-by Yvonne L. Salcido MH

(NaturalNews) The cleansing properties of apple cider vinegar have been utilized for centuries. Eastern medicine teaches us that apple cider vinegar can help stimulate circulation and aid detoxification in the liver. Ancient cultures often used apple cider vinegar to purify the blood. Today we are exposed to more toxins than ever before, so it's become even more important that we take care of our bodies by detoxing with natural medicinal foods like apple cider vinegar.



Apple cider vinegar is rich in natural minerals, vitamins and enzymes. Supplying these nutrients to the body is crucial during a time of detoxification, when all the systems in the body go into overdrive to purge out toxic material. The unique acids in apple cider vinegar can bind to toxins and help the body eliminate them more effectively. They are also equip to fight bacteria, fungus and Candida.



Another way apple cider vinegar aids detoxification is by breaking up mucus throughout the body and cleansing the lymph nodes to allow for better lymph circulation. A healthy lymphatic system can remove toxins from the cells in the body while improving immune system response.



Taking apple cider vinegar before meals aids digestion and improves gastric health, helping the body remove toxic waste more efficiently. When foods are digested thoroughly and waste eliminated quickly, the body is nourished and toxins are removed before they have time to do damage.



Remember, to get real results you must choose a real product. The ideal apple cider vinegar is in raw liquid form. It should be unprocessed and unfiltered, with plenty of "mother" in it. Any other kind of apple cider vinegar will be far less effective and may provide no benefits at all. In fact, some cheap imitations are simply white distilled vinegar with caramel coloring added!



Take apple cider vinegar in small doses throughout the day. Many people like to take 1-3 teaspoons in a glass of water before meals to aid digestion. Others enjoy adding it to hot water with honey to drink as a tea. You can also use apple cider vinegar to make tasty and nutritious sauces and salad dressings.



A hot bath prepared with a cup of apple cider vinegar and a cup of Epsom Salts will draw toxins out through the skin and help jumpstart the cleansing process. This can also help relieve joint pain as well as skin conditions like eczema and acne.



While apple cider vinegar can play an important role in detoxification, it will be far more effective when combined with a naturally healthy lifestyle that includes these habits:



- Eat a balanced diet that consists of unprocessed, natural foods that will provide the body with the nutrition it needs to purify itself.



- Include some raw, uncooked foods in your diet since these supply important enzymes that will help you detox.



- Choose organic foods to help reduce your exposure to toxins. Keep in mind processed foods of all kinds should be avoided, even if they are labeled organic.



- Exercise regularly to improve the health of the circulatory and lymphatic systems, both of which work to cleanse and purify the body.



- Reduce toxin exposure by using natural household cleaners and beauty products.



- Drink only filtered water to avoid potential toxin exposure. Getting plenty of pure water will also aid natural detoxification processes.



For More Information:



http://www.naturalnews.com/025452_v...



http://www.naturalnews.com/026440_v...



http://www.naturalnews.com/026715_v...



Cook, Larry. (2005) The Beginner's Guide to Natural Living. Published by Ecovision Communications.





Elizabeth Walling is a freelance writer, specializing in articles about health and family nutrition. She is a strong believer in natural living as a way to improve health and prevent common illnesses.





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Detox and Cleanse with Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

12-18-08 - Paul Bragg "invented" the healthfood store!! He formulated Bragg's ACV.



There's so much HOOPLA on acv, so I decided to go to the source and bought Paul Bragg's acv little book, it was inexpensive. The best thing I can say about the book: it's a masterful book of advertising for his product.



If acv was touted by those of us here that applied the things he says and it works like he says it does, there would be NO need for another single product on the holistic market ... his book reads like THE end-all of about every dis-ease ever mentioned.



I DO have a bottle of Bragg's acv in my cupboard and I will continue to have it. My salad dressing preference was always of the Italian and Greek variety. I intend on continuing that habit and Bragg's is probably the best vinegar on the market.



When my liver hurt me BAD and lemon wasn't cutting the pain, sometimes a warm cup of acv sweetened with stevia was just what un-doctor plzchuckle (myself) ordered! Yes, acv does cut liver pain. Did I ever feel that taking it for my liver problem was helping me? Only when I hurt. I saw NO change in my distress and/or dis-ease other than easing the pain.

First of all, please recognize that this document is NOT intended to be a comprehensive or exhaustive analysis of apple cider vinegar. However you can help add to the current understanding of this topic by adding your own comments at the bottom of this page.



If you are aware of any additional benefits, please register for Vital Votes if you haven’t done so already.



There have been many lofty claims about the miraculous healing powers of apple cider vinegar, and many people do seem to be experiencing some health benefits. However, much of what you read about this product on the Internet is overstated, or simply unfounded.



Some proponents of apple cider vinegar claim it can cure everything from diabetes to acid reflux, to warts, cancer, arthritis, athlete’s foot, halitosis, high cholesterol, gout, poison oak, urinary tract infections, and even head lice!



Oh -- and yes, it can help you with your Easter egg dying as well.



With the surging interest in alternative medicine, you can now even get apple cider vinegar in pill form.



Dramatic claims aside, let’s examine what is really known about vinegar, based on the scientific studies to date.



Latest Research Findings on Vinegar and Diabetes



There has been surprisingly little research about using vinegar for therapeutic health purposes, given the large number of dramatic claims about it. However, lack of scientific studies is a common problem for many natural and alternative therapies.



Perhaps the most researched and the most promising of apple cider vinegar’s benefits are in the area of type 2 diabetes. Several studies have found that vinegar may help lower blood glucose



In 2004, a study cited in the American Diabetes Foundation’s publication Diabetes Care[i] found that taking vinegar before meals significantly increased insulin sensitivity and dramatically reduced the insulin and glucose spikes that occur after meals. The study involved 29 people, divided into three groups:



1. One third had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

2. One third had prediabetic signs.

3. One third were healthy.



The results were quite significant:



~All three groups had better blood glucose readings with the vinegar than with the placebo.

~People with prediabetic symptoms benefitted the most from the vinegar, cutting their blood glucose

concentrations by nearly half.

~People with diabetes improved their blood glucose levels by 25 percent with vinegar.

~People with prediabetic symptoms had lower blood glucose than the healthy participants after both drank vinegar.



A follow-up study geared at testing vinegar’s long-term effects yielded an unexpected but pleasant side effect: moderate weight loss. In this study, participants taking two tablespoons of vinegar prior to two meals per day lost an average of two pounds over the four-week period, and some lost up to four pounds.



In 2007, another study cited by WebMD involving 11 people with type 2 diabetes found taking two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before bed lowered glucose levels in the morning by 4 to 6 percent.



Although the research to date looks favorable, more studies are needed to confirm the extent of vinegar’s insulin stabilization benefits.



Vinegar and Blood Pressure



There is far less research exploring vinegar and heart health.



In 2006, one study showed that vinegar could lower cholesterol in laboratory rats[ii]. Another study on rats[iii] found their blood pressure could be lowered by the acetic acid in vinegar.



However, these results do not necessarily apply to people; therefore, we really need some research on humans before conclusions can be drawn.



Possible Cancer Combatant



There is some positive preliminary research suggesting apple cider vinegar can help prevent cancer. A few laboratory studies have found that vinegar may be able to kill cancer cells or slow their growth. However, epidemiological studies of people have yielded confusing results.



One study found that taking vinegar was associated with a decreased risk of esophageal cancer. Another associated it with an increased risk for bladder cancer. Clearly, the jury is still out on cancer prevention.



An Apple a Day



remain, even after the apples are fermented. They contend that vinegar is rich in minerals, vitamins (including potassium, calcium, and beta-carotene), complex carbohydrates and fiber, pectin, amino acids, and beneficial enzymes.



The problem is, when standard nutritional analyses of apple cider vinegar are done, it is found to be a poor source of most of these nutrients. For example, the one milligram of calcium found in a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar does not come close to the 1,000 milligrams a typical adult needs each day.



It has been claimed that soluble fiber in the vinegar, in the form of pectin, binds to cholesterol and helps carry it out of your body, thereby improving your lipid profile. However, apple cider vinegar contains no measurable pectin or any other fiber, for that matter.



Perhaps apple cider’s magic may come from the vitamins it contains?



Wrong again.



According to the USDA, apple cider vinegar has no measurable vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, beta-carotene, or folate -- and it’s equally lacking in amino acids, lycopene, or any other nutritional elements.



Then, is this stuff just good for cleaning windows and dying eggs?



Hardly.



Even though it is devoid of many of the traditionally valued nutrients, evidence of apple cider vinegar’s health benefits has been witnessed for hundreds -- maybe thousands -- of years[iv].



So, what can explain this mysteriously beneficial elixir?



It could be partially related to the fact that vinegar is a diluted acid, specifically acetic acid, which is responsible for its sour taste and pungent smell. The pH changes it induces may contribute to some of its actions.



Some of the dramatic benefits may also be derived from yet-to-be-identified phytochemicals (beneficial compounds in plants) that scientists are now discovering in a number of different foods. In fact, many of your strongest weapons against cancer are the phytochemicals found in fruits and vegetables



The more we know, the more we realize we don’t know.



One thing that apple cider vinegar is high in is acetic acid. Like other acids, acetic acid can increase your body’s absorption of important minerals from the foods you eat. Therefore, it is possible that drinking a mild tonic of vinegar and water just before meals might improve your body’s ability to absorb the essential minerals locked in foods. Apple cider vinegar might help you get more out of your leafy greens!



How can apple cider vinegar help regulate your insulin?



One theory is that it might activate some of the digestive enzymes that break down carbohydrates into sugar, thus slowing absorption of Sugar from a meal into your bloodstream. This gives your body more time to pull Sugar out of your blood, preventing your Sugar levels from spiking.



The Gnarlier, the Better



When purchasing an apple cider vinegar, you’ll want to avoid the perfectly clear, “sparkling clean” varieties you commonly see on grocery store shelves. Instead, you want organic, unfiltered, unprocessed apple cider vinegar, which is murky and brown.



When you try to look through it, you will notice a cobweb-like substance floating in it. This is known as “mother,” and it indicates your vinegar is of good quality.



The reason manufacturers distil vinegar is to remove this rather schmurky looking stuff that most folks won’t buy. But in this case, it’s the murky looking stuff you want. As with everything else, the more processed a food is, the less nutritious, and this holds true for apple cider vinegar.



The first vinegar was the result of an ancient accident.



Long ago, someone stored a keg of wine too long (presumeably a poorly sealed one that allowed oxygen in). When the eager drinkers opened it, they found a sour liquid instead of wine. The name “vinegar” comes from the French words for “sour wine.”



How Should Apple Cider Vinegar be Used?



There are no official guidelines about taking vinegar internally. Some people take one to two teaspoons a day, mixed in a glass of water or juice, before meals or in the morning, and report benefits from doing so. The risk of taking small amounts of apple cider vinegar seems low.



Apple cider vinegar makes a delightful salad dressing. You can even make a vinegar-based coleslaw, rather than the usual creamy mayonnaise-based one. It is good on fish as well and serves as a great tenderizing marinade for meat, giving it a bit of zing. And it’s tasty drizzled over cooked greens.



If you are considering taking it medicinally, there are some things to keep in mind[v]:



~Apple cider vinegar is highly acidic. The main ingredient is acetic acid, which is quite harsh. You should always

dilute it with water or juice before swallowing. Pure, straight apple cider vinegar could damage your tooth

enamel or the tissues of your mouth and throat. (There is, in fact, one reported incident of long-term

esophageal damage to a woman who got an apple cider vinegar supplement capsule stuck in her throat.)

~Long-term excessive use could conceivably cause low potassium levels and lower bone density.

~Apple cider vinegar could theoretically interact with diuretics, laxatives, and medicines for diabetes and heart

disease.,br>

If you are under the care of a physician and you want to try a course of apple cider vinegar, talk to your doctor first to make sure it won’t interfere with any of the medications you are presently on.



Apple Cider Vinegar -- It’s Not Just a Breakfast Drink



Vinegar is one of the best natural agents for removing certain pesticides and bacteria from your fresh produce. Of course, you don’t need apple cider vinegar for this -- any basic white vinegar will do, and for a fraction of the price.



Gayle Povis Alleman, MS, RD recommends a solution of 10 percent vinegar to 90 percent water as a bath to briefly soak produce. Just place your veggeis or fruit in the solution, swish it around, and rinse thoroughly.



Don’t use this process on fragile fruits (like berries), since they could be damaged in the process or soak up too much vinegar through their porous skins.



~Apple cider vinegar has long been used as a natural hair care product. Its acidity is close to that of human hair;

it’s a good conditioner and cleaning agent, as well as an effective germ killer. You can visit

http://www.apple-cider-vinegar-benefits.com for information on how to make a vinegar hair rinse.

~Vinegar also has some applications for pets, including cleaning ears, relief of certain skin problems, and

combating fleas and ticks[vi].

~Some horse owners claim apple cider vinegar is an excellent natural horse fly spray and horse hoof care

product.

~Vinegar is a great, all around cleaning agent for everything from countertops to windows.



Obviously, we need a great deal more research to investigate vinegar’s full healing potential. While it is not likely an all-encompassing miracle cure, it can certainly be useful in a variety of ways, for a variety of conditions. It’s one more multi-purpose tool to have in your natural pantry.



And if you are really ambitious and adventuresome, you might want to try your hand at making apple cider vinegar from scratch. Detailed instructions can be found at http://www.apple-cider-vinegar-benefits.com.



Again let me remind you that this document is NOT intended to be a comprehensive or exhaustive analysis of apple cider vinegar. However you can help create to the current understanding of this topic by adding your comments to the page.



footnotes:

[i] Johnston, CS, Kim, CM, Buller, AJ. 2004. Vinegar improves insulin sensitivity to a high-carbohydrate meal in subjects with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 27(January): 281-282 http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/27/1/281



[ii] Fushimi T, Suruga K, Oshima Y, Fukiharu M, Tsukamoto Y, Goda T. 2006. Dietary acetic acid reduces serum cholesterol and triacylglycerols in rats fed a cholesterol-rich diet. British Journal of Nutrition (May)95(5):916-924 http://pt.wkhealth.com/pt/re/bjon/abstract.00002375-200605000-00008...!-601995444!181195629!8091!-1



[iii] Kondo S, Tayama K, Tsukamoto Y, Ikeda K, Yamori Y. 2001. Antihypertensive effects of acetic acid and vinegar on spontaneously hypertensive rats. Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry 65(12) 2690-2694. http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/bbb/65/12/65_2690/_article/-cha...



[iv] Vinegar History, http://www.apple-cider-vinegar-benefits.com/vinegar-history.html



[v] WebMD, Healthy Eating & Diet, Apple cider vinegar. http://www.webmd.com/diet/apple-cider-vinegar



[vi] Pet Care with Apple Cider Vinegar, http://www.apple-cider-vinegar-benefits.com/pet-care.html



Related Links:



Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide as Disinfectants



Vinegar Can Fight Diabetes and Promote Weight Loss



A Homemade Rosemary Flavored Vinegar That's Absolutely Divine!





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