APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

Apple cider vinegar is one of the really beneficial products for your health. It is versatile, as you can drink it, sterilize your household tools with it, or use it in cooking. You can prepare it in easy steps in your home.

 In this article, we are going to talk about the components and benefits of this product, in addition to how to prepare it at home.

Nutritional components of apple cider vinegar

The components of apple cider vinegar are similar to those of apples. Below, we will state its most important components. They are:

1. A group of acids with a percentage of 5%, such as citric acid, acetic acid, and folic acid; because, as it is known, apple cider vinegar is acidic.
2. A group of important vitamins, such as Vitamin B6, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, and Vitamin C.
3. Some minerals, such as potassium, phosphorous, sodium, iron, and calcium but in small proportions.
4. Pectin

The proportion of apple cider vinegar ingredients varies from one type to another. Most of them contain all the previously mentioned ingredients but in different proportions.

Apple cider vinegar benefits

The health benefits of apple cider vinegar are numerous and varied. Most of these benefits are:

It is a natural antibiotic

If you have diarrhea, it may be caused by a bacterial infection. By mixing one or two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with water, you will solve the problem. Of course, this is because of the apple cider vinegar:

1. is an antibiotic repellent and killer of parasites.
2. has a research-proven role in soothing intestinal cramps because apples contain Pectin.
3. can help your body get rid of fungi, as it is rich in natural enzymes that can help the body to get rid of fungi and yeasts that cause thrush.

It prevents indigestion

If you suffer from indigestion, especially if you eat several meals together and at frequent times, you should add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water and drink it half an hour before taking a meal.

This vinegar can treat stuffy noses and can cure sore throats

To treat the stuffy nose and heal the throat from inflammation, it is recommended to mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with water and you will see the difference. You will also see how this helps you heal your sinuses because this product helps:

1. break up mucous material throughout the body.
2. ceanse the lymph nodes.
3. allergy sufferers relieve congestion in the mucous membranes and sinuses. It can also help ward off sinus infections and associated symptoms such as sore throat and headache.

Remember that most germs do not live in an acidic environment. So, if you feel the beginning of a sore throat, just mix ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar with ¼ cup of warm water and rinse your mouth about every hour. This will help you a lot.

Apple cider vinegar can treat exhaustion

If you are an athlete or have recently started exercising, and you have begun to feel muscle fatigue resulting from the accumulation of lactic acid on the muscles after a period of exertion, here is the solution for that. Use a cup of water mixed with a spoonful of apple cider vinegar as it contains potassium and enzymes which help relieve fatigue quickly.

We can use this vinegar to remove sudden leg cramps

This is an old popular remedy, whereby people add two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and a little honey to a glass of water and drink it to relieve leg cramps at night.

Teeth whitening

Health professionals have proven that vinegar helps remove tooth stains, whitens and even sanitizes them by killing mouth and gum bacteria. So we recommend that you rinse your mouth with it in the morning before brushing your teeth.

Good hair and skin health

Apple vinegar can:

1. increase the shine of your hair and strengthen it if you rinse your hair with it after using the shampoo. You can fill an old shampoo bottle with half a tablespoon of vinegar and a cup of cold water, then wash your hair with it several times a week. You will notice amazing results.
2. regulate the acidity level of your skin. Wash your skin with vinegar mixed with water before going to bed and in the morning before applying the moisturizer. This will help remove spots and traces of acne and purify your skin.
3. treat warts, by moistening a cotton ball with vinegar, and applying it to the wart. The skin may swell slightly in some people as a natural reaction, then the wart will soon fall off. The treatment should continue for a few days to ensure that warts will not return.
4. help soothe sunburned skin.
5. be used in natural massages. Massaging the hands and feet with this vinegar helps them a lot to get rid of fatigue and stress.

We can use vinegar to lose weight

Several studies have proven the role of apple cider vinegar and daily consumption of acetic acid in reducing weight and fat, especially in the abdominal area and waist circumference. Also, it can reduce triglycerides and harmful cholesterol. In sum, vinegar is a good solvent of fat and an activator of the body’s metabolism.

You can add it to a salad or to a glass of water provided that:

    Its quantity does not exceed two tablespoons per day.

    You do not eat it alone on an empty stomach.

Apple cider vinegar is highly rich in potassium which helps transport nutrients to cells and remove toxins and free radicals from the body. One of its benefits is that it maintains the balance of the body’s own internal system. It helps the body to be healthy and maintain a good level of acidity alkaline.

Vinegar eliminates toxins

Apple cider vinegar works to:

1. balance the acidity in the body, thus helping to detoxify the body in general.
2. stimulate blood circulation and heart.
3. detoxify the liver.

It reduces heartburn

Some research suggests that apple cider vinegar corrects high acidity (or low stomach (pH) and, thus, helps reduce heartburn.

Natural medicine experts also say that you should start to feel relief immediately after taking a teaspoon of vinegar followed by a glass of water. But we should note that apple cider vinegar will not suit you if you suffer from ulcers.

How to make apple cider vinegar at home

Ingredients

Here are the main ingredients to make natural apple cider vinegar at home:

1. 3 apples.
2. 850 ml of water.
3. 3 tablespoons of sugar or honey.

Some people may prefer not to use sugar. They think it is useless. But it is very important in the process of fermenting vinegar.

Method of preparation

Here are the most important steps for preparing apple cider vinegar at home:

1. cut the apples into small cubes, then put them in a glass bowl.
2. submerge the apples in the water. Make sure they are completely submerged. Use filtered or mineral water that is free from impurities.
3. add a teaspoon of sugar or honey to each apple, then stir the mixture well. Sugar helps vinegar ferment and turns it into alcohol.
4. close the bowl with a piece of cheesecloth, and keep it in a warm, dark place.
5. stir the mixture once or twice a day. This helps in the fermentation process.
6. watch the container closely. After a week or two, you may notice that the apple pieces have fallen completely to the bottom of the bowl. At this point, filter the apple juice from the apple skin using a plastic sieve, or a cheesecloth.
7. pour the apple juice back into the bowl, cover it with a cheesecloth secured with a rubber band, and return it to the same warm, dark place.
8. let the apple juice ferment for three to six weeks, and stir every few days.
9. take the fermented vinegar, put it in a glass container, and store it in your refrigerator.

Health tips when making apple cider vinegar at home

Here are useful tips to follow when preparing this type of vinegar at home:

1. choose apples of good quality because the types of apples you choose for fermenting can greatly affect the flavor and quality of the final vinegar.
2. store leftover apples used in other dishes instead of using fresh, whole apples to make vinegar. One whole apple is roughly equivalent to two leftovers.
3. wash apples in cold water. It is always a good idea to wash fruits and vegetables before eating them to remove any stuck impurities.
4. use three apples, if this is your first time mak vinegar at home. This will give you more experience for the next preparations.
5. never use stainless steel or metals to ferment vinegar. When apples ferment, the acidity of the vinegar can damage the steel, or give the vinegar a metallic taste that can change its flavor and make it bad.
6. make sure to cover the apple slices with water. If there isn’t enough water, some apples can become moldy during the fermentation stage.
7. when slicing the apples, be sure to use a clean knife to cut the apples into 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes, without removing the skin.