The Healing Power of Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) belongs not only in your pantry but in your medicine chest. Its healing powers have been praised for thousands of years, but now modern science backs up the claims.

“It’s naturally acidic, which does not allow for the growth of bacteria,” Dr. Ellen Kamhi, Ph. D., author of “The Natural Medicine Chest,” tells Newsmax. “Apple cider vinegar has wide-ranging health benefits, including weight loss, reduced cholesterol levels, and improved symptoms of diabetes.” 

Experts say that the best way to reap these benefits is to choose the liquid over the pill form. “A great way to incorporate apple cider vinegar into a healthy lifestyle is to use it in homemade salad dressing along with extra virgin olive oil,” says Kamhi. 

Here are five scientifically proven benefits of ACV:

• Healing properties. The main ingredient, acetic acid, kills harmful bacteria and prevents them from multiplying. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, used ACV to clean wounds more than 2,000 years ago. It can disinfect, treat ear infections, and even cure nail fungus. 
• Lower blood sugar. A study published in Diabetes Care showed that taking two tablespoons of ACV before meals significantly reduced the spikes in blood sugar that normally follow eating.
• Weight loss. Several human studies have shown that ACV increases the feeling of satiety, causing you to consume fewer calories. A recent study showed that obese people who took ACV daily reduced belly fat and lost weight.
• Lowers cholesterol. Several animal studies have demonstrated that ACV lowers blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, reducing the risk of heart disease.
• Improves skin health. Apple cider vinegar has been shown to treat acne and reduce scarring. It inhibits the growth of the specific strain of bacteria that causes acne. A study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology showed that treating acne scars with ACV led to improvements in texture, pigmentation and appearance of the skin as well as lightening of the scar.