Everything You Need to Know About Apple Cider Vinegar

If there’s one thing we can say about good, old-fashioned vinegar, it’s that the sour solution has withstood the test of time. Vinegar has been vastly used around the world for centuries. More specifically, the solution is assumed to go back to the ancient nomadic tribe of the Aryans, who were said to have produced a sour-tasting wine. For thousands of years, people in both India and China used apple cider vinegar as alternative medicine. Ancient Greece got a whiff around 400 BC when Hippocrates, dubbed as the “father of medicine,” prescribed apple cider vinegar with honey for the common cold.

In the Far East, the samurai warriors of Japan were said to have drunk apple cider vinegar for strength and power, while Ancient Persians drank diluted portions of apple cider vinegar to stop fatty tissue from accumulating in their body.

Fast forward to today — we see apple cider vinegar making a comeback in more ways than one. The reason for this could have something to do with the rise in probiotics in our health culture: apple cider vinegar is actually made from fermented apples, making it rich in probiotics. Apple cider is also being acclaimed for its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Whatever the reason, read on to learn more about why this ingredient is packing a sour punch in all the right places.

What is Apple Cider Vinegar?

To put it mildly, apple cider vinegar is the fermented juice from crushed apples. The vinegar is made up of acetic acid and enriched with nutrients, such as the group of B vitamins in addition toVitamin C, and it enhances the absorption of important minerals from the food we eat.

Apple cider vinegar — commonly shortened to ACV — is popularly used in salad dressings and cooking, but it's also long been used as medicine for ailments of all kinds from getting rid of things like toothaches, colds, dandruff, and even mushroom poisoning! Many people today drink a little apple cider vinegar mixed with water in the morning to increase metabolism for weight loss.

As a bonus, when it comes to household cleaning, diluted apple cider vinegar is great for cleansing and disinfecting a variety of hard surfaces in the home such as kitchen counters. ACV (even diluted) has enough acid to get rid of stubborn, stuck-on dirt and debris and bacteria; at the same time, it isn’t acidic enough to harm surfaces.

Read on to find out the most common benefits of apple cider vinegar, and how you can incorporate the solution as a, well, solution to all sorts of ailments and annoyances.

Benefits of Apple Cider Vinega

The benefits to taking apple cider vinegar are big and vast. For one thing, the fermented solution is great for reducing blood sugar by slowing down the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar, which helps to keep blood sugar levels in check. A number of studies have also shown that apple cider vinegar can improve insulin function in people and lower blood sugars after meals.

Many people around the world use apple cider vinegar as a main ingredient to detox the body. Health experts say that the idea comes from unfiltered apple cider vinegar that still has “the mother” in it. What exactly is “the mother”? First of all, it’s important to note that apple cider vinegar is created during a two-step process. To start with, yeast is added to apple juice in order to break down the sugars which turn them into alcohol. Secondly, bacteria is added: this is what converts the alcohol into acetic acid. It’s this bacteria that is referred to as “the mother” because it is the spark — so to speak — that gives rise to the vinegar.

The mother is the thing that carries good bacteria for gut health, as well as vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.

As mentioned, many people drink a solution of apple cider vinegar mixed with water as a weight loss aid. Not only does it have the ability to speed up metabolism, but the acetic acid that is present in the vinegar is touted for reducing belly fat and it even further suppresses the buildup of more body fat. In addition to this, apple cider vinegar has been cited as being able to give the idea of feeling full. This can, therefore, reduce caloric intake. One small study of 11 people who drank apple cider vinegar in conjunction with a high-carb meal were said to have a 55% lower blood sugar response one hour after eating. The study also found that these people ended up taking in anywhere from 200 to 274 less calories for the rest of the day.

Many will be happy to know that apple cider vinegar can help reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels as these are known to increase the risk of heart disease when they are too high. Additionally, alpha-linolenic acid — which apple cider vinegar is quite high in — has also been found to reduce the risk of heart disease in women as well.

Did you know that apple cider vinegar can act as a natural probiotic and aid with symptoms of acid reflux? Early studies suggest that the acid can help digestion and the yeast — or, again, “the mother” as it is often referred. Many people across the globe have sworn by apple cider vinegar for acid reflux. Experts say to take a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and dilute it into a warm mug of water and drink either before or after a meal. Even though there aren’t a lot of studies out there to support this, health experts say the risk of trying ACV for digestive symptoms is fairly low. If you're unsure whether or not apple cider poses potential health risks for you, please consult a medical professional.

Health experts also say that apple cider vinegar has the ability to help you absorb more nutrients. One study on animals indicated that coupled with the consumption of ACV, the intestines can absorb calcium and iron a lot better and easier.

Uses of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)

Apple cider vinegar is acclaimed for its health-positive properties, from helping with blood sugar levels to aiding with weight loss. But there are also plenty of external ways to use ACV that don’t pertain just to cooking and well-being — although these are hugely great benefits! Below, we break down some more specific ways where you can make apple cider vinegar work for you.

Apple Cider Vinegar for Weight Loss

When it comes to weight loss, apple cider vinegar can help you to feel full. Health experts say that if you want to try ACV for diet and weight loss, to mix one to two tablespoons (15 to 30 ml) with water per day. They advise that it is best to spread this out into two to three doses throughout the day, and it may be best to drink it before meals. Of course, please make sure to check in with your healthcare provider on if adding apple cider vinegar is right for you.

Apple Cider Vinegar for Hair

Apple cider vinegar can work wonders for your hair — and it’s backed by science. Health experts say that using ACV as a hair rinse can help to strengthen hair follicles and improve both shine and luster by lowering the pH balance of your scalp and hair.

Apple cider vinegar could also be ideal for keeping those annoying scalp infections and accompanying itchiness at bay. Furthermore, when it comes to dandruff, apple cider vinegar also happens to boast both antibacterial and antifungal properties, and this makes it pretty effective in preventing that awful dandruff-inciting yeast on the scalp.

How to use apple cider vinegar in your hair as a rinse? Simply, a couple of tablespoons of it with water. After you finish shampooing and conditioning, pour the mixture over your hair evenly, and then massage it into your scalp. Let it sit for a couple of minutes before you rinse the solution out.

Vitabox has a number of products infused with apple cider vinegar to cater to all your hair needs. Pura D'Or Shampoo, Apple Cider Vinegar and Pura D'Or Conditioner, Apple Cider Vinegar are a great hair combo. In addition to hair-strengthening ingredients such as biotin and castor oil, the apple cider vinegar in this shampoo blend protects the scalp and keeps hair at optimal pH balance levels.

There’s also Aveeno Apple Cider Vinegar Blend Clarify And Shine Shampoo and

Aveeno Apple Cider Vinegar Blend Clarify And Shine Conditioner. This apple cider infusion combo soothes the scalp while at the same time boosting shine and volume. Aveeno beauty spokeswoman and hair goddess Jennifer Anniston would most definitely approve this one!

Apple Cider Vinegar for Skin

There are many benefits to using apple cider vinegar as both a cleansing agent and tonic for the skin. You can go the home remedy route, but there are also plenty of ACV skincare products on the market. It should be advised that while we highly recommend Vitabox apple cider vinegar products, we also strongly advise that you consult with either your dermatologist or your family doctor before using it on your skin — this is particularly vital if you have sensitive skin, any allergies, or of course any medical issues. If you do get the all clear for ACV, we still advise a small patch test first.

Here is an all-natural apple cider vinegar face wash that you can concoct in the comfort of your home:

How to Make All-Natural ACV Face Wash:

• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1 tablespoon of ACV

Toner is touted in skincare circles for removing every last trace of dirt, grime, and impurities that your cleanser can’t always get to because the impurities are stuck inside your pores. When you add a toner to your skincare regimen, it can make your skin look especially clear and uniform and it also helps tighten the pores to boot.

Apple cider vinegar can be a great toner tonic to cleanse and tighten the pores in the skin, but also to protect your skin from harmful elements from the environment.

How to Make Your Own Personal Apple Cider Vinegar Toner:

• 1/2 cup ACV
• 1 cup purified water

Apple cider vinegar can also make for a great organic and natural astringent and antiseptic tonic as an aftershave.

When it comes to acne, ACV has the ability to act as a fabulous spot treatment because of its antibacterial attributes. Dab a small amount on any blemishes. Speaking of spots — apple cider vinegar is also an acclaimed home remedy for getting rid of sunspots. This is because the acetic acid in ACV may be able to help lighten skin pigmentation and improve the overall appearance of your skin.

Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies or Capsules

If the idea of drinking apple cider vinegar makes your tongue recoil in horror, there are ACV gummies to the rescue. Apple cider vinegar gummies are especially convenient as an easy way to consume when you’re eating on-the-go.

Truth be told, apple cider vinegar gummies may even be the healthier option, as some health experts advise that drinking liquid ACV may cause damage to your teeth over time by eroding the enamel due to its acidic nature. You don’t have to worry about this with the gummy option because gummies have a much smaller amount of apple cider vinegar.

Shop ACV Essentials on Vitabox

There are lots of ways to add everything apple cider vinegar on Vitabox without having to touch the “hard” stuff from the bottle like they used to back in the day. There are plenty of soft gummies and capsules to choose from, as well as ACV products for the body that coat the authentic apple cider vinegar scent. We promise that you can benefit from all the attributes of apple cider vinegar without leaving a scent.

Try ACV supplements by stocking up on either Goli Nutrition Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies Dietary Supplement or on Nature's Blend Apple Cider Vinegar Capsules. These yummy gummies taste so good, you’ll forget that they’re even good for you. The capsules are also a quick and easy way to get the benefits of apple cider vinegar without having to break a sweat if you’re worried about the taste of ACV in its liquid form.