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.

ACV Chasers


Posted by Terry (Clarksville, Arkansas, United States) on 01/09/2010

Can anyone tell if there is any disadvantage to just taking two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar orally and just quickly getting it over with? I am one of those people who just likes to get it over with quickly when it comes to unsavory tasting drinks or food.

Replied by Thomas_m
(Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
12/13/2010
★☆☆☆☆

WARNING!

ACV should not be taken straight. Dilute in a glass of water. ACV cuts the protective mouth mucus and will burn your esophagus and back of throat. (People who drink 40% alcohol straight get infections and cancer much more frequently than beer drinkers)


ACV Gargle


Posted by Ravi S (Dallas, Texas, United States) on 12/27/2009
★★★★★

I would like readers to try this. Add two tablespoons of ACV to lukewarm water and gargle all the way from your deep throat. Check the contents of your ACV water BEFORE and AFTER. All the more, if you are a vivid caffeine fan. You would notice all the gunk come out in lumps. Then you can imagine what it can do to your entire system. However ACV is not for everyone. Gargling, anyone can do, but if your stomach is of acidic nature, please be cautious using ACV INTERNALLY.


ACV Rash

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Posted by Carol (Tucson, Az) on 12/02/2010

I've been taking ACV with the Mother for about two months. 2 tablespoons in 4oz of water, 2x/per day. For the last 2-4 weeks I've noticed a slightly raised/slightly rough circular rash on the leftside of my body about the size of a quarter. Mostly on the left cheek on my bum & left thigh. Lately I've noticed these same circular rashes about the size of a dime on my chest & neck. I've heard of the Healing Crisis, meaning that my body is releasing toxins through my skin but yikes! Has anyone experienced a rash breakout after taking ACV for a length of time?

Replied by Mmsg
(Somewhere, Europe)
12/03/2010

Take less and more diluted.

Replied by Storage Girl
(St. Louis, Mo)
12/03/2010

I have experienced the same rash you are talking about while taking ACV. Then, I tried to apply it to the rash, which made it worse! :v( Thinking it may be an allergy to ACV? Not planning to take ACV anymore - despite the benefits.

Replied by Jeff
(Nashville, Tn)
12/03/2010

Hi Carol,
The same thing happened to me after about 6 months of ACV. I originally thought it was a scrape from moving tree branches, but when it did not heal I thought ringworm. Tried everything and it got worse and I noticed new small patches(20-25)forming on my body. Turns out to be Pityriasis rosea. Look this up.
I also wondered if the detox process of ACV may have triggered this. If yes, so be it. I will always have ACV in my life and have lost 15 lbs without even trying! As far as the Pityriasis rosea, all you can do is stay clean, cool, and dry. (G--- Bond Powder seems to help) It will eventually start SLOWLY fading away.

Replied by Joyce
(Lansdowne, Pa)
12/03/2010

I have been taking ACV for acid reflux and I also noticed a small rash on my upper back near my arm. It does not hurt. It is there until it goes away then another one comes up nearby. I also believe that it is toxins coming out of my body.

Replied by Misha
(Binghamton, New York)
04/03/2011

I am absolutely shocked to read this post! Years ago in college I came down with the Pityriasis Rosea rash. I was told that this condition rarely reoccurs. However, when taking apple cider vinegar for about a month, again I had the unsightly, very uncomfortable Pityriasis Rosea condition again! I am thinking that this might be some sort of healing crisis.

Replied by Tee
(Philadelphia, Pa, Usa)
09/03/2011

I am currently taking ACV with tap water and I noticed I have a rash on my left thigh. It's like a light spot about the size of a quarter. When I was little I used to get those spots, but smaller on my cheek from time to time. My mother said they were yeast spots. I guess from eating too much bread of starch. So maybe ACV is detoxing our body from too much yeast in our body and that's why we get those spots. They go away in about a week or two.

Replied by Misha
(Binghamton, New York)
07/28/2013

Hey Earth Clinic Friends! It's back! I posted on this site back on 4/03/2011 about taking ACV and a resulting Pityriasis Rosea rash. I discontinued the ACV at that time, and waited about 3 months for this condition to clear up. Just recently, I started to take the ACV 3x a day before meals 2 tsps diluted in water for about 2 weeks and I have Pityriasis Rosea AGAIN! This is the third time I have had this rash and when I first got it, my doctor and numerous websites have noted that it is usually something you get once in a lifetime; rarely twice. But this is the third time! At this point, I don't care. I am going to continue to take the ACV because it has done wonders for my energy levels, even though I haven't seen any weight loss yet.

Replied by Larry
(Fairfax, Va)
07/28/2013

Your skin rashes may have been caused by excessive amount of toxins released into the body when the ACV may have inadvertently too quickly killed-off a large amount of bacteria or fungus; this is known as the Herxheimer reaction. I have had this type of thing happen to me recently.

Replied by Mmsg
(Somewhere, Europe)
07/29/2013

Misha, how about lowering your dosage?

Replied by Anon
(Anon)
10/11/2017

For the rash maybe do more to help your liver? B vitamins, dandelion tea, activated charcoal, garlic, psyllium husk perhaps.


ACV Vs. Other Types of Vinegar

Posted by Gumby (Haiphong, Vietnam) on 06/14/2010

Are the curative powers of Apple Cider Vinegar also found in other kinds of vinegar? In the country where I live, they don't sell ACV but there's plenty of rice vinegar and I've even seen banana vinegar.

How much of the ACV benefits are due to the acetic acid which is present in other kinds of vinegar too? Are other kinds of vinegar also beneficial, even if ACV is better? Can one substitute other vinegars for ACV with good results? Thanks.

Replied by Abid Ali
(Islamabad, Pakistan)
07/09/2010

U have many options to use vinegar. Best option is to make Apple cider Vinegar at home. It is very easy. U can find so many articles on the net on how 2 make ACV at home. However other vinegars are also very good and can subsitute the apple vinegar. But the best option is to make it at home


ACV Vs. Other Types of Vinegar
Posted by Msg (Somewhere, Europe) on 03/15/2010

Can lemon juice be used instead of acv in all (most) of the remedies?

Replied by Bill
(San Fernando, Luzon, Philippines)
03/16/2010

I would have to say that I disagree completely with the_phoenix's conclusions. I regard taking lemon or lime with baking soda as the major factor that helped me to successfully cure my candida. My understanding of the use of lemon and lime or ACV with baking soda came after my own long period of use and experimentation (4 years).

For me, lemon and lime with baking soda is the most useful because:

* It provides good citrate and ascorbate balance between sodium and potassium electrolytes.

* This remedy both alkalizes the blood as well as the internal body cell environment.

*As Ted has said, the lemon or lime remedy normalizes many biological parameters including pH, ORP, phosphates, bicarbonates and antioxidants of vitamin C.

I also use the ACV and baking soda remedy, but usually only if I need more energy, because the malates formed from the malic acid in ACV are utilized in the Kreb's energy cycle of cell metabolism and respiration. But I also use methylene blue or hydrogen peroxide internally, they are usually just as good as ACV, if not better, for increasing the efficiency of cell respiration and increasing energy levels in general.

I've also found, from personal usage, that lemon or lime plus baking soda seems to actually alkalize the body better than using ACV. As Ted says, ACV and BS only alkalizes the body to a pH of 7, whereas the lemon and lime remedy normally alkalizes the body to a higher and more balanced level.

Also, in the_phoenix's post, I note that she gives many reasons for her belief that ACV is better than the lemon/lime remedy and then afterwards, with no further critique on lemon/lime -- no reasons -- she concludes:

"Lemon juice has different properties[WHAT DIFFERENT PROPERTIES?] and hence is NOT a suitable subsitute in most cases although it is also an organic acid and contains potassium."

Here is what Ted from Bangkok offers and concludes regarding the ACV and Lemon/Lime remedies:

"In my opinion the best formula to use is the lime-baking soda formula, after drinking it many biological terrain parameters would be normalized the best."

The judgements the_phoenix offers are neither fair or good enough in the criticisms of the lemon and lime remedy.

Remember that people who have no experience at all read EC, and I would personally hate to think that I would mis-advise or mislead anyone concerning any of the remedies here.

Replied by Don
(Rodeo, Nm)
10/27/2011

Hi Bill, in the Philippines, you mentioned lemon or lime with baking soda. Would like to know the recipe for that. Would you share that with me? Thanks, Don

Replied by Wildtriangle
(Oxford, England)
10/28/2011

Allergies


Posted by Danae (Mckinney, Tx) on 07/12/2013
★★★★★

I've been drinking ACV for a few weeks now -- one shot morning and evening, with some water, and throughout my work day (a tbs or 2 in a bottle of water). I have so much more energy and end up not needing as much coffee as I used to. It also helps flush out candida and "junk" from the body. I'm hoping it'll help me shed some weight.

Yesterday my eye started feeling really itchy, not sure if it's allergies or a stye but immediately after it started swelling up I took 2 tbs of ACV with a little water in a shotglass and 30 minutes later the swelling went down tremendously. I woke up today and my eye is 90% better already!! Usually when I have allergies it takes a few days for the swelling to calm down but ACV sped up the process. Will definitely keep taking ACV :)

EC: Danae, Another option for even more energy is to add a dash of cayenne to your shot of ACV (or ACV tonic). Whew!


Allergies
Posted by Patrick (Boulder, CO)
★★★★★

I had extremely bad spring allergies. A former Professor (bothered by my sneezing attacks) suggested this and it works! Two Tblsp. ACV and 2 Tblsp. local raw honey. The honey has pollen and allergens and the Vinegar is a stringent. Take one a day for 2-3 weeks and notice the difference!


Allergies
Posted by Lasa (Littlerock, AK)
★★★★★

I am a singer with severe allergies. I was on the road for several months playing music. My allergies got so bad I thought I had nodules that would need removing. I became unable to perform and every state I traveled to contributed to my condition making it worse. I returned to Little Rock to see my doctor but they did not remedy my condition. I was gigging in Biloxi a couple of days later and a friend of mine, who is also a musician, had contacted an ear nose & throat specialist about my condition. The doctor advised me to try apple cider vinegar. The relief was immediate. I was able to sing my low range repertoire that night. Within a couple of days, I was no longer hoarse and back to normal. I keep a bottle on hand at all times and use it as soon as symptoms occur. What a difference!


Allergies
Posted by Amy (Hartford, CT)
★★★★★

I was on prescribed allergy medicine for 17 years. I started the honey and ACV mixed with water 3 years ago and rarely even have to take an over the counter allergy pill. It takes about 4-6 days of taking it twice a day to build up in my system, and then I usually only have to take it once a day. I'm a massage therapist and I recommend it to all of my clients who come in with allergies, many of them have become faithful to the ACV too. So glad someone told me about it!!

Replied by Dan
(Myrtle Beach, Sc, Usa)
08/16/2011
★★★★★

I've had the exact same results!


Allergies
Posted by Joanie (Akron, Ohio)
★★★★★

My cousin's doctor recommended ACV for gout, she passed this website on to me, so I've only been using ACV for about 3 weeks now, and no migraines, no sinus headaches (northeast ohio weather horrible), allergy symptoms have all but disappeared, and FEWER HOT FLASHES (am 47), I don't understand why more physicians don't tell us about this miracle cure-all!

'

EC: Read many more testimonials and cures here.


Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey

Posted by Rsvp2244 (Cuyahoga Falls, Oh) on 12/17/2010

I take 1 tsp ACV and 1 tsp honey daily. I do not add water, just mix the two and down it goes. Could this be hurting me in some way?

Replied by Ree
(New York)
03/02/2013

I realize that this is a little late in coming, but I must stress: Do not EVER take ACV straight. It will damage your esophagus and could cause esophageal cancer if taken straight for prolonged periods of time. Always dilute it in a glass of water, don't put yourself at risk. I'm a medical student. Our GI pathology lecturer showed us pictures of this and it is horrible and incurable. It's not a guarantee to cause cancer, but you're definitely at increased risk. The esophagus is not meant to be exposed to acid like that.


Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey
Posted by Slidefoot (Elmira, Ny) on 11/03/2010

I have a hard time drinking apple cider vinegar. Is it OK if I add honey to take the tartness out of it? If not I'll do my best to drink it. I have been on blood pressure meds for 20 some years. Same meds and I am having trouble keeping it down. I am under a lot of stress right now and it doesn't help. Please let me know. I am a female and 71. Thank you. Slidefoot

Replied by Lily
(Brisbane, Australia)
11/04/2010

Hello slidefoot, Yes you can add some honey to the apple cider vinegar, you can also put the Apple Cider Vinegar in some apple juice which disguises the taste quite well. Lily.

Replied by Kathy
(Las Vegas, Nv)
11/04/2010

When I drink Apple cider vinegar I usually add it to 1 cup of hot tea, anykind, I add honey and 1/8 tsp of baking soda the baking soda takes away the really strong vinegar taste. If I don't want a hot drink I use room temp water with sugar or splenda and baking soda.

Replied by Nurioneheart
(Tacoma, Wa, Usa)
11/13/2010

Hi, Slidefoot. I am 70 years old too and I have reduced my high blood pressure, my cholesterol and my blood sugar all in the last 3 months by using the many ideas on this website. So I do not know if using just one healthy remedy will do the trick. I treat my body as a whole system and not just isolated parts. I started eating a larger variety of vegetables especially green leafy ones, breakfast lunch and supper. I cut my carbs down to about 120 a day. I cut my fruit down to just a small slice of fresh fruit for 2 morning snacks; 2 afternoon snacks; 2 evening snacks; and I eat cucumber slices or celery or cauliflower with a little sea salt and nutritional yeast sprinkled on it (yum yum! )if I get hungry when reading before bed. I make a tonic for myself and my friends once every couple of days which I sip on throughout the day. The tonic tastes pretty good (to me anyway ) and all the ingredients are very good for all your body parts.

The Tonic Recipe is:
Put 1/4 cup organic raw apple cider vinegar and 1/8 c organic raw local honey
Or real maple syrup (not fake maple flavored syrup) into a food processor or blender. Blend this with the following fresh living ingredients
(not bottled or dehydrated stuff)
Equal parts of:
1 whole peeled lemon
peeled garlic
sliced onion
sliced ginger root

Pour this mash into a pint size glass jar and cover. It will stay useful for a couple of weeks, but it is best to take a 3 or 4 spoons of this every day so it shouldn't be sitting in the fride very long. Take a heaping table spoon of this Health Tonic as soon as you awake in the morning, with lunch, and before bedtime. You can mix it in water, juice, or tea if you wish. I often take it right out of the spoon. It is quite zesty and I have developed a fondness for it. It is good for cleaning/toning your liver. It is good for heart and blood pressure and a hundred other things that need support in our internal organs which work in harmony with each other. This tonic is also anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-fungal, anti-bacteria, ant-viral, anti-parasite, anti-yeast, anti-fungus. It supports your pro-biotics. Good health to you, hope you're enjoying your journey into sharing your own wisdom. Nuri


Apple Cider Vinegar and pH Balance


Posted by Jessica (San Diego, Ca, United States) on 08/11/2010

I started testing my pH and was able to get to the optimal level with ACV and honey in warm water. In the last week I have added Vitamin D, Vitamin C, garlic, probiotics, a prenatal vitamin and colloidal silver. When I felt a slight cold coming on, I tested my pH again and found it to be highly acidic. Could one of the new things I'm taking be affecting my pH negatively? thank you!

Replied by Alain
(Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
08/12/2010

Answer to Jessica from San Diego about pH balancing and vitamins. You just observed by yourself that vitamins are acid forming. Vitamin C is Ascorbic Acid. Probiotics are also acid forming. I don't know about garlic. Possibly alkalizing if of good quality. Just take more alkalizing food, spices and minerals. Alain

Replied by Kay
(North Carolina)
12/28/2024

Hi Jessica-hope you are well. Do not take Apple cider vinegar and colloidal silver together. The colloidal silver will kill all the good stuff in your Apple cider vinegar


Apple Cider Vinegar and pH Balance
Posted by Mike (Atlanta, GA) on 01/11/2009

I wanted to ask about the ACV remedy for the purpose of alkalzing the body to be in a healthier. I am fairly healthy, if I wanted to take this as a maintenace dose, how long should I take this. I saw somewhere where it said 5 days on and 2 days off?

Mike


Apple Cider Vinegar and pH Balance
Posted by Susan (USA)
★★★★★

It's suggested that Apple Cider Vinegar has such curative abilities because it causes one's pH levels to become more alkaline. If you are going to try apple cider vinegar for allergies, or even to prevent sickness, we suggest you do an investigation of your own by buying a pH test kit at a local pharmacy, garden nursery, or even pool supply store. You can use these kits or pH strips to test your urine to see if you are more alkaline or acid during an allergy attack, virus or bacterial infection. Once you ascertain your pH levels, you can adjust adjust your dosage of Apple Cider Vinegar accordingly.

If you live in a highly polluted area like we do (Los Angeles) where allergies and sinus infections are rampant, your system may better balance itself with a small dose of apple cider vinegar each day. Ultimately we suggest you experiment with a kit to find the pH balance your body functions optimally at. Want to know more about pH? Click here.

Our Bangkok contributor Ted tells us, "Apple Cider Vinegar in itself is alkaline because of its "ash" content, which means if the apple cider vinegar was burned, what is left over becomes ash. When you check for the pH of that ash and dissolve it with water, the content is alkaline. Whenever our body digests anything, it undergoes oxidation, which is similar to burning and the end result is that you can determine whether the end product was alkaline or acid. Apple Cider Vinegar has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties, primarily coming from the malic acid and acetic acid portion of the vinegar. Apple cider vinegar acts as a buffer in the body because the acetic acid reacts with base or acid compounds to form an acetate, therefore rendering them chemically bioavailable for the body's utilization. Additionally, Apple Cider Vinegar can reduce the toxicity of certain compounds by converting the toxin into an acetate compound, which is less toxic. This is why they are ideal for insect bites and certain skin allergies. While Apple Cider vinegar in itself is considered alkaline, a chemically pure vinegar (acetic acid) is neither acid nor basic forming as it leaves no ash as the entire portion, when burned evaporates completely. Ted

Replied by Celticmom2
(Hanover, Pa, Usa)
10/19/2012

Hi! I am a gastric bypass patient, 6 years out. I tried to drink Teds recipe of 2 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar to 1/4 tsp baking soda then adding 1 whole lemon and 8 oz of water. The first drink felt weird in my stomach, almost sickening, so I waited a bit to drink more. My stomach really didn't feel good when I drank it so I stopped. Has anyone else had this problem? I really want to do this to help get my body feeling better. Thanks! Sandra

Kathleen
(Florida)
03/15/2016

Sandra, Stick with the vinegar, lemon, baking soda formula every day. I let my set sometimes for a while . I use distilled water also. Try different times of the day and see what works for you. Drink slowly. Your body will become used to it.

Lynn Greene
(Canada)
05/28/2023

Yes. I have had gut problems for over 15 years. I started taking apple cider vinegar and got worse, instant diarrhea, stomach pain - very terrible. I ordered the book: The Bloated Belly Whisperer by Tamara Duker Freuman, MS. RD, CDN (Crazy title name, for sure). She recommended NO vinegar, and soluble fibre (acacia -) and had lots to say about many gut problems. I have no association with her or her books. Her suggestions helped me a great deal.

Replied by Bill
(Norton, Va)
11/10/2012

I am writing to clarify some statements broadly made on this site. Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is composed of 5% acetic acid with a pH of 3 clearly making vinegar acidic rather than alkaline. The pH would need to be higher than 7 in order for the vinegar to be alkaline and then it would not be vinegar, it would be sodium or potassium acetate and would likely do little for those of us taking it other than possibly elevating blood pressure that might be caused by the increased levels of sodium.

Replied by Doris
(Il, Usa)
11/06/2014

Have u read Dr Jarvis' book? Vinegar is an acid. The whole reason for taking it is to make the urine more acidic. Alkaline urine demonstrates u are not healthy. It all works biochemically via electrical energy. His explanations are very strange, but he proved this folk remedy with cows, horses, and dogs so he could see for himself whether it had all of the benefits espoused. However, he added Lugol's iodone to the mixture as well - at least 3 drop to one serving 3 times weekly. If one has a health problem, they are to drink with each meal. The vinegar & natural honey are supposed to be mixed together well in a glass before adding water. The honey adds solar energy to the concoction.

Replied by Scott
(Hawaii)
01/12/2015

ACV in its chemical liquid form is acidic, but when consumed it converts to citric acid in the body via the Krebs Cycle. ACV is a type of acetic acid and is changed to citric acid by combining with oxaloacetic acid with the help of Acetyl CoEnzyme A and ATP (adensosine triphosphate). Acetic acid is decomposed in our body into hydrogen atom (H+) and acetyl (CH3CO-), which is alkaline. Because it is converted to Citric Acid, it actually causes an akaline effect on the Blood. Types of Citric Acid foods are lemons. Lemons are known for alkalizing effect. This is why ACV is very good health food, when consumed in small quantities dissolved in water. It helps with all kinds of illnesses because it has an alkalizing effect. Most illnesses are due to acidity in the body. Modern humans have lost touch with this thousand year old remedy.

Source: http://www.naturodoc.com/library/lifestyle/umeboshi_vinegar.htm

Replied by Bill
(San Fernando)
03/13/2015

I've read quite often in allopathic research and in doctor's articles that the pH homeostasis mechanism in the human body always operates perfectly and never goes wrong. Really?

So even though the western diet is so bad and so poisonous, even though people have all manner of sickness in huge numbers, including autoimmune and other diseases and even though our immune systems and hormone systems have been thoroughly trashed through our poison processed food diets -- through all this the final conclusion for some people is that our homeostasis pH regulating mechanism always remains untouched, works perfectly and never fails us?

Here is some interesting research evidence from my side on the direct association of acidosis that is increasingly accumulated in the body and which is caused by poor processed food diets over a period of many years. This research looks at our dietary evolution and the ultimate corruption of our older but healthier natural diets in terms of the rising acid levels in our bodies that are apparent today.

Diet, evolution and aging



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