green is universal

By Nicole Ohebshalom, Radiant Living Wellness

Over the centuries, vinegar has been used for countless purposes: making pickles, cleaning and polishing household equipment, dressing salads, and cleaning the dinner stains off your shirt. It's also an ancient folk remedy, understood to relieve just about any ailment you can think of, such as weight loss to lowering your cholesterol.

Recently, a client emailed inquiring about which Apple Cider Vinegar to purchase. My favorite brand is Bragg Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar. Paul Bragg, said to be the pioneer of the entire health food industry, is the genius behind the raw vinegar. His daughter, Patricia, who is an inspirational health guru, travels the world continuing her father's legacy.

While many of the folk medicine uses of vinegar are unproven, a few do have a medical research backing them up. Below are a few researched effects. Take note: this is not a substitute for the care that you are receiving for your health. Please speak with a health care practitioner.

For thousands of years, vinegar has been used for weight loss. A study in 2005 found that individuals who ate a piece of bread along with small amounts of vinegar felt fuller and more satisfied than individuals who just ate the bread.

Scientists in a 2007 study found that individuals with type 2 diabetes taking two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before bed lowered glucose levels in the morning by 4%-6%. Several studies have found that vinegar may help lower glucose levels. The effect of vinegar on blood glucose levels is perhaps the best researched and the most promising of apple cider vinegar's possible health benefits.

A 2006 study showed evidence that vinegar could lower cholesterol. However, the study was done in rats, so it's too early to know how it might work in people.

Another study found that vinegar could lower high blood pressure. A large study also found that people who ate oil and vinegar dressing on salads five to six times a week had lower rates of heart disease than people who didn't. However, it's far from clear that the vinegar was the reason.

How can Raw Apple Cider Vinegar benefit your everyday life?

Internal Benefits Include:
- Rich in enzymes and potassium
- Helps control and normalize weight
- Improves digestion
- Fights E Coli & other bacteria
- Natural antibiotic and germ fighter
- Relieves dry sore throats
- Relieves arthritis stiffness
- Aids in cholesterol reduction
- Detoxes the body

External Benefits Include:
- Helps maintain healthy skin
- Helps promote youthful, healthy bodies
- Soothes sunburn
- Promotes healthy hair and scalp
- Soothes aching muscles and joints

Now your thinking how to take this stuff... right?

Since apple cider vinegar is an unproven treatment, there are no official recommendations on how to use it. Some people take two teaspoons a day (mixed in a cup of water or juice.) A tablet of 285 milligrams is another common dosage.

It is recommended that you take the Apple Cider Vinegar diluted with water or juice. Because Apple Cider Vinegar acts like a sponge, drawing toxins from the body tissues, it may cause you discomfort if you choose to digest the vinegar using spoonfuls only.

Nicole Ohebshalom, RN,CHHC, AADP
Radiant Living Wellness