was prescribed with Diabex. After cutting out all soft drinks, beer & sugar his readings in 10 days dropped from 13 to 6 points - he was having the lemon juice daily. He had bad side effects with the Diabex and stopped it completely. He is in his sixties.
I too drank half a capful of Heinz vinegar and found there was a lot of pus coming out of my gums. In Perth, I used to sporadically have half a capful of Cornwall's vinegar with a tablespoon of water followed by more water, as the genuine ACV was too strong for me. I didn't find anything happening to my gums but my jeans would get very loose overnight. The same thing would happen if I took a tiny amount of virgin coconut oil on a bit of bread and also if I took a grain of coarse sea salt, let it dissolve on my tongue and then drink more water (my pants would fall below my hips). My problem is that I have never done things regularly.
Many years ago, I had read about the acv, coconut oil, salt etc. But I used to take the quantities specified by other people and would feel terrible pressure in my head and stopped. In 09, I started taking very tiny amounts and found that I had no problems. Coconut oil has helped my mother with heart burn.
One bad thing that occurred was stupidly swishing my mouth with ACV - something that I had read on another site and it corroded half my tooth!!
