by Colleen Cackowski

The more technologically advanced we become, likewise the more some old home remedies are gaining in popularity. For hundreds of years, using naturally fermented cider vinegar medicinally as well as for culinary purposes has been successful. Even Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, used vinegar mixed with honey and on its own, as a tonic for energy and as a healing elixir. More recently, many modern authors have written treatises on the healthful benefits of vinegar for both people and animals.

Cider vinegar is a completely natural product, resulting from a series of fermentation processes of fruit juices. The resulting natural product retains all the nutritional goodness of the original fruits from which it was made (often apples) plus it contains enzymes and other helpful acids that are produced during the different fermentation stages. These things together give cider vinegar some incredible health benefits.

In order to maximize the benefits, an important thing to keep in mind is to look for vinegar that has not been pasteurized, filtered, refined, or distilled. It should be made from cold-pressed, organically grown whole fruit, in which no chemicals or preservatives have been added. The processing that many commercial brands undergo means that the original goodness of the resulting product has been destroyed. Good quality vinegar should have a slightly cloudy appearance from the naturally occurring strains of friendly bacteria, enzymes, and proteins.

Cider vinegar can be used both internally and externally for beauty, health, and hygiene. Here are some unique ways to utilize cider vinegar that you won’t learn in a science book… Try them out and see how they work for you!

• Soak in a bath of hot water with 2 cups of vinegar for 30 minutes to help relieve minor backaches and sore muscles.

• Soothe a headache by lying down with a compress dipped in a mixture of half warm water and half vinegar applied to the temples.

• Use a towel soaked in hot vinegar as a compress to ease the pain of a recent muscle sprain or strain. Apply for 20 minutes at a time. If the pain persists, consult a healthcare professional.

• To treat congestion in the head or chest, add a quarter cup of vinegar to a vaporizer, and let it run for an hour or more.

• Gargle with 1 teaspoon of vinegar per 8 ounces of water to ease a sore throat and prevent bad breath.

• For a cooling effect on sunburn, splash vinegar over a sunburned area on your skin, and rub it in lightly. Or simply spray diluted vinegar from a spray bottle onto the affected area.

• Rinse your hair in vinegar after shampooing to increase body and shine. Take an empty shampoo bottle and fill it with water then add half a tablespoon of vinegar per cup of water and pour it through your hair after shampooing a few times a week.

• Use cider vinegar on a cotton ball as an effective toner after cleansing your skin and before you apply moisturizer. Its antibacterial properties help reduce acne, and the acids soften and exfoliate skin, and reduce red spots. You can also leave a dab on the skin overnight to help fade dark age spots and acne scars.

• As a way to balance the body’s pH, cider vinegar supports overall detoxification. Research shows that it can help detoxify the liver and stimulate circulation in the body.

• This amazing liquid helps to break up mucous and congestion throughout the body. The potassium thins mucous and the acetic acid prevents bacterial growth. Use its germ-busting power to cleanse the lymph nodes and stave off sinus infections and their related symptoms.

• Remove stains from teeth by rubbing vinegar directly onto the teeth and then rinsing with water.

• For healthy weight management, add 1 teaspoon of cider vinegar per cup of water and sip several cups throughout the day. Weight loss benefits seem to stem from the sustained daily intake of acetic acid which increases your metabolism, suppresses appetite, and reduces water retention. A study published in 2009 found that subjects who consumed acetic acid for 12 weeks experienced significant reduction in body weight, abdominal fat, triglycerides, and waist circumference.

• Cider vinegar is rich in natural enzymes that help your body get rid of candida yeast overgrowth. If you are experiencing fatigue, cravings for sweets, or mental fogginess, try adding some cider vinegar to your daily diet.

• Some research suggests that cider vinegar works by correcting low acid situations in the stomach which lead to heartburn. Take a teaspoon of vinegar, followed by a glass of warm water and you should feel relief soon. Try it 30 minutes before a meal to prevent indigestion. (Do not use if you have an ulcer.)

• A teaspoon of vinegar can stop the hiccups. It is theorized that the acids overstimulate the nerves in the throat responsible for the spasms and make them stop.

• Cider vinegar could help balance blood sugar, according several studies. Try taking two tablespoons before bed and check your levels in the morning or drinking a mixture of vinegar with water before a meal with a lot of carbs.

• Vinegar can be used in the home as a non-toxic household cleaning product, deodorizer, and disinfectant in lieu of unnatural chemical cleansers.

Cider vinegar is easily added to your diet by using it to make amazing salad dressings, marinades, and more. It is very versatile in cooking and adds a great tangy flavor to beverages and foods. It can be a versatile cure for a variety of conditions. Give it a try next time you are feeling not-so-great, and learn for yourself some of the many reasons to keep cider vinegar readily available in your pantry.

David Wolfe Foods™ has created an amazing organic, raw, unfiltered, unpasteurized, concentrated blend of 100% organic goldenberry, papaya, apple, red banana, passion fruit, rose, and mango vinegars to bring you a vinegar unlike any you have ever tasted before! Learn more about it here: http://www.longevitywarehouse.com/david-wolfe-foodstm-raw-and-unfiltered-superfood-cider-vinegar