Apple cider vinegar is a vinegar formed by double fermentation of apple juice by the addition of bacteria and yeast. It is mainly used as food preservatives or in salad dressings and it has a strong and sour taste.
Nutritional Value of Apple Cider Vinegar
Per 100 gm
| NUTRIENT | QUANTITY | %DV |
| Energy | 21 Kcal | |
| Carbohydrates | 0.93 gm | |
| Fat | 0 gm | |
| Protein | 0 gm | |
| Calcium | 7 mg | 1% |
| Iron | 0.20 mg | 2% |
Apple cider has 94% water and negligible nutritional value.
Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar for Skin
Apple cider vinegar may be low in nutritional values but it has many beauty benefits. Always remember to use 100% pure and unfiltered form of apple cider as this form contains the original enzymes.
Some of the benefits of apple cider vinegar for skin are given below:
1. To Fight Acne and Pimples
Apple cider vinegar has antiseptic and antibacterial properties that help in fighting against acne and pimples and also reduces acne scars. There are various ways of reducing acne and pimples using apple cider vinegar that is either internal ingestion or external application both of which are explained below
Internal Ingestion:
- Mix 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and drink it with the help of straw as it can damage the tooth enamel. Drink it regularly to reduce acne and to improve your immune system.
External Application:
- Apply apple cider vinegar on your acne using a cotton ball and let it dry. Dilute apple cider vinegar if your skin is sensitive. Rinse it off with water and apply it daily for the best results.
2. As a Skin Toner
There are various benefits of apple cider vinegar for face. It acts as a great skin toner that helps in closing the pores that protect the skin from impurities present in the environment. Apple cider vinegar is very useful for people having oily skin and it maintains the pH level of the skin. The procedure for making a skin toner using apple cider vinegar is given below:
Procedure
- Mix half a cup of apple cider vinegar with one cup of distilled water in case of normal skin. Accordingly, reducing the amount of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water in case of sensitive skin.
- Using a cotton ball apply this solution on your face.
- Keep it for a few minutes.
- Rinse it off with cold water.
- Follow this procedure twice a day for best results.
3. To Treat Razor Bumps
Razor bumps develop on the skin mainly after shaving and appear as a pimple and may cause discomfort. Apple cider vinegar helps in the treatment of razor bumps and as it has anti-inflammatory properties it soothes itching and skin irritation.
Procedure
- Apply a thin layer of honey on the razor bump and keep it for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Then rinse it off with cold water and apply apple cider vinegar with a cotton ball on the area and let it dry.
- Repeat this until you get relief.
4. To Heal Bruises
Because of its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, apple cider vinegar is also very useful to heal bruises and in the discoloration of bruises. Bruises are formed when blood from damaged blood cells collect near the surface of the skin. Apple cider vinegar helps in the dissipation of this pooled blood near the surface.
Procedure
Apply apple cider vinegar on your bruise and cover it up with a cotton ball and keep it for an hour. Dilute it in case of sensitive skin.
5. To Get Rid of Feet Odour
Apple cider vinegar helps in getting rid of pungent feet odor because of its antimicrobial properties that kill odor-causing bacteria.
Procedure
Mix one cup of apple cider vinegar with four to five cups of water and soak your feet in it for about 15 minutes. Then wash your feet with antibacterial soap and water and do this procedure regularly for a few weeks.
Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar for Hair
Apple cider vinegar is very useful in overcoming hair related problems because of its inherent properties and pH value. Some of the benefits of apple cider vinegar relating hair are as follows:
1. To Reduce Hair Loss
Apple cider vinegar helps in the removal of dirt, dead skin, pollution and other chemicals that block the hair follicles that prevents hair growth. Since apple cider vinegar is acidic in nature it also helps in the maintaining of pH level of the scalp that promotes hair growth because dirt, pollution, and frizz make the hair scalp alkaline in nature. It also improves the blood circulation to the hair follicles that facilitate hair growth.
Procedure
- Mix 1 cup of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup of water and shake well.
- Pour this solution over wet hair and keep it for about 10 minutes.
- Massage it well on your scalp to make sure it reaches your hair follicles.
- Wash your hair with a mild shampoo.
- Repeat this at least twice or thrice in a week.
2. To Reduce Dandruff
Apple cider vinegar helps in the reduction of dandruff that helps in getting rid of an itchy and scaly scalp. Because of its antifungal properties, it does not let the fungi causing dandruff to reside in our scalp.
Procedure
- Mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and water along with 15 drops of tea tree oil.
- Apply it on your scalp and massage it thoroughly and keep it for about 10 minutes.
- Rinse the solution off with water and then wash it off with a mild shampoo.
- Repeat this process 2 to 3 times a week.
Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar for Health
Apart from its external beauty benefits, apple cider vinegar has many health benefits. Some of these benefits are listed below.
1. Helps in Weight Loss
There are many benefits of apple cider vinegar for weight loss. It speeds up the metabolism of the body and it supports appetite control. Also, acetic acid present in the apple cider vinegar targets the fats present in the body and thus supports the fat burning process.
Procedure
Mix 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water and drink it before meals or pour some apple cider vinegar on your salad along with olive oil.
2. Reducing Cholesterol Levels
Benefits of apple cider vinegar for cholesterol is explained as follows:
Apple cider vinegar helps in the removal of bad cholesterol and increases the good cholesterol in the body. This helps in improving heart health because bad cholesterol present in the body blocks blood vessels thereby increasing the risk of heart attack. Thus, by adding apple cider vinegar to your diet you can reduce the risk of heart attacks.
3. Lowering Blood Sugar Levels
Apart from various benefits, there are benefits of apple cider vinegar for type-2 diabetes. Apple cider vinegar is found to be helpful in lowering blood sugar levels that are required in type-2 diabetes which is characterized by high blood sugar levels in the body. Apart from people suffering from diabetes, it also helpful for those who are pre-diabetics or need to control blood sugar levels that are high because of old age or due to various chronic diseases. It increases insulin sensitivity in the body that helps in lowering blood sugar levels.
Apart from blood sugar levels, apple cider vinegar helps in reducing the blood pressure levels in the body. It is useful for people suffering from high blood pressure which increases the risk of heart diseases. Thus, apple cider vinegar helps in achieving good heart health.
4. Claims to Fight Against Cancer
It is found that apple cider vinegar has anti-cancer properties. Cancer is due to uncontrolled growth of cells in our body and apple cider vinegar is found to be able to kill cancer cells and helps in shrinking tumors. Because of these properties, apple cider vinegar is believed to help in fighting against cancer.
5. For Treating Arthritis
The combination of apple cider vinegar and honey has many benefits. Benefits of apple cider vinegar and honey for arthritis is explained as follows:
Apple cider vinegar has high acetic acid content that helps in treating the excess acidity in the blood that leads to inflammation and pain. Also, apple cider vinegar has antioxidant properties which help in getting relief from stiff and painful joints.
Procedure
- While making ginger or peppermint tea add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to it.
- Also, add 1 tablespoon of honey and cinnamon each in the tea.
- Drink this tea daily to get relief from arthritis pain.
6. To Relieve Constipation
Benefits of apple cider vinegar for constipation is explained as follows:
Although it is not proven that apple cider vinegar helps to relieve constipation it is claimed that it acts as a natural laxative and improves digestion which helps in getting relief from constipation. Also, apple cider vinegar is found to have magnesium that helps in regular bowel movement.
7. As a Deodorant
Apple cider vinegar also acts as a natural deodorant. Apple cider vinegar has antibacterial properties which kill the bacteria present in our armpits that results in bad body odor.
Procedure
- Mix apple cider vinegar and water in the ratio of 1:1.
- Apply this solution in your underarms using a cotton ball.
- Or add diluted apple cider vinegar in a roll-on deo stick for convenient daily use.
- It is efficient for about half a day.
8. For Treating Bad Breath
Bad breath is a very common problem that is experienced by many people around the world. Although it can be treated with the help of oral dental hygiene practices like mouthwash and brushing, sometimes it can be due to gut problems, tonsil infection etc.
Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid which helps in the elimination of bacteria causing bad breath. Also, apple cider vinegar improves digestion which helps in eradicating bad breath due to indigestion and other stomach problems.
Procedure
- Mix 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water.
- Mix it well and consume it before each meal.
- Continue this process daily.
9. For Curing Sore Throat and Cough
Apple cider vinegar is also very helpful in curing sore throat and cough and various other seasonal allergies. The combination of apple cider vinegar and honey helps in the process of killing infections present in our throat that causes a sore throat and cough. Apple cider vinegar has antiseptic properties and honey has antimicrobial and soothing properties that help in getting relief from a sore throat and cough.
Procedure
- Mix 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon of honey in a glass of water.
- Mix it thoroughly and warm it if required.
- Consume it 3 to 4 times daily until you find relief.
10. To Prevent Acid Reflux
Apple cider vinegar also helps in preventing acid reflux which is the condition in which food comes up from the stomach to the esophagus. This can cause heartburn and nausea. Acid reflux may be due to less acid in the stomach. Apple cider vinegar has acetic acid that treats this situation and also kills several bacteria.
Precautions
Apple cider vinegar should be used carefully as it may cause throat irritation and can decrease potassium levels in the body. Also, it can cause enamel erosion and thus a straw should be used for ingestion as and when possible. It may also affect medications for treating diabetes and various heart diseases and it may cause some allergic reactions. Also, do a patch test before applying it on your skin to check for any irritation or redness on the skin. Thus, refer your doctor before using apple cider vinegar.
Also read:
Apple Cider Vinegar for Hair Growth: Benefits, Side Effects, and Tips
Iris Reed Diffuser Apple Cinnamon Home Fragrances Review
