Apple Cider Vinegar

• Apple cider vinegar is fermented juice from crushed apples. It can be used to make medicine.

• Uses
• Benefits
• Cautions
• Other Names
• References

Uses

• Apple cider vinegar is used alone or with honey for weak bones (osteoporosis), weight loss, leg cramps and pain, upset stomach, sore throats, sinus problems, high blood pressure, arthritis, to help rid the body of toxins, stimulate thinking, slow the aging process, regulate blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, and fight infection
• Some people apply apple cider vinegar to the skin for acne, as a skin toner, to soothe sunburn, for shingles, insect bites, and to prevent dandruff. It is also used in the bath for vaginal infections.
• In foods, apple cider vinegar is used as a flavoring agent.
• It can be hard to know what’s in some apple cider vinegar products. Laboratory analysis of commercially available apple cider vinegar tablets shows wide variation in what they contain. Amounts of acetic acid ranged from about 1% to 10.57%. Amounts of Citric acid ranged from 0% to about 18.5%. Amounts of ingredients listed on the product labels didn’t match the laboratory findings. In the US, there is no real definition in the law of what apple cider vinegar must contain to be called apple cider vinegar. So, it is impossible to tell from these analyses whether these commercial products actually contain any apple cider vinegar.

Benefits

• Like apple juice, it probably contains some pectin; thiamine, vitamin B2, and vitamin B6; biotin; folic acid; niacin; pantothenic acid; and vitamin C. It also contains small amounts of the minerals sodium, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, iron, and magnesium. Apple cider vinegar can also contain significant quantities of acetic acid and citric acid.

Cautions

• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the safety of using apple cider vinegar as medicine during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side, and don’t use it.
• Diabetes: Apple cider vinegar might lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Therefore, blood sugar levels need to be monitored closely. Dose adjustments may be necessary for diabetes medications that are taken.

Other Names

Cider Vinegar, Malus sylvestris, Vinagre de Manzana, Vinagre de Sidra de Manzana, Vinaigre de Cidre.

References

• Source: Webmd, “Apple Cider Vinegar”. web article, www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/