Archive for the ‘Apple Cider Vinegar’ Category

What You Should Know About the Apple Cider Vinegar Diet

Tuesday, May 31st, 2011

The Apple Cider Vinegar Diet is making a comeback!

The Apple Cider Vinegar Diet seems to be-the rave right now. That really shouldn’t be surprising since detox and cleansing diets have become so popular in recent years, and the Apple Cider Vinegar Diet definitely fits this category.

So how is apple cider vinegar made? Fermenting apple juice turns into alcoholic apple cider, which in turn interacts with oxygen turning the alcohol into acetic acid. Acetic acid combined with apple pectin is the bases of Apple Cider Vinegar and for centuries, it has been made and used by many different cultures.

The Cider Vinegar Diet is not new!

The Cider Vinegar Diet is not new. It seems even Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, highly praised this diet and the medicinal qualities of apple cider vinegar. But it dates even farther back. Egyptian pottery that has been uncovered was found to have traces of apple cider vinegar and it is suspected that even back then it was used to boost the metabolism, which was thought to burn fat. Then back in the 1820’s Lord Byron popularized the Apple Cider Vinegar Diet as the “diet miracle,” so its history is long.

You may have thought the Apple Cider Vinegar Diet was all about burning fat and losing weight, and while that certainly is important it’s benefits are far reaching. It seems that just 8 teaspoons of apple vinegar before each meal can provide these health benefits.

Weight Loss – It is believed Apple Cider Vinegar reduces food cravings and helps the body to burn fat, thereby making it an excellent tool in weight loss. There is also some indication that it may help to lower ones glycemic index.

Lower Cholesterol – A recent study done in 2006 indicated that the Apple Cider Vinegar Diet reduced bad cholesterol levels. While larger studies are necessary this is promising and it certainly can’t hurt.

Lower Glucose Levels – There have been several studies done pertaining to how apple cider is able to lower blood glucose, by slowing the digestion of starches. This is yet another indication of how Apple Cider Vinegar Diet can help a person to lose weight.

Alkaline Acid Balance – Many believe that a person is much healthier if the body’s alkaline level can be kept at 7.4%. When the body is in this zone it seems not only does a person stay healthy, keeping an optimum weight becomes far easier.

High Levels of Pectin – The high levels of heterosaccharide that are found in pectin can help alleviate sore throats, mouth ailments, and other related symptoms.

Acidic Properties – The acidity does a good job of cleaning the digestive tract and it also removes calcium deposits from blood vessels and joints.

Arthritis Pain – The Apple Cider Vinegar Diet helps to gather toxic waste responsible for arthritic pains. By helping to excrete the toxicity from the body pain is reduced.

Strong Bones – All that calcium, manganese, silicon, magnesium, and iron helps to build strong bones.

Yeast Infections – You may be surprised to learn Apple Cider Vinegar Diet can reduce Candida responsible for yeast infections. It’s quick and effective.

Chest Congestion – It seems ACV is a popular remedy for chest congestion and flu.

Besides the health benefits does the Apple Cider Vinegar Diet really work? There are so many fad diets that come and go, it’s no surprise that there’s a bit of skepticism as to whether this is any different than any of those fad diets. Many might wander what good it could really do taking cider vinegar, but many swear by it.

The vinegar diet works by detoxifying the liver, which is very important in any weight loss program. By speeding up your metabolism it burns more calories and helps to reduce the appetite.

All you need is a couple of teaspoons of ACV mixed in water before each meal. If you can’t imagine taking it straight up then you can purchase capsules or tablets. It’s recommended to get the maximum benefit take lecithin, Vitamin B6, and kelp.

The Apple Cider Vinegar Diet has quite a following from those just looking to lose a little weight to those that are obese and hoping to lose a lot of weight. Even children have successfully used this diet.

If you are overweight and you are hoping to lose some weight; if you are looking to lead a healthier lifestyle; and if you are tired of yo-yo diets, why not take a closer look at the apple cider vinegar diet.

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What is the Vinegar Diet?

Tuesday, May 31st, 2011

The Vinegar Diet has been around for a long time

Have you recently noticed your favorite pair of jeans feeling snug when you try to button them? Or maybe you’ve been struggling with trying to lose the same 25 pounds for years? Different diets have come out over the years, but many of these diet plans don’t work for people long term.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, more than 34 percent of Americans are obese; 32.7 percent are overweight and just under 6 percent are “extremely” obese.

While we are in the era of searching for the magic pill for weight loss, many people are looking into more natural foods to lose weight and detox their systems. One natural remedy that is steadily making a comeback is the vinegar diet.

Many celebrities, including Megan Fox and Fergie have touted the positive weight loss advantages by using this cider vinegar diet. But does this vinegar diet truly work and provide health benefits, or is it just another diet?

History of the vinegar diet

The apple cider vinegar diet is based upon the idea that if you consume a few teaspoons of apple cider vinegar before a meal, it will help curb your appetite and reduce cravings. This vinegar diet idea became popular in the 1950’s by Dr. DC Jarvis.

In his book Folk Medicine: A Vermont Doctor’s Guide to Good Health, Dr. Jarvis explained that ingesting apple cider vinegar would enable your body to burn fat, rather than storing the fat. He advocated that just a couple of teaspoons each day would help burn the unwanted fat. Many would mix this cider vinegar in water and drink it before meals, to promote weight loss.

What is apple cider vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar is made by fermenting the juice of an apple. First the apple is crushed and the juice is squeezed out. The fermentation occurs when sugar and yeast are added to the juice. Certain bacteria are then added to the juice, which forms an acetic acid.

This cider vinegar also contains lactic, citric and malic acid. It is this high acid level that is believed to aid in the body’s digestion, while maintaining a regulated alkaline level.

Where do you find apple cider vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar is found in most health food stores and grocery stores. Unpasteurized apple cider vinegar is a golden brown, with a cloudy sediment at the bottom of the bottle. This sediment is referred to as mother of vinegar. Look for apple cider vinegar with a ph level of 5 to 7. The pasteurized versions of apple cider vinegar do not provide the same effects.

How does it apple cider vinegar work?

The active ingredient in apple cider vinegar, acetic acid, is thought to assist your body in digestion, which in turn, promotes weight loss. It is also thought to destroy unhealthy bacteria and maintain a good alkaline level in the body.

Apple cider vinegar is also believed to help make you feel fuller faster, which in turn, reduces the amount of food you eat. Another benefit is from the pectin content of the apple cider. Pectin is used to increase volume of stool for easy elimination and is used as a treatment for diarrhea and constipation.

What are other benefits of apple cider vinegar?

Natural apple cider vinegar has been thought to:

Increase stamina
Increase metabolism
Improve digestion and cure constipation
Alleviate symptoms of gout and arthritis
Protect against food poisoning
Balance high cholesterol
Reduce sinus infections and sore throats
Prevent bladder stones and urinary tract infections

Side Effects of Apple Cider Vinegar

Ingesting apple cider vinegar undiluted may cause damage to your esophagus and other parts of your digestive track. It may also damage tooth enamel.

Excessive intake of apple cider vinegar has been found to cause damage to the liver, duodenum and stomach in animals.

People with apple allergies should not try the vinegar diet.

Since apple cider vinegar may affect blood glucose and insulin levels, if could have adverse effects if combined with diabetes medications.

Apple cider vinegar may lower blood pressure, so if could have adverse effects if combined with high blood pressure medications.

As with any new diet, consult your physician before beginning a new diet plan.

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Apple Cider Vinegar Weight Loss Facts

Tuesday, May 31st, 2011

My Apple Cider Vinegar Weight Loss Story

Growing up, I was one of those lucky people that could eat whatever I wanted and not gain weight and I was clueless about apple cider vinegar weight loss. And then I went to college. Who’da guessed that a diet of Ramen Noodles, cafeteria food, Taco Bell and pizza would actually put the pounds on even a naturally thin(nish) girl, huh?!

So college ended, I smartened up, and started eating healthier. My tastes improved and I actually started to ENJOY salads, lean proteins, and brown rice. I started looking for health food stores and focused on health foods.

I’m certainly not perfect (hello ice cream!) but overall, I eat pretty healthy AND I try to get in some exercise on a regular basis, too. However, I’m one of those people that still has 10 pounds to lose and couldn’t figure out how. I needed a diet that worked.

I started asking friends and acquaintances if they had any suggestions about what really, truly works to get rid of that weight without starving yourself (as mentioned, I already eat pretty healthy and am not someone who wants to cut out even more food).

I also started researching heavily the types of diets exist, along with what has health benefits, allows healthy eating but also doesn’t require you to diet and exercise profusely…I can’t spend hours every day in the gym!

You’ll never believe what diet I found out about – it’s natural, organic, promotes weight loss, and even has other health benefits, including lowering blood pressure and lowering cholesterol. So, what is this fabulous find? Apple cider vinegar.

How to use apple cider vinegar for weight loss

Seriously, it has been amazing how many times I’ve heard that drinking about a tablespoon a day (you just dilute it in some water) not only helps with curbing appetites, but also is beneficial to overall health.

And I find it very interesting that it has been used for CENTURIES, so this is not some recent fad diet. Ingesting vinegar for weight loss and other health benefits is not a new idea.

It’s amazing that apple cider vinegar can promote weight loss!

One of the best things about this vinegar, is that it is carried in most regular grocery stores. The best kind to get is the unpasteurized, organic apple cider vinegar because that is the type that has the “sediment” on the bottom (often called the “mother”) which is actually the good stuff!

Those are the nutrients of the apple cider vinegar, so even though it may look a little weird, you don’t have to be scared, just give the bottle a good shake before pouring some out.

Regarding the very best way to drink it, there are different theories on this. Some people prefer to do a small shot (about a teaspoon) by itself before a meal, some people dilute a little in some water, and then drink the whole glass.

Still others put about a teaspoon or so into 16 ounces of water and drink it throughout the day (emphasizing that you take small sips, not large gulps).

There are even vinegar tablets! Basically, you just don’t want to overdo it – that is the key. My preference is to put 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in water before a meal, and drink the entire glass of water over 5-10 minutes.

It is the pectin, which is a fiber compound in the vinegar, that mixes with the water and expands in the stomach, which causes the appetite to be decreased. After continuous use, the decreased appetite can actually lead to weight loss.

A good friend of mine who has been taking apple cider vinegar said, “I can’t explain it, but it did help suppress my appetite – which I absolutely needed, especially at night. I started losing weight right away!

Since I started drinking ACV regularly, I’ve noticed that I have less of a problem with bloating. I am bloated less, and when I am bloated, it’s not nearly as bad as when I am not taking ACV.”

One of the reasons apple cider vinegar promotes weight loss, is that it has a high amount of potassium in it, which helps flush the overabundance of sodium out of the body.

Too much sodium in the body makes the body retain water, so weight will go up. Drinking this cider vinegar helps flush out all that extra sodium and feel lighter and more energetic.

Apple cider vinegar can also lead to weight loss because it contains acetic acid, which helps promote the absorption of iron when it comes into contact with food. The more iron that is absorbed, the more the oxygen is utilized and a large amount of energy is consumed.

The acetic acid increases metabolism so you burn more calories, therefore inducing weight loss. Another benefit of this apple-based vinegar, is that it helps with digestion. It reduces the amount of time that fats stay in the digestive tract, and helps to flush out your system.

Apple cider vinegar promotes weight loss by helping people not to overeat and overindulge (as so many people do when they are under stress!). This vinegar helps to release proteins during the digestive process.

Tryptophan is an amino acid that is released through this process and is directly responsible for releasing serotonin. Serotonin is in the body and helps us to feel serenity and calm, and therefore will help curb the desire to overeat due to stress.

It’s amazing how apple cider vinegar promotes weight loss and other wonderful health benefits. All of these benefits, just from just using apple cider vinegar? If I’d known vinegar would help my weight and health, I would have started this years ago!

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Why is Vinegar Important?

Monday, March 21st, 2011

Vinegar has been used as a natural remedy for millennia

Natural remedies are making a comeback. Many people attest to natural remedies versus pharmaceutical remedies.

Rather than taking someone’s word for it, I decided to do my own research, to find out the pros and cons to this new natural wave. One item that I found coming up over and over in my searches is vinegar.

I know what you may be thinking…vinegar? Other than using it to clean out my coffee pot, what could I possibly use that for? Well, to understand this, you must realize that in itself, vinegar is truly a natural product.

Basically, anything that has sugar in it will eventually change to alcohol. After that, the natural bacteria in our air convert the alcohol into acetic acid. This acid is what provides vinegar with its sour and sharp flavor.

Any alcoholic beverage, regardless if it is made from grapes, apples, dates, or rice, once it is exposed to air, will eventually turn to vinegar naturally.

So at this point, you may be thinking ‘ok, what makes vinegar so important?’ I thought the same thing until I did more research and found that vinegar actually has a long, healing history. Recorded history begins around 5000 BC with the Babylonians using it as a preservative and a seasoning for their food.

Residue of it has been found in ancient Egyptian times, traced back to 3000 BC. There is even recorded history from China, dating back to 1200 BC.

Roman soldiers and Japanese Samurai would drink it diluted, using it as an energizing and refreshing tonic. Vinegar was also used often to treat wounds on the battlefields.

The acidity makes it a powerful dissolver and was used by the Carthaginian general Hannibal while he invaded Italy in 218 BC. Louis XII of France was thought to have paid 1.3 million francs for vinegar used to cool cannons within his army. When it was applied to these hot, iron cannons, it would cool and also clean the metal surface.

During the Middle Ages in Europe, alchemists discovered that when pouring vinegar over lead, it created a sweet substance that they referred to as “sugar of lead”.

This substance was then used well into the nineteenth century to sweeten harsh cider. What they did not realize at the time, is that lead acetate is extremely poisonous and was the cause of many deaths of European cider drinkers.

During the Black Plague in Europe, thieves would utilize vinegar as a disinfectant, as they would pour it over their skin to protect themselves from germs before robbing the dead.

It was also common for citizens to hold sponges soaked in vinegar to their noses, simply to reduce the smell of raw sewage in the streets.

There are several different types of vinegar. Distilled or white is made from grains. Rice wine is more mild, and is made from rice. Malt vinegar is made from sprouted barley. Balsamic is made from grape juice that has been boiled down and concentrated instead of wine.

The sourness of vinegar is determined by the amount of acetic acid produced during the chemical reaction. As for a scale of sourness:

• White distilled: Always the strongest, most sour, most tart and most astringent

• Wine vinegars: Come in second place

• Beer, Cider or Malts: Fall somewhere in the middle

• Rice wine vinegars are more mild

• Balsamics are the most mild

Over the years, we have developed several different uses for vinegar. I’ve heard people mention apple cider vinegar; not knowing much about it, I searched high and low for information on this particular vinegar. Wow – was I surprised!

We have all heard the phrase “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”. Apples are an extremely healthy food, and are full of pectin, a soluble fiber, minerals and vitamins. So, many refer to ACV as the ultimate form of an apple.

Not only does this cider vinegar help alkalize the body, but it is also rich in potassium. To my surprise, I found research that shows it can help in aiding digestion, strengthening the heart, lowering blood pressure, lowering bad cholesterol, and stabilizing blood sugar.

ACV also contains antioxidants, which help ward off certain cancers.

After reading all these benefits that ACV can provide, I found one that most of all surprised me: it promotes weight loss. It is believed to increase metabolic rate by reducing water retention and helping you feel full. Who would think that this natural, cider vinegar could promote weight loss?

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Three Major Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

Thursday, March 17th, 2011

The health benefits of apple cider vinegar are well known all over the world

Like many people these days, I have been seeking out more and more ways to live naturally and with less harsh chemicals and medications. I have become more and more interested in natural beauty remedies, natural health remedies, natural cures, and basic preventative medicine.

One small example is that we have switched over to natural cleaners to use in our home instead of using smelly, chemical-y products and it’s been wonderful to not get a horrible headache when cleaning.

While doing some research to see different ways I can live more naturally and healthily, I came across a great deal of information about the wonders and many uses of Apple Cider Vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar is amazing, and you simply must have a bottle of it! It’s incredible the number of health benefits apple cider vinegar has, everything from a body deodorizer to an aid for weight loss to a hair shiner to a sore throat soother. The list goes on and on!

One of the best things about apple cider vinegar is that it is now carried in most regular grocery stores. The best kind to get is the unpasteurized, organic apple cider vinegar because that is the type that has the “sediment” on the bottom (often called the “mother”) which is actually the good stuff!

Those are the nutrients of the apple cider vinegar, so even though it may look a little weird, you don’t have to be scared, just give the bottle a good shake before pouring some out. The health benefits of vinegar just can’t be beat!

Here are some of the Apple Cider Vinegar health benefits.

1. Acid Reflux. For those suffering from heartburn or acid reflux, you can take apple cider vinegar orally. Just add 2 tablespoons to a glass of water every morning and about two hours before you go to bed.

I know a few people who really wanted a natural solution to their heartburn problem since they were talking expensive medications that were hard on their body every single day and they are so thrilled it works!

To make things even better, apple cider vinegar is safe to take during pregnancy, and can even help with morning sickness (which I used to call “morning, noon and night sickness” because I felt horrible pretty much all the time during the first three months of pregnancy). It’s so wonderful to have found a safe and natural solution for such a maddeningly persistent health issue.

2. Helps with sore throats and helps reduce sinus infections. This is another one of ACV’s best-known benefits, and is one of those remedies that has been timeless and proven to work throughout the years.

As soon as you feel a sore throat coming on, you simply put a couple tablespoons in some water (warm this time – it’s more soothing!) and as an extra bonus, add a little honey. It will make your throat feel better and helps stop you from getting sick! You can also gargle with an apple cider vinegar and water mixture if you are not up for drinking it.

3. Weight Loss. Have you heard people mention a “vinegar diet”? Chances are, they are referring to using apple cider vinegar for weight loss. This vinegar helps break down fats in the body, helps to control blood sugar levels and helps curb your appetite.

If you drink a bit of this cider vinegar (about a tablespoon, diluted in water) before each meal, it will help prevent you from overeating as it gives a nice comfortable feeling so you don’t overeat. Also, it can give you a good boost of energy as well!

Note that some people prefer to sip it throughout the day rather than drink a full glass just before meals. Different strokes for different folks! Frankly, it seems to just be a preference and you can try it both ways to see what works best for you. However the vinegar works for you, just do it!

Along the lines of weight loss and curbing appetites, apple cider vinegar also helps to cure constipation. This is because the high levels of pectin which are contained in apple cider vinegar can work as a natural laxative.

Personally, I am interested in trying apple cider vinegar to help with weight loss. Like many women, I am struggling with a bit of extra weight, and although I walk every day and overall eat healthy, it seems that I just can’t get my weight down to a more healthy level. I’m also lacking energy, which adds to my frustration.

I’m very interested in trying out an apple cider vinegar diet I read about. Maybe you should check it out, too! When there is something that has been used safely throughout history, and has so many benefits, it makes sense to give it a try!

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