Apple Cider Vinegar
Health Benefits

Apple Cider Vinegar: A Complete Guide to Benefits, Uses, and How to Take It

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.

Acne

5 star (10) 
  91%
(1) 
  9%

Posted by Andrew (Sydney NSW)
★★★★★

Apple Cider Vinegar has Cleared my Acne up very well, I drink it and also apply it to my face twice a day. Works a treat!

EC: Click here to read many more remedies to cure acne!

Replied by Rasha
(Pune, Maharashtra, India)
09/05/2011

Has anyone noticed darkening of skin colour after using ACV (undiluted) directly on skin ? I am asking this, because I have used ACV during the day on several occasions and 1-2 hrs later my skin appears darker I get a lot of sun in through my window, but my skin appears darker after using ACV. Does ACV make the skin photo-sensitive?

Replied by Dianna
(Austin, Usa)
09/06/2011

in my experience ACV can make the skin more sensitive to sun. you can try using it diluted and washing it off before going outside. it takes to top layer of your skin off (the protective layer) and can also lead to sun burn if used daily in my experience. lemon and lime juice also do this. I always rinse it off with water before going out in the sun.

Replied by Pjassal
(Lake Forest Park, Wa)
09/29/2012

try using 100% pure castor oil AFTER the ACV. Rub it in like a lotion on your face. Castor oil is a natural sunscreen and moisturizer.


Acne
Posted by Francoise (USA)
★★★★★

As soon as I feel I'm about to have a pimple, I dab the spot (priorly cleaned), with a Q-tip dipped into organic apple cider vinegar before bedtime. I smell like salad dressing for a few minutes, but the next day it's gone. I tried it on my very skeptical and slightly vain fiance; he could not believe it when in the morning he could not find any blemish on his face! Vanity is everything!

EC: Click here for hundreds more acne remedies.


ACV and Baking Soda


Posted by Mary (VA Beach, VA) on 03/20/2008
★★★★★

I just wanted to let readers know, that if you have trouble taking the BSM due to taste and consistency, it is really delicious in coffee. I always put a pinch of baking soda in my coffee to reduce the acid. I am a person who can eat just about anything, but I also know that if I don't care for the taste of something, I will not make a lifelong habit of taking it. I also found that you can't disguise the taste of ACV. Straight with a pinch of baking soda, and take it down in a couple of swallows, much easier than dragging it out.


ACV and Baking Soda
Posted by Ted (Bangkok, Thailand) on 08/05/2006 392 posts

The amount of ACV needed to react with baking soda to get to pH level of near 6.5-7.0 depends on the brand of ACV. For my own brand of ACV, it is approximately 50 ml-70 ml per one tablespoon of baking soda. So always start on the low side first!

If you are not used to it, try only 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda - the safest possible mixture assuming 2 tablespoons of ACV in a 250 mg water. Then increase slowly as needed.

If you have a pH meter handy, it would be more easier go that way and just add enough until it reaches near pH of 7. It is very much dependent on what brand your ACV is generally. Please note that these are approximate figures.

One more important note!

Warning: if you mix with ACV it will create a lot of bubbles that goes very high! You need to mix inside a large empty pitcher! Also add the ACV very slowly! For me, I don't use ACV here in Bangkok that often because of the price. I just use simple vinegar, so I usually will not have the bubbling issues!


ACV and Breastfeeding

Posted by Shazi (Ajman, Dubai) on 06/15/2013

Hi recently I saw this site it impress me a lot and I thought I should aske some question which maked me confuse. I am breast feeding mom ( first baby 2 and half month) I want to start apple cider vinegar for weight lose but vinegar can effect on baby is it good or not?

Replied by Mama To Many
(Middle, Tennessee, Usa)
06/15/2013

Yes, it is safe. I took it all through my last two pregnancies and drank it daily (mixed with water) all through breastfeeding my babies.

~Mama to Many~


ACV and Pregnancy


Posted by Henny (Manawatu, New Zealand) on 11/05/2012

Is it safe to take Apple Cider Vinegar during pregnancy? I have a very bad Hayfever for the last 3 years and lost my sense of smell. Had many medication but none work. I am really desperate for cure.

Replied by Lisa
(Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa)
11/05/2012

Hi Henny, Yes, it is safe to take apple cider vinegar during pregnancy. It can help gently detox and it will keep you alkalized which is a healthy thing for you and the baby. Another problem that can arise during pregnancy is constipation so it can help keep you regular and promote digestion. Another issue during pregnancy is heartburn as the pregnancy proceeds and you get bigger. ACV can help with that as well. You mention your allergies but nothing about actually being pregnant. ACV would be a healthier, safer and natural alternative over medications, that's for sure! Of course, whoever attends to your pregnancy, you can run this by them. Hope this info helps, Lisa


ACV and Pregnancy
Posted by Denise (Cork, Ireland) on 01/13/2011

Hello,

I am just wondering if taking ACV during pregnancy is advisable? I am 6 weeks pregnant and would love to continue taking it to help with acid reflux, constipation and skin changes but am not sure if it will affect the folic acid I now take and/or if it will affect the baby.

Any experiences or advise would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Replied by Elyn
(Okc, Oklahoma, Usa)
01/16/2011

On page 22 of Dr. D. C. Jarvis' book Folk Medicine, it states: "And, returning to foods contributing to the pre-birth growth of the infant, two teaspoonfuls of honey, if taken at each meal either as a food sweetener or direct from the spoon, enable the developing infant to build a good nervous system.... If there is a tendency to neglect the fruits, berries and plant leaves that are a prime source of acids, the deficiency can be made up by a teaspoonful of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water, taken immediately on rising in the morning. Usually this mixture will incidentally prevent or clear up any morning sickness. During the day a glass of either cranberry, apple or grape juice should be taken."

Just grabbed this book from the library the other day. Wish I'd had this information 30 years ago when I was busy having babies!

Replied by Jen
(South Jordan, Utah)
10/10/2011
★★★★★

Glad I have it now. Thanks. I have been looking for a painkiller/anti-inflammatory that is safe for pregnancy. I am so glad I found ACV.

Replied by Jmc34
(Trinidad)
06/29/2016

Can men use ACV? And could it help their sperm count?


ACV and Probiotics

Posted by Margie (Springville, Utah) on 10/27/2010

I just wanted to say that if you take probiotics with the mothers apple cider vinegar it helps a great deal with acid in your stomach to settle down and your tummy will be able to handle the mothers apple cider vinegar. Its also great for your intestines and helps put good bacteria back into your body, which if we have too much bad bacteria it can make us extremely ill. I'm now trying the vinegar and pray that it does work. I to have been dizzy and have high blood pressure often and need to keep it under control. So will get back to let you know if it worked for me.


ACV and Probiotics
Posted by Joyful (Memphis, Tn) on 06/16/2010

I currently take 2-3 tsp of ACV (with the mother, of course!) daily. In the morning, I pour between 2 and 3 teaspoons into a measuring shot glass then place that in the refrigerator. Whenever I fill up my glass with (steam-distilled) water I add a smidgen of the ACV at a time so by the end of the day the ACV in the shot glass is depleted. I've been doing this for about 2 months with good results (will post those later).

Last week I added a very good priobiotic to my daily regimen. Will consuming ACV interfere with the probiotic? I'm also considering taking the cayenne capsules (which includes ginger, garlic, onion and hawthorn berry), but I am also concerned this would interfere with the probiotics.

Blessings!

Replied by Lisa
(Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa)
06/16/2010

Hi Joyful, There is no contraindication of what you are doing. As a matter of fact, apple cider vinegar is a prebiotic which feeds probiotics! So they work hand in hand. There should be no problem with the other 5 ingredients listed either. Hope this helps. Glad you're doing well! Lisa


ACV and Probiotics
Posted by Pat (Athens, Al, Usa) on 05/15/2010

Can ACV and probiotics be taken together or would the ACV override the probiotics? Or can I take both as long as there is a space of time between the two? Currently I'm doing both with no ill effects I'm just wondering if one is canceling out the other or if they both are "doing their own thing" in harmony??? Thanx in advance for any input.

Replied by Lisa
(Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa)
05/15/2010

Hi Pat,

Actually, acv is a prebiotic which is what probiotics feed off of. These two work well together. Still, personally I would give a space of time between the two. I find that my body handles things better if I keep it simple. In the early morning I usually take a glass of water with either fresh lemon, acv or baking soda added to it. Awhile later, I have my young coconut kefir which is loaded with enzymes and probiotics. Then after that I have a green smoothie which takes me to lunch.

Anyway, they definitely do not cancel each other out but rather work synergistically. Peace, Lisa


ACV and Tap Water


Posted by Hawk120 (New Canaan, Ct) on 02/27/2010
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

My grandfather has long touted ACV for a variety of remedies-we all used to laugh but now he's 87 so I'm starting to believe him! I have one concern though with the ACV general tonic that people may not realize. I have city water (chlorinated and fluoridated) in my home, and when I added the tap water to the 2 tsp ACV I noticed a lot of very fine bubbling and a very light smoke.

I'm not a chemist, but remember how they say not to mix chlorine bleach and acid (including vinegar) because it will produce toxic chlorine gas? Is this happening with my tap water on a smaller scale!?

EC: Yikes! That doesn't happen here in Atlanta suburbs! I have relatives in your area and will have to ask them to test this too.

Deirdre

Replied by Daphne
(Albany, Ga)
04/26/2012

Just let the tap water sit out for about an hour on the counter before mixing. We have to do this with our fish tanks.


ACV and Tooth Enamel

Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee, Usa) on 01/20/2016

Now and again, the subject comes up on this site of the safety of using Apple Cider Vinegar for the teeth. The concern is that the acidity of vinegar will harm teeth enamel.

Yesterday I tested the pH of a cup of coffee and a glass with 8 ounces of water plus 1 Tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar. The pH of each was pretty close. Both were quite acidic.

So what this makes me conclude is that taking diluted apple cider vinegar in water is probably no worse for tooth enamel than coffee. Seeing that coffee is consumed in such immense quantity in our country, and I don't think there is an epidemic of tooth enamel problems from that, I tend to think that the tooth enamel concern with apple cider vinegar is not really a concern for most people. And for someone for whom it is, it would seem coffee would be contra-indicated also.

Just an observation and a few thoughts.

~Mama to Many~

Replied by Mmsg
(Somewhere, Europe)
01/21/2016

Wow MtM, thanks so much for doing this simple test that no one else thought to do!!!

Another tip is to simply rinse the mouth out afterwards.

Replied by Rafe S.
(Tennessee)
12/24/2021

Greetings all!

My first post on here after many years of reading all the wonderful information available from all you fine folks. I just wanted to say that for folks with tooth enamel concerns like myself, after I take my ACV and water, I take a half teaspoon of baking soda in half a cup of water and rinse. The baking soda neutralizes the acids in the vinegar and protects the teeth. Have a great day!


ACV and Tooth Enamel
Posted by Mr. Ree (U.s.a.) on 06/19/2014

Just a quick note on ACV usage...I have been using Braggs ACV since 1960 with absolutely no trouble with my teeth. I have a slug of it after I have a protein meal as it's a digestive aid. Of course I know it does many other things but just wanted to calm everyone down about their enamel peeling off their teeth after using it.


ACV and Tooth Enamel
Posted by Mama to Many (Tennessee) on 06/14/2014

I have seen concern expressed about the effect of long term use of Apple Cider Vinegar internally on tooth enamel. I have been using Apple Cider Vinegar for several years now. I put between 1 teaspoon and 1 Tablespoon in 16 ounces or more of water. I drink this almost daily, often several glasses a day. I do use a straw, but just out of preference.

Yesterday I saw my dentist. My tooth enamel is fine after using ACV in water for several years. Now, this is just one person's experience, but I thought I would pass along this information.

~Mama to Many~


ACV Chasers


Posted by Colette (Toronto, Ontario Canada) on 04/21/2010

I love vinegar. I bought ACV after reading this site and I drink it straight. I could drink it all day long. After reading so much about how people really don't like the taste of it I wonder why I do? Should I be carefull about how much I drink? Does my love of vinegar point to a some biological warning sign?

Replied by Francisca
(Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France)
04/22/2010

I believe that we often crave things that our body needs. When my oldest daughter was small she kept eating lemons, a while ago I was craving sourkrout the whole time, a friend of mine recently had a huge crave for avocados and avocado oil. We also keep away from stuff our body doesn't need or want and that is one of the reasons one should be careful when one finds a child should eat some food they really don't want to. I have no problem drinking diluted ACV at all but I wouldn't drink it undiluted because I am afraid it would damage my teeth. I always flush my teeth with water afterwards. If I were you I wouldn't drink too much, like anything too much of a good thing can be bad for you. With the sourkrout I know where to stop because I get diarrhea if I eat too much. Your body gives you a lot of signs.... Another thing which doesn't bother me is drinking diluted cayenne pepper, most people hate it. I suppose that we are all different........



NEXT 
Previous Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 ...26 Next Page