Of all the well-touted natural health remedies that exist today, very few are followed quite as religiously as taking a tablespoon or two of apple cider vinegar every day.
Apple cider vinegar benefits have been hailed as a cure-all supplement, from allergy relief to weight loss. This powerful liquid has a reputation for improving overall well-being.
Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits That Will Change Your Life
1. Appetite Suppression
A 2006 study found that people who took doses of vinegar while eating bread reported feeling fuller than people who ate bread alone. While this study has been cited by those who believe in the health benefits of apple cider vinegar, it is important to note that it only tested 12 individuals, and more research is needed. However, many people still swear by the benefits of drinking apple cider vinegar for weight loss.
2. Detox Your Body (Inside & Out)
Apple cider vinegar for benefits such as detoxification is widely popular. Use ACV in your bath by adding ½-1 cup to your bathwater along with Epsom salts and lavender essential oil for a relaxing and detoxifying experience.
3. Hiccups Be Gone!
The sour taste of a straight teaspoon of apple cider vinegar can help stop hiccups instantly. Drinking apple cider vinegar benefits those who suffer from frequent hiccups by stimulating the nerves responsible for the spasms.
4. Recover Faster from Exhaustion
Beat exercise exhaustion with apple cider vinegar. Lactic acid buildup in the body causes fatigue, while the amino acids in ACV act as an antidote. Add a tablespoon to a glass of water after a workout to experience its benefits.
5. Skin Tag Removal
Some believe that the acetic acid in apple cider vinegar can help break down the tissue surrounding skin tags, causing them to fall off over time. Apple cider vinegar’s benefits for the skin also include its antibacterial properties, which help prevent infections.
RELATED: 5 Tips To Pick The Right Apple Cider Vinegar
6. Hair Detangler & Restorer
Apple cider vinegar benefits for hair are numerous. To create shiny, untangled hair, add 1/3 cup of ACV to four cups of water and pour it over your hair after shampooing. Leave it on for a few seconds, then rinse with cold water.
7. Clear Sinuses
Since breaking up mucus is one of apple cider vinegar’s many talents, it also helps clear out the sinuses. Its antibacterial properties can prevent sinus infections. Sip some water mixed with apple cider vinegar to breathe easier.
8. Wart Remover
Instead of chemical-filled wart removers, try apple cider vinegar. Soak a cotton ball in ACV, cover the wart, and leave it overnight. Repeat nightly until the wart falls off.
9. Energy Boost
The potassium and enzymes in apple cider vinegar help provide an energy boost. Add some ACV to a glass of water during a workout to prevent fatigue. The amino acids in ACV combat lactic acid buildup after exercise.
10. Lowering Cholesterol Levels
A study on rats found that those given an acetic acid supplement had lower cholesterol levels. Since acetic acid is a key component of ACV, many believe it can have similar benefits for humans, though more research is needed.
RELATED: 5 Tips To Pick The Right Apple Cider Vinegar
11. Diabetes Management
Several small studies suggest that apple cider vinegar may help manage diabetes. One study found that taking vinegar at bedtime reduced blood sugar levels the next morning in type 2 diabetes patients. Another study indicated that ACV might improve insulin sensitivity.
12. Hair Restorer
Apple cider vinegar has long been used for natural hair care. Its acidity is close to that of natural hair, making it an excellent conditioner, cleaning agent, and germ killer. Apple cider vinegar benefits for hair include:
- Vinegar hair rinse
- Hair herbal rinse
- Essential oil vinegar hair rinse
- Dandruff and itchy scalp relief
- Natural hair loss treatment
- Home remedy for head lice
13. Teeth Whitener
For stubborn stains, rub apple cider vinegar directly on your teeth, then rinse with water. However, excessive use can erode enamel. For a safer whitening mouthwash, mix one teaspoon of ACV with a cup of water and swish the mixture around your mouth.
14. Weight Loss Aid
One of the most well-known benefits of apple cider vinegar for weight loss is its potential to increase feelings of fullness and reduce calorie intake. Many people prefer apple cider vinegar pills or apple cider vinegar gummies as a more convenient way to consume ACV.
15. Better Digestion
Apple cider vinegar’s benefits for stomach health include improving digestion by increasing stomach acid production, which helps break down food more efficiently.
16. Heart Health Support
Apple cider vinegar’s health benefits may also extend to heart health. Some studies suggest it can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.
17. Stronger Immune System
With its antimicrobial properties, apple cider vinegar can help fight off infections and support immune function.
18. pH Balance Regulation
Since apple cider vinegar is acidic, it can help balance your body’s pH levels, promoting overall health.
19. Skin Health & Acne Treatment
Apple cider vinegar’s benefits for the skin include reducing acne, balancing skin pH, and acting as a natural toner when diluted with water.
20. Convenient Supplement Options
For those who don’t like the taste of liquid ACV, apple cider vinegar capsules or apple cider vinegar gummies offer an easy alternative.
Conclusion
Apple cider vinegar’s health benefits are widely recognized, though scientific research is still catching up. From the benefits of apple cider vinegar for weight loss to the benefits of apple cider vinegar for stomach health, there are countless ways to incorporate this natural remedy into your daily routine. Whether you choose to drink it, use it in hair and skin care, or take it in pill or gummy form, ACV remains a popular go-to for many seeking natural health solutions.
As more research emerges, we may learn even more about what apple cider vinegar benefits truly hold for health and wellness.
6 Incredible Uses For Witch Hazel
It’s not alcohol or peroxide, but what is it? That was the question I asked when I found out about witch hazel.
It sounds like something from the old days, but I never really knew what it could do for your body.
Once I found out, I saw witch hazel in a whole new light and started using it almost daily!
Witch hazel (which has the species name Hamamelis virginiana), a type of plant native to North America, is a member of the Hamamelidaceae plant family.
Sometimes also called winter bloom, the leaves and bark from the plant are used to make a skin-healing astringent that’s capable of naturally reducing acne, blisters, insect bites, poison ivy, inflammation and much more.
It goes back to being widely used for medicinal purposes by American Indians.
Now, many more people swear by it, too. Here are some of the favorite uses for this wonder product:
1. Acne fighter
As a natural home remedy for acne, applying witch hazel to acne-prone skin can help slow down inflammation, redness, oiliness, and bleeding.
As a natural cleanser, it’s capable of reducing bacteria growth on the skin and speeds up the time needed to heal infections or scabs.
Another benefit for sensitive skin is that it reduces the look of pores (although no product can shrink pores) and helps stop excess oil production, sweating, and the development of blackheads or whiteheads, which can contribute to embarrassing breakouts.
Instead of opening up a pimple and making the problem worse, apply witch hazel directly to the skin wherever you notice a zit forming or tend to break out.
It’s even more effective when used in combination with other antibacterials like tea tree oil, coconut oil or apple cider vinegar.
Apply witch hazel with a clean cotton ball up to several times per day anywhere you experience irritation, starting slowly and giving your skin time to adjust.
2. Reduce Puffy Eyes
Puffy eyes are another common skin problem that many people face, it can be caused by allergies, stress, overindulging in alcohol, sun exposure, cigarette smoking, and many other factors.
The next time you wake up and find yourself with puffy eyes, be sure to have some witch hazel around, and you’ll have a quick fix for that problem.
Witch hazel is known to tighten skin, which helps reduce under-eye baggage and puffiness.
Just soak some cotton balls with witch hazel, and apply it to closed eyes.
Let it remain for five minutes or so, allowing it to soak into the skin.
Repeat one more time for severe puffiness.
As it can be more effective if it’s cool, storing your witch hazel in the refrigerator is a good idea, particularly if this is the main reason you plan to use it.
3. Hair Cleanser and Scalp Protector
Use witch hazel on your hair to help reduce oil buildup — which leaves your hair shinier, healthier and more volumized.
It’s also great for removing hair odors, helping with an irritated scalp, or speeding up healing from any bites or acne at the base of the neck when you’re prone to sweating.
One study conducted by the Center for Dermatology and Disease in Zurich, Switzerland, found that shampoo containing witch hazel extract helped soothe patients’ irritated scalps, redness, itching and inflammation.
After testing the effects of witch hazel on 1,373 patients, a percentage of patients reported improvement in symptoms and better tolerance of other hair products.
Add several drops to your shampoo or make your own hair wash using coconut oil, argan oil, witch hazel, and other cleansing essential oils like lemon or orange oil.
4. Makeup Remover
For a gentle, all-natural make-up remover, try using a quick witch hazel recipe that combines oil and water.
- 2 tablespoons witch hazel
- 2 tablespoons oil such as almond, extra virgin olive oil or jojoba
- 2 tablespoons of filtered water
- 1-2 drops tea tree oil (if you are making the cloths)
For the solution itself, just combine the witch hazel, oil and water in a bottle and shake before each use.
Use a round cotton pad or cotton ball soaked with the remover to remove makeup.
5. Eczema Soother
If you’re suffering from eczema, witch hazel can help with that too, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. It not only helps stop that incessant itching, but it improves symptoms like scaling, redness, burning and even scarring.
One study found that patients with eczema who were treated with witch hazel on one arm, and a non-steroidal cream on the other over three weeks, experienced just as effective relief in improving symptoms with the witch hazel as compared to the cream.
Simply apply witch hazel onto affected areas of the skin twice a day.
6. Hemorrhoid Healer
Witch hazel also acts as a hemorrhoids home remedy. You can apply witch hazel water to the skin to help lower pain and inflammation caused by uncomfortable hemorrhoids.
It’s useful for relieving itching, irritation, bleeding and burning from hemorrhoids as well.
Most experts recommend using hazel water (Hamamelis liquid extract diluted with water) up to six times a day on irritated skin or after every bowel movement.
(BONUS) Underarm Dark Spot Remover
Witch hazel can also be used as a natural deodorant that also doubles as a dark spot remover under your arms.
To use it instead of your regular stick or aerosol deodorant, pour a generous amount onto a large cotton pad and dab liberally underarms, letting it dry before dressing.
For those with thick underarm hair, using witch hazel in a spray bottle to thoroughly penetrate the hair and reach the skin may be necessary for effective odor control.
