5 WAYS I USE APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

ACV aka Apple Cider Vinegar is definitely on of those health items buzzed about… similar to coconut oil and honey. There are so many great health benefits and a varitey of ways to use it. It’s something that is part of my daily routine and lifestyle, so I thought I would share 5 ways I use apple cider vinegar and why you should too!

 
WHAT KIND TO BUY – Apple Cider Vinegar with the MOTHER!
You can buy any brand of ACV. BUT, be sure to look for the kind that contains “the mother.” You’ll see it as a cloudy substance that often sits at the bottom of the jar. The mother is a culture of beneficial bacteria that is responsible for the process of creating the apple cider vinegar during fermentation. You may be familiar with the mother or SCOBY in Kombucha making.
The mother is this benefifical acid contains a variety of health benefits. The types of ACV that contain the mother culture are unrefined, raw and unpasteurized.
Just a note… when I was pregnant, my OB advised me to take out anything unpasteurized so I didn’t drink any ACV then. The refined kind looses that majority of the health benefits so I just went without it for awhile.
 
Look for: raw, unfitered, unpasteurized ACV (with visible mother – you’ll see it!)
 
BENEFITS OF APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
The list of Apple Cider Vinegar goes on and on so if you’re looking for a natural remedy to something in particular that I haven’t listed here, reasearch “apple cider vinegar and ____ (whatever you’re thinking of)” to see if it could help. Chances are someone has written on it! I’ll share the benefits I find most helpful to you!

• Balances the body’s pH
• Can help weight loss by curbing appetite and breaking down fat
• Reduced inflammation
• Antibacterial and antiseptic
• Helps reduce/prevent acne
• Helps relieve heartburn, nausea and reflux
• Assists in migraine relief
• Reliefs sinus pressure and infection
• Lowers blood pressure
• Prevents flu and stomach issues
• Help slower glucose levels in diabetes
• Dissolves kidney stones

 

 
5 WAYS I USE APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
 
1. DRINK OR SHOT
You know I’m all about a morning routine and apple cider vinegar has been in my AM routine for at least 5 years now.
SHOT: apple cider vinegar… straight. in a shot glass. throw it back and get it over with. Occasionally, I’ll add a bit of lemon juice in there too!
DRINK: I’ve grown to like the taste of apple cider vinegar (crazy, right?!) so I make what I call a “Supersized ACV Shot”
 
Supersized ACV Shot Recipe:

• 1-3 tbsp ACV (amount of your preference)
• 8+ oz water
• juice from 1/2 lemon
• stevia (because a sweetened ACV drink is necessary for me)
• ice (this is key.. ACV is a lot more tolerable when it’s ice cold in my opinion)

 
 
2. IN FOOD
If you’re can’t stand the taste of apple cider vinegar, it may be more masked in food. I have a DELICIOUS dinner recipe that I use ACV in – see the recipe HERE. It’s a super quick chicken dinner that my entire family likes.
And, I use apple cider vinegar pretty regularly on salads. This is the recipe I use.
 
ACV Salad Dressing Recipe:

• 1/4 cup ACV (apple cider vinegar)
• 1/3 cup EVOO (extra virgin oliv oil)
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• honey to desired sweetness (I usually use ~1 tbsp)
• salt and pepper to taste

3. FACIAL TONER
WTF?! Yes haha. Starting when I was 20 up until I got pregnant (26), I really struggled with my skin. I had Perioral Dermatitis; I saw 4+ dermatologists all thought it was believed to be triggered by fluroride. They told me it most likely wouldn’t clear up unless I went on an antibiotic and topical. I did for a short while but as someone who prefers to not take a Tylenol when I have a headache and instead go the more natural route, I didn’t like this much. I stopped and when I did, my skin just went crazy.
I researched and researched. I tried this and that. One thing that kept coming up was to use Apple Cider Vinegar as a facial toner.
I kept thinking how could apple cider vinegar be as effective as an exensive synthetic product; yet, I reminded myself that healthy living has proven to me that putting fake stuff in/on my body is not the body’s preferred route, so I tried it out!
Okay, as many of you know, a popular skincare regimen is: cleanse, tone, moisturize.
The role of toner is to restore the skin’s natural pH which is ~5.5. Allow me to nerd out real quick as you know I love… pH refers to how acidic or basic something is. If you’re familiar you may know a neutral pH is 7, so 5.5 means the skin is fairly acidic. Technically speaking… the outer protective layer of the skin is known as the acid mantle.
The only reason this is relevant is because different types of cleansers and products can skew with the skin’s natural pH; when the acid mantle of the skin is disrupted, bacteria can form aka pimples, breakouts, blemishes, etc. Actually, do you know what else can disrupt the skin’s pH?! Stress, diet, lack of exercise, dehydration, etc. I just find that so interesting!
So, is adding a bunch of synthetic ingredients, alcohol, parabens, fragrance, etc. commonly found in toners helpful? I would argue not! I’ve learned that a slightly more acidic toner (around a pH of 3-4) can help restore the skin’s natural pH of 5.5. Enter… apple cider vinegar!
Raw Apple Cider Vinegar is antibacterial and antiseptic… great for acne and many skin conditions! It’s the by-product of fermented apples which contain beneficial acids and enzymes. I use it as a toner to balance the pH but I’ve also read it’s great for gentle exfoliation and some people even swear by it from lightenin up sun/age spots and improving acne scars.
SOLD!
DIY TONER: mix a 2:1 ratio of 2 parts filtered or distilled water to 1 part apple cider vinegar. Store in a glass jar. Apply to a soft cotton pad to tone skin. I have read that some increase the ratio to 1:1 but definitely test it out on a small patch of your skin.
 
 
4. ALL NATURAL CLEANER
I’m always on the hunt for an all natural cleaner. Don’t get me wrong… when I need to, I break out the big guys but on a daily basis and with certain things like my son’s toys, I go for more natural cleaning options like this! The high acid content in vinegar is great for cleaning. I have found that the pasteurized version of Apple Cider Vinegar is better for cleaning as it doesn’t leave behind residue!
 
DIY CLEANER: mix equal parts of water and apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle. Add 2-3 drops of an essential oil for natural fragrance.
 
 
5. DETOX BATH
Bathing in Apple Cider Vinegar sounds a bit ridiculous but if it’s beneficial, why not?! I normally add epsom salt to my bath water to help heal my body so adding a cup of ACV is no biggie. The skin is our largest organ and can equally benefit from many of the ACV health benefits.
For example, the anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties of ACV can be good for a variety of skin conditions. It can nourish and sooth the skin. I’ve read that many people swear by an ACV bath when they have sunburn and that others talk about how soft it makes their hair (I have yet to dip my hair in my ACV bath but maybe I’ll try this week!)
Another note… I do shower off after my ACV bath to rinse off any reside.
 
Detox Bath Concoction: 1 cup of ACV + 1 cup epsome salt to bath & soak for 30+ minutes