We have all heard that old saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”.  Nothing justifies that old saying better than apple cider vinegar.  The vinegar, made from fresh fermented apples, contains a host of beneficial vitamins and minerals.  As well, raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar contains the “mother”, a special substance that is made up living nutrients and enzymes that help your body maintain good health.

 Apple cider vinegar is rich in a variety of beneficial nutrients.  It contains an abundance of potassium, helping to combat a variety of ailments including hair loss, weak fingernails, brittle teeth, sinusitis and poor bowel elimination.  The beta-carotene found in apple cider vinegar helps to counter damage caused by free radicals, helping one maintain firmer skin and a more youthful appearance.   Apple cider vinegar also contains malic acid, which is helpful in fighting fungal and bacterial infections. Malic acid also helps to relieve joint pains by dissolving uric acid that contributes to gout and gouty deposits around joints.

 Apple cider vinegar has many other health benefits including reducing bad cholesterol, regulating blood pressure and aiding in weight loss.  It also helps maintain strong, healthy bones by extracting calcium from fruits, vegetables and meat when it is used as a marinade.

Consuming apple cider vinegar regularly normalizes body pH, which can help with a variety of problems including indigestion and body odor.  A balanced pH also promotes overall better health.  For foot odor, soak your feet in a vinegar and warm water mixture for around 15 minutes a day.  Anti-bacterial qualities come into play again with regards to bad breath. Gargle with a mixture of water and vinegar, keeping the mixture in your mouth for around 10 seconds.  Drinking the apple cider vinegar also helps with bad breath by improving stomach digestion.

You can enjoy the benefits of this wonder vinegar in many ways.  Try mixing two tablespoons each of apple cider vinegar and honey in a glass of warm or cold water.  Apple cider vinegar mixed with olive oil makes a great dressing for salads (add a little molasses and some fresh herbs).  Use this wonderful vinegar to pickle an assortment of fruits and vegetables and as the main ingredient in marinades.  If you find the acid bothers your stomach take your apple cider vinegar at the end of a meal or mix it with some juice or water.

When choosing apple cider vinegar steer clear of the clear, eye-pleasing, nutrition-less distilled apple cider vinegars.  Instead choose the organic, unfiltered, “mother” laced (that cloudy stuff floating at the bottom), nutrition filled, and healthful apple cider vinegar.  And drink a little a day, to help keep the doctor away!!