When it comes to showing my skin and body some love, opting for natural remedies when I can get my hands on them is a big plus. That’s why I’ve been looking into apple cider vinegar, a.k.a. ACV, and its treasure chest full of health benefits.
Whether it’s ACV gummies, supplements, or ACV straight from the bottle, the hype around this ancient remedy has been picking up as more and more health enthusiasts praise it for all of the great ways it nourishes our bodies. So, what exactly are these apple cider vinegar benefits? Let’s get into the facts.
Apple cider vinegar is vinegar that comes straight from apples. (Pause for a “duh” moment). More specifically, it comes from fermented apple juice. To make it, apples are crushed and squeezed for their juice; then, bacteria and yeast are added to the liquid to start the fermentation process that turns sugars into alcohol.
Once that’s done – the liquid is turned into acetic acid, or the main active compound in vinegar. The acetic acid, once you can get past the ~acquired~ taste and smell, is what is believed to be responsible for all of the health benefits we love so much. There’s also organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar that contains a substance called “mother”, which has proteins, enzymes, and friendly bacteria for our bods.
While ACV doesn’t contain many vitamins or minerals, it has a small amount of potassium, amino acids, and antioxidants. Reports of the healing properties of ACV have been around since 3000 B.C. when it was used to be a healing elixir, an antibiotic, and a tonic for strength and power.
So, basically – it’s been around for centuries. Different groups of people have used it for both cooking and medicine, citing it’s undeniable antimicrobial and antioxidant effects before any of us were around.
Evidence suggests that ACV can offer a ton of health benefits for our bodies, including raising energy levels, reducing cholesterol, lowering blood sugar levels, and improving symptoms of diabetes. For those living with diabetes, or for anyone aiming to keep their blood sugar levels in a normal range, ACV has been shown to improve insulin function and significantly lower blood sugar levels in plenty of scientific studies.
Similarly, ACV can lower blood pressure, improve heart health, and improve digestion. For your digestion, the apple cider vinegar benefits can help reduce bloating and diminish heartburn all at once.
Impressive, huh? If you’re wondering how ACV can seemingly do it all, it’s because of its natural nutritional composition of the following:
Magnesium
Iron
Phosphorus
Manganese
Amino acids
Antioxidants
via GIPHY
There are plenty of ways that your skincare ritual can benefit from apple cider vinegar as a key ingredient. For example, you can dilute it to use in your cleanser, your toner (ACV is an astringent!), or even as a spot treatment.
The use of ACV as a gentle skincare product instead of harsh soaps or chemicals can present benefits like:
Cleansing the skin of bacteria or debris
Skin cell tightening
Antimicrobial and antibacterial properties
After-sun skincare for treating/soothing burns
Natural exfoliation
While it’s not obvious, ACV is actually coveted for its exfoliation properties. It contains citric, an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that can be used to exfoliate, brighten, and smooth the skin.
However, before you jump right in, remember to dilute your ACV – especially if you have sensitive skin, as ACV is acidic. It’s safest to test your skin’s reaction to ACV first, too.
As a potent detoxifying and anti-inflammatory ingredient, apple cider vinegar is easily becoming a staple in supporting skin health. With its popularity, we’re seeing ACV pop up in lots of fun, versatile new ways that go beyond the bottle, including yummy wellness shots, gummies, and more.
Since there are so many apple cider vinegar benefits for our health, many people opt for drinking it right out of the bottle. And to those people, we say: don’t.
To stay safe and actually benefit from ACV’s properties, there are proper ways to consume ACV without overdoing it. Moderation is key when it comes to ACV – and that sentence even rhymes so now you shouldn’t forget it.
via GIHPY
A common dosage of ACV per day is 1-2 tablespoons diluted with water. It’s strong, so save yourself the digestive problems and make sure to dilute it in some way.
If you don’t want to drink it with plain ol’ water, look into wellness shots, or get creative and mix it into your salad dressing. If those options don’t sound very appetizing to you, go the route of gummies.
Luckily, wellness shots and gummies are packed full of vitamins and other superfoods that can help you tackle your day. That’s why they’re both popular ways of consuming ACV nowadays. ACV capsules and pills can cause issues with acid reflux, so gummies are perfect for supporting your health without facing any additional digestion problems.
These gummies by NaturesTrusted are fantastic for detoxing, improving digestion, boosting energy, and increasing circulation. What makes them even better: they’re vegan, organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, and gelatin free. A win-win situation all around!
To answer your question: is ACV just a fad? I say: nope. The hype is real. While it doesn’t work miracles by any means, it definitely promotes good health. Seemingly, there’s nothing ACV can’t do when it comes to our bodies, skin, and even our haircare. The next step? Find out how ACV can fit into your own skin ritual.
Written by Selena Ponton
