A Healthy Trend
Apple Cider Vinegar

A type of vinegar that has plenty of different uses other than being a food ingredient. This is where we informatively filter its benefits

Apple cider vinegar is popularly abbreviated as ACV. The word vinegar in French translates to "sour wine´. All forms of vinegar consist of something known as "mother´ which is made up of proteins, enzymes and friendly bacteria which impart a murky look to the solution. Surprisingly apple cider vinegar is not as recent an invention as it seems; apparently our ancestors dating back to 5000 years BC  have been fermenting apple juice ever since. In the 17th century the Europeans started using vinegar for its various uses such as assisting in the process of detoxification of the liver, purifying the blood, cleansing of lymph nodes and boosting one´s immunity.

You will commonly find three healthy varieties of apple cider vinegar; organic, raw and unfiltered. These vinegars do not consist of genetically modified organisms, synthetic additives and also have the "mother´ intact. Whereas filtered ACV consists of apple juice and water. After the process of filtration, the vinegar is devoid of "mother´ and any sediment, resulting in amber-coloured vinegar. You should avoid consuming this kind of ACV for it does more harm than good.

Apple cider vinegar is made using the scientific process of fermentation with apple, sugar and yeast as the basic ingredients. First, the apples are crushed and their juice is squeezed out. Bacteria and yeast are then added to initiate fermentation and the sugar present is converted to alcohol in the process. After the first one, the second fermentation process is set to start. In this step the alcohol turns into vinegar (acetic acid) by the bacteria.

Apple cider vinegar is used as a salad dressing in marinades, vinaigrettes, food preservatives and chutneys. In the year 1958, Dr Jarvus wrote a book stating the health benefits of this vinegar. According to his research and suggestions, users have to mix ACV with honey and take a teaspoon once a day. As a result of the book, in the 1970s, people who agreed with his views created a weight loss plan of which ACV was a major ingredient.

Since ACV is a key component of a number of diet plans, it works as a weight-loss solution. A study was conducted in 2009, where a group of obese people had to consume ACV every day along with a control group who were given a placebo for 12 weeks of the experiment. The result showed a drastic improvement in the levels of triglycerides, waist size, body weight and abdominal fat of those who consumed ACV.
Interestingly, an ancient remedy for the removal of dandruff is the application of a mixture of half apple cider vinegar and half water on the scalp, leave it for 15 minutes and then rinse it. This vinegar also treats skin problems like acne. In order to test, blend ACV and water in the ratio of 1:3 where one part of the vinegar is added to three parts of water and apply it on the skin or drink it.

ACV is also capable of curing people of sinus and throat infection. The contact of the liquid with the throat acts like a sponge to the germs that are present. It treats sinus by breaking down the mucous that exists in areas of accumulation. Scientists today are still in the research stage of working towards finding how it contributes to curing cancer.

Additionally apple cider vinegar aids in detoxification by balancing the power of hydrogen (pH) of the body. It also encourages lymphatic drainage, intensifying circulation which makes it quite efficient when it comes to detoxification.

Caution: Do not use apple cider vinegar without diluting it, for direct consumption could cause erosion of the enamel of the tooth, burning of the tissues in the throat or skin. Direct consumption also causes depletion of potassium levels in the body. In order to become accustomed to apple cider vinegar one should start with low dosages and then gradually increase it.

Experts suggest people to avoid using apple cider vinegar as a quick fix to an illness. One should rather pair it with a nutritious diet and a healthy lifestyle for daily controlled consumption and marked observable results.

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