Why I Drink Apple Cider Vinegar


A couple of years ago, I got a cold. Just an ordinary cold - but it turned into something pretty serious. I thought the cold was just a long, drawn-out one, so I didn't go to the doctor. I didn't want to go to the trouble of arranging an appointment (you moms of little ones know what I mean!) and pay the doctor's fee just to hear, "It's only a cold; there's nothing we can do."

Then one morning, I felt really cold. I cranked up our wood stove and bundled up in a blanket. I got the shivers and could barely walk. I took my temperature: 105 degrees. To make a long story short, my husband came home from work and took me immediately to the doctor, who said I had a "raging" sinus infection. He was so worried about me, he wouldn't let me walk out the door, prescribed a heavy duty antibiotic, and gave me an extra-long dose. Even then, I had to take an additional week of the stuff.

Ever since that serious bout with a sinus infection, it seems every cold I get leads to a sinus infection. The good news is, I now know that if a cold seems to last more than 2 weeks, I should seek medical help. I also recognize the extreme fatigue and sinus issues related to a sinus infection. Nonetheless, as you can imagine, I was tired of going to the doc for antibiotics every time I got a cold.

So I did a little research into preventing sinus infections. A lot of doctors recommend using a neti pot, which I already did. Further research showed that among experts in natural medicine, apple cider vinegar was recommended - but not the ordinary kind typically found in grocery stores. It must be the raw, unfiltered type with the "mother" still in it, like Bragg's.

So I bought a bottle and put it in my pantry.


Soon, I had opportunity to use it. I got another cold (a rather nasty one, in fact), and I began taking the apple cider vinegar every day. I continued until all my cold and sinus symptoms disappeared. And for the first time in years, my cold wasn't followed by a sinus infection! That was enough to make me realize raw apple cider vinegar is a worthy part of my health care.


How to Drink Apple Cider Vinegar
Measure 2 teaspoons of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar into a drinking glass, then add 8 oz. water. Drink.


I recommend trying the drink just like this. For the first two days, I hated the flavor, but found I was absolutely CRAVING the drink. By the third day, I was not only looking forward to my daily glass, but was enjoying the flavor, too.

However, if you really can't drink it like this, you can add 1 or 2 teaspoons of real honey, 100% maple syrup, or molasses.

You may consume this drink 3 times a day - but I chose to do it only once a day. It is, after all, it is a diuretic, and you can expect it to make you urinate more than usual.




Why Does it Work?

It's certainly possible the diuretic action of the vinegar does a lot to get rid of illness. (If you've ever had a doctor tell you to "push fluids," this is why. The more you drink, the more you urinate and the more "bad bugs" your body gets rid of.) But the fact is, no one is exactly sure why apple cider vinegar seems to be so beneficial to health - although we do know it's packed with acetic acid, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.

According to a conservative source, WebMD, raw apple cider vinegar:

* may help diabetes and cause weight loss
* helps lower high cholesterol and blood pressure
* may slow the growth of cancer cells

If you visit alternative medicine websites, you'll also find a great many other claims for what apple cider vinegar can do. (Here's a more moderate example of such a site.)

According to WebMD, there is also some indication that drinking apple cider vinegar every day for years could lower your potassium and bone density and that the chromium in the vinegar could alter insulin levels in diabetics - so if you choose to drink it daily, please discuss it with your doctor. Personally, I drink it only when I crave it, or at the first sign I could be getting a sinus infection.


Disclaimer 
I am not a doctor, nor should anything on this website (www.ProverbsThirtyOneWoman.blogspot.com) be considered medical advice. The FDA requires me to say that products mentioned, linked to, or displayed on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information on this web site is designed for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for qualified medical advice or care. There are no assurances of the information being fit or suited to your medical needs, and to the maximum extent allow by law disclaim any and all warranties and liabilities related to your use of any of the information obtained from the website. Your use of this website does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship. No information on this website should be considered complete, nor should it be used as a substitute for a visit to, consultation with, or the advice of a physician or other qualified health care provider.  

2 comments

  1. Is raw vinegar more potent than ordinary brands?

    I use homemade mixes with ordinary brands and they seem to keep colds from worsening and battle sore throats fairly well. I'm wondering if raw vinegar would work quicker?

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  2. Loretta, apple cider vinegar *with the mother still in it* has enzymes and minerals that processed vinegars don't contain. (Most apple cider vinegars found in the store are heated and filtered repeatedly.)So the raw, with the mother, vinegar contains more of the "good for you stuff."

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