Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects

Love to read your site, spend hours reading it. Have learned a lot. One question seems to bother me. I seem to notice that the ACV is getting me very constipated. I tried the BSM but I will stop it because of the sugar content. Has anyone had this problem? I haven't seen it posted. What do you all suggest that I do? Thanks for your feedback! I'm 80 yrs. old. Evelyn

Anyone have sore gums after using apple cider vinegar! Mine have been, and red, and you can see my teeth though my red gums! .. P

Response to Patrice53.... Try drinking your ACV and water through a straw. ACV is very acidic and can irritate the teeth and gums. Good luck to you!

I love taking Apple Cider Vinegar, but it gives me Acid Reflux. If I take it with Baking Soda then I get a Stomach ache. Please tell me how to take Apple Cider Vinegar. Thanks, Sara

Hi Sara. It seems to me that if you're having side effects with ACV, or anything else, for that matter, then the sensible thing is to quit taking it. What works for some doesn't work for everyone, so the best thing you can do is listen to your body.

It's best to take the ACV with 1/8 tsp of baking soda added to it. Let it bubble up for 20 seconds and then I add apple juice to it (All natural, unsweetened. ) It's too acidic by itself and needs to be buffered with the baking soda. If it (baking soda) makes you retain too much water, try adding lemon or lime juice to it (1 tsp) instead. It also neutralizes the ACV.

Finally linked my way to this website while seeking a connection between constipation and baking soda/baking powder... my problem; and more common than you might think. so, to all those that experience this side effect, I suggest eliminating the baking soda - instead use lemon juice - and push yourself through what may be die-off symptoms.

Hi folks - I'd love your thoughts on this one! I recently began taking 2 tbsp organic ACV daily, I'd "shoot" it then chase it with water. Last weekend I got the first yeast infection in YEARS (i'm not on the pill, eat fairly well, not on probiotics though). I wondered, as ACV has an alkalizing effect when taken internally, could it have changed my ph to the extent that a yeast infection was able to start (bc yeast do better in a more alkaline environment)?? I've been infection free for so long and this was the only thing I'd done differently lately that I could think of that might have caused it.

I started taking 1 tbspoon of ACV in water every day after visiting this site for the first time and also reading a book on the subject. After a few days, like you, I had a yeast infection. As soon as I stopped it went away. Now I only use it in salads and if I think that I need to take it like a few days ago because I was starting to have a bladder infection I only take 1 tspoon also because I tend to loose weight fast. It didn't help with my bladder infection though so I am taking the usual penicillin for three days. Too bad...

Did you get your yeast infection after taking the antibiotics for your bladder infection? I have one now, after taking antibiotics for a bladder infection. Mine is under my breasts and where my thighs attach to my body. I just started rubbing iodine on the tender itchy spots. Our weather had been in the 90's for the last 2 weeks.

I have had an awful acid reflux condition along with irritable bowel syndrome for the past 4 years non-stop. I lived my life with 24 hours nausea, diarrhea (4 times a day or sometimes more) pain, unsuferable pain. In short, I was going mad. I started 5 days ago to take 2 TBS of ACV 3 times a day as suggested here after reading pretty much all your site, which is fabulous and informative! Thanks so much! The first night in 4 years that I don't wake up in the middle of the night in pain and about to puke. I could not believe my eyes and bow down to the bottle of ACV. My only problem and here lies my question, is that in day number 3, I started to experience super uncomfortable bloating (but no gas) that turned into pain afterwards. Now my back hurts and sitting down feels unconfortable, and yesterday and today I experienced nausea again. Less nausea, I must say, but I started to freak out. Am I doing something wrong? How long should I consume the 2TBS conconction in order to totally heal my "problems"? I also started, at the same time, to take probiotics pills once a day. Please help! I am at a loss here :(

Well, I would start taking ACV in very small doses to begin with after reading the side effects, maybe half or 1 teaspoon a day for few days to check myself, diluted in bottled water or some mineral water or any other form of plain clean drinking water instead of tap water which can contain chemicals. After that may be 2 or 3 times a week as it will all depend. All this teaches us to be very careful in consuming anything. When natural things can harm, what about alchohol, cigarettes, bottled and packed foods with chemicals and preservatives, they can do much harm to our natural body. Try to be as much natural as possible without stressing yourself that we have to be only natural. Do it in moderation but if one can then try to be away from crap foods and drinks and things that we use for our body. Exercising, walking, relaxing, being happy and spending quality time will benefit ourself more then anyone else. Get ourselves checked medically once a while to see if everythings ok just to be safe. Eyes, hair, skin, body, etc. Prayers help me and calm me a lot. Many do not believe in GOD, I do believe and love him though I havnt seen him. Just like kids do their bit but still depend on parents or guardians and be a bit careless or chilled about things, we can try to be chilled and leave things on our GOD, but still do our bits as everything is provided to us all, its just how we do with it and where to find it. Sorry for this long comment. I hope it helps us all. All the best in GODS name.

Try Aloe juice now! Still contains most of minerals and nutrients ACV has! Also try the B---g's Amino acids!

I use aloe capsules, wouldn't that be the same thing? I use B----'s Amino's when i make stir fries and stuff. How would I take it on a regular basis? Sounds yucky straight, but I'm open to ideas and how long would it take to see some benefit? Also if the aloe capsules aren't good enough, where would I find regular aloe juice in Alabama? Thanks.

This response is to Deirdre from Earth Clinic. I'm curious if the ACV is depleting your iodine? The symptoms you describe sound exactly like what I was experiencing until I figured out I was iodine deficient. Somewhere along the way, I've read that ACV depletes some of the body's iodine stores. Probably here on EC...

It looks like you experience palpitation, as a result of gerd (it could be a silent gerd) too much vinegar for too long probably did that. I get palpitation and asthma as a complication associated with gerd.

I'm so glad to have seen this. I downloaded a recipe from Pinterest that called for 2TBSP of ACV per glass of water and advised to drink every day.

After one week I started feeling dizzy, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath. I got so nervous I even went to the ER. When they couldn't find anything wrong I did my research and saw this post along with others regarding ACC side effects. I've stopped drinking it and understand it will take about 7-10 days to get this stuff out of my system.

So much for this amazing home remedy!

What are you doing for your histamine intolerance? I started having panic attacks and I'm wondering if it is caused by the histamine.

Have you thought about looking into pomegranate juice? Just a thought ❣️

Hi Katherine, I had heard that ACV can ruin the enamel on the teeth. So I've been trying 1 tsp of ACV in1/2 cup water, but instead of putting the baking soda directly in with the ACV, I've been using it as a mouth wash after the ACV. (like you, I wasn't sure if mixing the 2 would take away the effect of the ACV) So far so good. My gums seem fine and the enamel seems fine. Best of luck.

Ted recommends that you mix the baking soda with the ACV.

Would like to know your spin on this...i have tried two types of acv one of which is recommended on your site, and on both occassions became very light-headed and drowsy with diahorea. i took about 1tbsp in a large glass of water. i also had burning in my stomach with reflux. it took me about 2-3 days to feel normal again !

I threw off my body's ph by drinking 1-2 TBS ACV (Heinz brand) & 1-2 TBS regular honey mixed into a class of water 2-3X a day. I drank it because it was supposed to give you a feeling of well being, and I began to like it.

Only after a while of doing this, and never immediately after I drank it, my reaction began. My lips felt burned. Days later, they turned red and swollen. Then days later, got tiny blisters all over them that would heal surprisingly fast (within days) and new ones would appear, but the effect was my entire lips but not near the outer edges.

I freaked out, thinking I caught something. Doctors incorrectly said it was dermatitis or herpes (which I've never had and doesn't appear on a person's entire lips) and gave me medicine that didn't work. I suffered for 10 months, trying lactobacillus acidophilus pills that had to be refrigerated and were expensive. I tried OTC products. Evenutally, it diminshed on it's own (that must have been when I stopped the daily overdose ACV because I thought the benefits were non-existent). At the time, I incorrectly thought it was a food allergy, when I noticed that it got worse from eating salads, then I narrowed it down to just the tomatoes (wrong), it was the vinegar. I had stopped my daily drink for a long time, and now, every time I had vinegar, within an hour, my lips got that burn, and if I ate more, they went all the way to becoming red and swollen.

I did nothing except stay away from vinegar for a few months, and my body returned to normal, but this had been going on for 10 months!!

Now that my body is normal again, I can eat vinegar whenever I want with no adverse reaction, but I will never have the quantity (2-4 TBS a day) that caused this ph imbalance.

Please condense this and let your readers know that this is a possible effect of too much ACV per day. I had no idea that there could be negative reactions, and since a book recommended 1-2 TBS a day, I figured that if some is good, more is better (wrong).

You must also remember Heinz ACV is not the same as Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with the Mother. It will not produce the same effects.

I started taken ACV for my allergies & cough. Will this affect my weight? ...I don't want to lose any weight just started gaining my weight back...also, how do I check my RDA for energy sometimes I'm drained? ....thnxs.

I have tried organic ACV (with the mother) with reverse osmosis water (approx. 1 tbsp. per 16 oz water) on 3 occasions and ended up with SEVERE headaches. The headaches have been disabling and accompanied by nausea. I currently take Armour thyroid (hypo.) and Cortef (for adrenal fatigue). I am blood type A . I can put other types of vinegar on salad with no adverse reactions. Should I avoid the ACV remedy, or should I dilute it way down and try again?

For Andy from St. Paul, Mn: Noticed you are on Armour Thyroid and Cortef. I was on Armour (since 2004) until they changed the formula, am now working well with Nature-throid. How long have you been on the Armour? I started on Cortef in 2004, am now on the generic for Cortef, Hydrocortisone for my adrenals. You're the first person I've come across also on Cortef. Re. thyroid medication and vinegar, I read it's recommended to give at least a 4-hour window between taking thyroid med and ACV. ACV seems to interfere with thyroid med absorption. This would also apply to iron supplements. I mention this info only because I don't know when you take your thyroid med, cortef and ACV, and wondering if your headaches are related. The Cortef works with the thyroid med according to my dr. I haven't started using the ACV to improve my health, am hesitant, but will start with a little in water 2/3 times daily and work up slowly as I study more info. I also read thyroid med shouldn't be taken with any calcium in supplement or food form; allowing a 2-hour window is sufficient per my dr. It feels like it's working. My only problem of concern to me is that I'm not absorbing Vitamin D though I take it with calcium. It hovered at 32, so I started using Dr. Mercola's liquid Vit. D, and it plummeted to 21, so I'm working to improve it considerably. Good luck, wish you well as with everyone here. All the info here is amazing and I am glad to be here. Lyn

Thank you for your reply, Lyn. I have been on Armour for about 2.5 years and Cortef for 5 months. Per my doctor and pharmacist's recommendations, I take Armour first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. I wait about an hour and then eat breakfast. During or after breakfast, I take the Cortef. The last time I tried ACV and had the severe headache, I sipped on the ACV/water mix throughout the day. I can't remember if I drank any before taking the meds. I am going to dilute it way down and try again and will avoid drinking it within a couple of hours of taking the meds. Thank you so much.

Lyn, is it o.k. to take the acv with taking thyroid meds, vit.d & calcium? I take these & I want to try this but don't know if I should. Thanks, Pat

Taking Calcium and/or iron supplements along with thyroid meds like Synthroid or Levoxyl will interfere with the absorption of the T4. Doctors recommend taking these two minerals separately, at least 4 or 5 hours between doses. Also, it is suggested taking calcium and iron separately.

I'm very interested in your post. I've been drinking 2tsp ACV in a tall glass of water for two 1/2 weeks. The execption being the weekends. Every day I drink it I get a headache...which is why I'm reading these posts, trying to get a handle on it. I'm also HypoThyroid & take dessicated thyroid (same main ingredients as Armour & Naturethroid). Do you think there is a connection between Thyroid, ACV and Headaches? In some ways I'm happy with the ACV but I can't deal with daily headaches. I would appreciate hearing your thoughts on the situation.

Hi All. I'm also hypothyroid. Taking synthroid for YEARS. Have tried almost all of them (thyrolar worked until they changed formulation about 6 years ago). Anyway, I will try Armour or dessicated since most of you are on it. As for ACV: had used a few times with no problems. Then I mixed it with distilled water trying to do a 2 day fast. The headache was so severe that nothing including eating or migraine med worked for it. Awoke with headache again next day but did eat all during the day. The ACV made me feel like I had the flu and I was itchy - detoxing me???

By day three, however, I was fine. I have been using the mixture (although not always with distilled water) and am not having any more symptoms. I'm waiting to see the benefits -been on this daily for a week. My Grandma swore by ACV, lived to 96 years and hadn't been to a doctor in over 40 years. I lost about 4 pounds the first two days but now that seems to have stopped and I have the usual bloated look. That's dissapointing because I am taking ACV to lose weight as well as general good health.

Headaches with ACV are due to an excess of tyramine in the body. Fermented vinegars like ACV are reasonably high in tyramine. Google "tyramine foods" for more info.

I have been taking 2 T ACV with a little honey in 16 oz. bottled water twice a day, 5 days then rest on weekends. I have had insomnia the last couple of weeks, is this from the ACV, anyone else had this problem?

Yes, when I first started using ACV, I took it too late in the day and couldn't sleep. It really can boost your energy level. I would steer clear of bed time. You'll have to experiment, but I would guess maybe 4-6 hours before bed should be your last dose. I can only speak from my own experience, I'd like to hear what others have to say. Hope this helps.

Yes, I had the same problem after taking it a couple hours before bed time. Is there anyway we can reverse this? Maybe by taking it with baking soda?

The same thing happens to me. I'm confused and trying to find answers.

I just started acv about 3 weeks ago and so far I have not had any bad side affects of any kind accept one! When I take a shot with anything accept water I seem to regret it and become very nauseus for about 5 minutes but that is all and I really think that is simply my stomach saying don't do that. Also I am doing it the hard way or as some people may think. I just use the get over it method and take a full one oz shot and follow it with a glass of water, my wife hates everything and she actually is taking it every day along with one other member of the family and if she is willing to take it then it has to be working for her too.

I have much more energy and my blood pressure has come down, also my blood sugars are down and much more stable.

My biggest concern is the affect it may have on my stomach but my regular doctor said go for it.

I also take the other things like fish oil and co q 10 since I have had heart bypass and just before I started using the acv I was told I had another blockage and they are not cutting me up again so I started the chealation therapy and strange enough I found out that Chealation therapy is ACV therapy (go read the ingredients) You will be shocked and by the way I feel great now and my regular doctor say's he doubts a blockage anymore and all my blood tests are better than ever expected...

I will keep using this I am sure and I will continue till something bad happens but I doubt it will.

Please excuse my bad spelling Thanks...

I am aware of the benefits of apple cider vinegar and really really want to take it as it helps me with my hot flushes like nothing else. However, everytime I take it (2 tbl of ACV with plenty of water with food or without food) I get severe stomach pain afterwards. I tried it out at least 6 times over the course of the last 9 months but it is a persistant pattern. Does anybody have an idea why this is and what I can do about it? Thank you!

The reason you may be experiencing a stomache ache after taking ACV is because your body is already producing enough stomach acid. Those of us who don't produce enough don't experience the burning, on the contrary, it stops the burning and some of the gas! Best of luck on that one.

Hello Corinna from London,

As the previous reply stated, you may be producing too much stomach acid with (or without) ACV.

You may also have (or are on the way to) stomach ulcers. Excessive stomach acid production is always a precursor to stomach ulcers.

In either case, you might try 1 tsp. of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate) with 4-8 oz. warm water 5-10 minutes before taking ACV. This should help reduce the pH in your stomach before taking ACV (which is acidic).

The only downside to combining ACV with baking soda that you may temperarily produce gas (belching). This should pass in a few minutes.

If this doesn't help, you should see your doctor as soon as possible! Stomach ulcers (or high stomach acid production) can be a symptom of a serious health condition.

Regards,
Tony B

The pain may be due to the bacteria known as H. Pylori which INCREASES stomach acid, and is the leading cause of ulcers and gastritis! Have your doctor test you for it if you can. If you have it, instead of taking antibiotics, there's a natural remedy for eliminating H. Pylori- garlic! Should be whole garlic cloves- one clove a day should do it. Chew it thoroughly and swallow. If this grosses you out, follow it with a small (4 oz) glass of water. I was successful at ridding myself of H. Pylori by ingesting 2 grams of garlic (one clove at a time) for about 4 days- it may take longer or not.

Also, for your ACV mix, you may want to try adding about 1 teaspoon of baking soda (aluminum free of course) with the raw vinegar (_____'s or any other raw organic ACV) to neutralize the acidity at first and mix it with 16 oz of water and sip on it all day instead of drinking it all at once. It's best to experiment to see which works best. Sometimes taking the ACV straight up is just too strong, so diluting it and adding a neutralizer will help with the process. Hope this helps.

It's actually 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda per 2 tablespoons of AVC with 16 oz of water (or 1 teaspoon of baking soda per 1/2 cup of ACV). If you're just doing 2 teaspoons of ACV, then you really shouldn't have any issues unless you actually have H. Pylori as described above. If this doesn't work, use more water and less ACV throughout the day without baking soda. I use spring water, not filtered or distilled; seems to work the best :D Hope this helps.

Can my taking apple cider vinegar for a year now be the cause of very thin blood? i bruise all the time and when cut bleed more then i should. please someone email me with comments. thank you

Now I am really confused. someone says it thins blood, another says it clots blood????????? Can I get some help from Ted on this one?

I have been taking ACV for Weight loss for about 2 weeks now. Just read your post about the Blood Thinning side effect of ACV. I wonder if it is safe for me to continue. I dont have any blood pressure problem. Pls advise.

Did anyone experience any side effects with apple cider vinegar? I developed very itchy skin in the arms and back of my knees. I am thinking this is a side effect of the acv I drink (2tbs) every night.

Had the same thing happened to me. And I am in menopause.

I am also in menopause. I started using it a year ago because I read it was a toxin cleanser because I had fibroids. I was taking it in the day and at night. I did not know it was a blood thinner. I guess that explains why I was bleeding heavier than ever. I don't think I will continue to use it. I will just find something over the counter for fibroids at Walmart. I also have experienced weight loss when I go to the doctor. I sure don't need to lose weight. I knew it had a lot of good effects but I see it has side effects as well. Just be careful how much you take. I diluted mine in alot of water.

I have had recurrent BV the past 6 months. After multiple rounds of medications from my doctor, I tried the natural methods suggested here. I began taking Folic Acid 2/day, probiotic 2/day, and apple cider vinegar 1-2 tbls in 16oz water 2/day. I have not have an infection (thank you!!), but all of sudden my skin is breaking out like crazy! I have more acne now than as a teen. Any thoughts on this????

A pimple takes 3 weeks to appear through the skin, so what is happening is that ACV is getting rid of all the blemishes that are already under the skin, not causing them. If this was happening 6 weeks after starting ACV I'd question it, but blemishes always appear worse when something is working, because it's ridding your skin of what is already there.

I was just wondering if anyone has had severe itching brought on by the use of Apple Cidar Vineger and/or by eating organic honey? Since using the APV and honey (but not at the same time). I have had severe, severe itching of the skin and the scalp. The itching was so bad, I went and had my head checked for lice - I also thought I was suffering from bed bugs since I had been travelling and staying in hotels throughout the summer and perhaps thinking I got a case of bed bugs! We have a dog too so I thought it was from fleas! I was lice free, bug free and flea free but...the itching was driving me crazy! Could it be that I was alergic and was having a reaction to maybe the "over-usage" of them? I was drinking about an ounce of APV with lemon and water everyday. I would also have a rice cake with yogurt and organic honey as my breakfast pretty much every day. I decided a few weeks ago that I would eliminate those two things from my daily diet to see if the itching would go away. Well.... IT DID!

I am not fond of trying the ACV vinegar ever again nor the honey. I have been reading things on honey that persuade me that it is more "NOT" good for you than it would be good! I would like to hear from others if the ACV has had an "itchy" affect on you and/or the honey, or the combination of both? Right now I am scared to try either for fear that the "Itchiatis" will come back again! It was simply unbearable! I strongly believe that it was one or the other or both the ACV/Honey that has caused the itching. These are the two things that I had added to my diet over the summer that gave me reason to think that they were the culprit. I had not changed my other food habits and pretty much eat the same thing everyday. I am a vegan (organic) too and am very particular about what I eat. Thank you for your time. Please address this issue. Janie D

Hi Richard... You can read the article about "Honey" at http:/healthandlight.com/TheMasterCleanse.pdf Look on page 11. It comes from a book on "The Master Cleanse". after reading this, I am a little leary about eating any more honey!

I have never read a more bias and intentionaly manipulative article/book on "Honey" and its effects then the one I say in the book mentioned by Janie D. For starters the book starts by saying " Honey must not be used at any time internally."(page 11) what does he realy mean by "internally" ??!! notice also, he did not say consumed. He is trying to avoid a big law suit for misleading the readers. "Internally" here refers to the use of honey in a syringe or in an operational dressing, since it has not been pasturized, which of course is true of any such natural product. You get the gist of it .... etc.

I actually LOVE eating honey and had been eating it throughout the years (in place of sugar) and never, ever had any problems with eating it. It was always regular store bought pure honey that I had been eating (made in the area at local bee farms). About four months ago I switched my brand after reading that "organic" honey would be better for you. I was eating it practically every day (no differant that how/when I ate the "pure" honey).I had it with a rice cake, had it on my oatmeal, had it with peanut butter. I gradually started to develope severe itching everywhere on my body, I try to listen to my body, and tried to think of things that I had recently done differantly that may be causing this problem (it came down to my laundry soap, my body scrub and the organic honey). Well, it got to the (organic) honey and after eliminating it from my food diet, my itching started to disappear. I now have no more itching. I did go back to eating it again to see if I would have a reaction and it did.

With-in two days of eating the (organic) honey, I started itching... again. Do you think I might be allergic to the organic as apposed to the pure honey and maybe the location of the honey has something to do with it, since I had been eating locally grown pure honey all these years and then switched to organic (although both come from the state of Illinois) ? I did try eating the "pure" honey again and so far (it's been three days since I ate the pure honey)and I have no problem with itching. Our bodies are all differant and maybe with mine, I have built up a tollerance to eating the pure honey only. I am not disputing that honey could be bad,as I love honey, but I am wondering why now, my body is reacting to it with the itching. This is why I am on a quest to research honey and read everything I know about it. Is there something in my body that is not able to handle the "organic" type of honey compared to the "pure" honey, and what/why? Thank you for your input. Janie D.

YOU KNOW ORGANIC MEANS THAT THE GROWER CANOT PUT ANYTHING DOWN TO KILL A PEST. THUS, IT COULD BE THAT THAT PARTICULAR HONEY IS INFECTED WITH SOMETHING. IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF ANOTHER BRAND OF ORGANIC HONEY DID THE SAMETHING. OR IF THE HONEY COULD BE TESTED TO SEE WHAT IS IN IT. IN OTHER WORDS ARE THERE ANY TOXINS IN IT OR DOES ANYTHING GROW WHEN SOME OF THE HONEY IS PLACED ON A STERILE PETRIE DISH. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY TREAT REGULAR HONEY. IS IT PASTERIZED?

Itching may come from yeast infection caused by ACV not Honey (especially in hot areas under arms between legs).