I’ve long been a fan of apple cider vinegar (ACV), and I use it in many ways that don’t include drinking it. Or adding it to food. Food for me that is.
The health and beauty benefits of ACV are many and varied and include:
- clearing skin blemishes
- reduce bloating and gassy tummies (something I am far too familiar with)
- reduce pain from sunburn (I didn’t know that one until recently – although I’m never getting sunburned again…)
- control foot fungus (yuk!)
- help control cholesterol
- help control blood sugars
- reduce tiredness – I should probably increase my intake of ACV and water, particularly around 3pm when I need a nap!
I thought I would share with you the top 5 ways I use my ACV.
1. A teaspoon or two in a glass of warm-ish water first thing in the morning to help kick start the digestive juices – add a bit of honey or maple syrup if it’s too tart. It’s also fantastic if you eat too much and have indigestion – something I am far too familiar with 🙁
2. Use it in a salad dressing with a good oil – I like a fruity olive oil or a macadamia nut oil, a bit of garlic, some honey and maybe a bit of seeded mustard or basil. Beautiful on a big salad.
3. I use it in my hair instead of conditioner (I don’t use shampoo either, but that’s a story for another post!). I use 1 tbs of ACV per 1 cup of water, pop it in an old pop-top water bottle and squirt a little on the ends of my hair when I wash it. I only use it about once a week, and use it quite sparingly. Since using ACV on my hair I have had no dandruff. Greatest thing ever, particularly given my propensity to wear black! Rinse well and you won’t have a vinegar smell.
4. I pop a tablespoon or two into my chickens drinking water 1-2 times a week. Yep. ACV helps keep our beautiful girls healthy too.
5. Pop some ACV on a cotton ball and dab it on pimples or other skin blemishes – works a treat in helping them disappear. Actually, I’m going to try it on my nasty melanoma scar and see if it helps it fade. I’ll keep you posted on that!
The fabulous people at Bragg have given me a small hamper of their new range of drinks to give away to a lucky reader. You will win a 6-pack of their new drinks range, in a pretty wooden box. The new drinks come in a honey flavour, Concord grape, ginger spice and limeade. The ginger spice and limeade are my favourites, and are soooo refreshing when it’s hot.
To win, just leave a comment below telling me how you use apple cider vinegar and why you like it.
One entry per person, entries close next Tuesday, 4 February 2014. Sadly for my international readers, only those with an Australia postal address can enter this competition.
This is not a sponsored post, however Bragg sent me some samples of their new drinks range and a bottle of ACV. Bragg are also providing the prize for this competition and will post it directly to the winner. All opinions are my own.
I try and knock back a shot of ACV each morning, I usually succeed about once a fortnight, but I do add it to my salad dressings,
As a conditioner – that is a new one for me. What a lovely giveaway, as a lover of packaging, the box looks very sweet.
Thanks Clairey – I alternate between lemon juice and ACV. And yes, the box is very cute.
We seriously love this stuff too! My top tip is using it for a sore throat – just gargle with a little water and spit out. You can also do a compress of ACV and water and wrap it around your throat if it’s really bad. It works amazingly well. 🙂
I wish I had known that a few years ago when I had horrible quinzy and then tonsillitis for a few months. Was awful and had to take far too many evil drugs 🙁
i love braggs apple cider vinegar. I mainly use mine for drinking to help with my gut/digestion/heartburn (ie. in some warm water) or for salad dressing (usually mixed with some olive oil or macca nut oil). I have also used it a few times to freshen/clean the toilet (ie. it gives a nice smell) 🙂
Add 2 tablespoons to 1 cup of milk, stir, wait 10 minutes for, viola, buttermilk. Add that to your pancakes Holmes.
oh yes!! Had forgotten about that little trick! It’s great isn’t it?
I’ve never used it before but, bizarrely, today I felt compelled to read up on it at my local organics store. Flicked through the Bragg Healthy Lifestyle book and decided to investigate recipes and incorporate it into my diet. Then I saw your post. Brilliant! Apart from the salad dressing, using it as an alternative to conditioner is appealing to me, and sounds like a great option for my teenage niece who’s been feeling quite down about her pimples. And I love the other tips here. An opera singer once told me ACV as a gargle was a great cure for sore throat. Guess it’s true. 🙂
yes I’ve heard that about the gargle too – will try it next time I have a sore throat – hopefully in a few years… 🙂
Hi, thanks for this reminder. I don’t use ACV nearly enough. There is a lovely recipe alternative to beef taco mince where you use pork mince with ACV instead. Much lighter and good for your gut.
yum! will have a look for that – unless you have a link you are happy to share?
Hi Mel – this one works a treat…
http://ironchefshellie.com/2012/01/31/pork-tacos/
That looks sensational – thanks Laurene! I love tacos (only ever soft) but don’t usually use mince – must add that to the list for the next week or two.
I had completely forgotten about using apple cider vinegar as a substitute for conditioner – I used to use it like that back in the ’80s. I try to remember to have a splash of lemon juice in water in the morning, but will now dig out my bottle of apple cider vinegar and try that.
I’ve used the cider vinegar for blemishes, but I’m going to use it for cholesterol & conditioner in my salon.
Love it as a shot in water in the morning, in my salad dressings and in Tania Hubbard’s chia almond bread recipe! 😉
Besides all the standard uses, I really like it in pickles and chutneys. It just adds a lovely apple back note to preserving.
Yes, I use it a bit in chutney too – especially mango chutney.
Wowsers! I use ACV in pretty much everything. Every morning a glass of warm water with ACV and a pinch of cayenne pepper. As a conditioner, mix it with my homemade cleaning products, and wash my face with it every night. Needless to say I would b hopelessly lost with my ACV
Love acv on salads and slaws.
ACV in water, first thing in the morning, with cod liver oil and high vitamin butter oil. Helps take away the oily taste, so I can get my good dose of vitamins A and D!
What’s high vitamin butter oil Tessa? Am intrigued 🙂
I put apple cider vinegar in a spritzer bottle and use it on my hair – it helps make it very shiny – which is the trend at the moment – super shiny hair.
You need to get the CLOUDY apple cider vinegar, not the clear one for this.
The ginger spice flavour sounds divine – can never have too much ginger in a drink.
If I win I think I would make some cocktails with them – sounds tantalizing!
hehe – yes, I’m tempted to make cocktails too 🙂
Great photos too!
We are new to Braggs, have been using for about 6 weeks, had read up on all the good points and as my husband is going through another health crisis at the moment and suffered badly from indigestion I was excited to find and add to both our regimes. We have twice a day mid morning and mid afternoon most days, since being on Braggs hubby’s burping has disappeared and we are over the moon, it obviously has settled his tummy, might I add mine as well, I wish we had found a LONG time ago. Although hubby’s ill health is ongoing I certainly know Braggs is going to be a long term bonus for us both. I have told so many about it since using ourselves. I know I have only tipped the iceberg on what I can use it for and will be looking at adding to whatever I can from now on.
I add it to my salads, with olive oil. Makes a tasty, healthy dressing.
Beside drinking it in water for heart burn , I like using it in my homemade ketchup
Sad to say I have never used ACV 🙁 but I just have to … after reading this! Can’t believe the benefits you list. I am the carer of family of six and I will do anything to ensure their lives are the best they can be. I will seek out some ACV but would love, love, love to win this prize as a kick start.
Inside and outside for me! I have it as a salad dressing but I’m also currently in the process of using it on my footsies to try and clear up some problem nails. Such an embarassing issue, so fingers crossed! After reading this post I’m definitely keep to try it as a hair conditioner!
Avc first thing in the morning in our house, Evan got the boyfriend on to this one which was a big shock but after he felt the benefits of drinking it daily he hasnt stopped drinking it each day
how did you persuade your boyfriend to start? Need to get my hubby to start taking it too…
I drink some in a glass of water in the morning and use as a salad dressing.
We used to make at Tank Restaurant the best apple ginger sauce ever. With apple glaze, apple cider vinegar, and a huge delicious pile of other ingredients. You brought me back some yummy memories Mel. Thanks
oh that sounds divine!! Congrats on your Pozible campaign success 🙂
I would use it mainly for well being. I have digestive problems and believe this would help me
I use it as a final rinse every time I wash my hair, my scalp loves it. Prevents flaking and itchiness. It took me 50 years to find it, but I won’t live without it now!
A swig each morning for my joints.
I use it to massage into my tired and aching feet after a days work standing all day. It works a little like rubbing alcohol only better making them feel alive again.
I’m a big fan of using Apple Cider Vinegar for bloating. A shot of ACV and my stomach no longer feels like it belongs on a basketball court.
After discovering the benefits of ACV for ourselves. I’ve started giving our cocker spaniel Apple Cider Vinegar too. I add teaspoon to her water bowl every other day, her skin allergies are already improving.
It’s great for animals isn’t it?
It’s honestly changed her life. She’s not scratching and irritating her skin constantly.
When I was pregnant I used to use ACV to help me deal with my dreadful heartburn.. at first I was skeptical, but it really worked!
I love using ACV as a cleaner instead of white vinegar it makes the house smell refresh and beautiful compared to white vinegar
I have never tried it, but my mum has started using it with olive oil on her salads.
i like to use it as part of a dressing to an apple, rocket and parmasan salad – yum!
i enjoy apple cidar vinegat in a large tossed salad
I love ACV! I drink a tablespoon a day in a glass of water and more recently it has saved my itchy scalp. Using a bit of a stronger mixture on my scalp (doubles as conditioner as you stated) about twice a week has completely changed how my scalp feels.
I drink ACV with meals to make the meal lower GI and I rinse my hair with diluted ACV to remove soap traces and make it shine! 🙂
I use it as a base for salad dressings – so many different cobinations that taste great!
I use it as a base for salad dressings – so many different combinations that taste great!
Goodbye Athelete’s Foot!!! Just soak with 50% BRAGG apple cidar vinegar and 50% water twice a day, and in no time flat your feet are as good as new.
I mix it with balsamic vinegar and use it as a salad dressing,it’s delicious!
Each day I have a salad freshly picked from my veggie garden and the only thing I add is a splash of Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar. It is delicious and helps alkalize my blood. How exciting. I can’t live without my Bragg ACV and now they’ve whipped up more goodies – I can’t waitto try them.
I’ve only used ACV as a vinegarette in salads but reading the post has inspired me with many other uses and benefits of ACV.
I love to use it straight on my salad, I love the vinegar bite with the lettuce, if I’m being a little naughty I’ll sprinkle some on my hot chips too. Yummo!
We use it as a natural headlice treatment simply mix with coconut oil and add to the hair!
2-3 teaspoons of Apple Cider Vinegar added to soy milk makes a fantastic dairy-free buttermilk alternative. It has become a lifesaver in a family of 3 dairy-intolerant sufferers.
We use it in Salads but my husband use it to massage his SCALP that gets itchy for the sunburn and works so good so its a must to have in our house
Apple cidar vinegar is great to sooth a soar throat and tastes tasty too
I’ve such a delicious recipe for rabbit and apple cider
… even our PET rabbit is nervous!
I need a healthy 3pm hit,
And I think this could be it.
Also great for salads to eat,
Without being a calorie laden treat!
I soak my fingers(nails) in a warm solution of A.C.V., salt and water. I believe it is helping prevent infection and reduce odour from the side effects of a chemo treatment which lifts the nail from it’s bed. Yuk.
I’ve had digestive and reflux problems for years. I’ve read so much on how good Apple Cider Vinegar is for both of these problems. I even bought a cheap bottle of Apple Cider Vinegar, but I’ve been too scared to use it. Drinking Vinegar – it just seemed too extreme. Reading your blog, I’m finally inspired to try it. Especially since it’s an organic brand (so it must be good, right?).
I’ve been drinking ACV in a glass of water with Manuka honey for years and not only do people say I look much younger for my age, I can’t remember the last time I had a cold or flu…must be the ACV!!
In salad dressings. It is delicious!
Apple cider vinegar makes a fantastic egg substitute for vegan baked goods. It’s my baking essential for light/fluffy muffins and cakes!
salad dressing but its really interesting reading some of the other uses on here….might have to try some!
I use it in salad dressings and sometimes in the morning I add a couple of teaspoons to a glass of water and drink it.
This summer it has been COOL to have apple cider vinegar around…
because it is incredible at soothing and healing sunburn!
We tip a cup into a bathtub of cool water – or dab a little on a cottonball onto our face if it is our faces that have suffered. It really takes the sting out!
I’ve drawn the winner using a random number thingy – check your emails!! If the winner doesn’t get back to me within 48 hours I’ll do a redraw.
Thanks to everyone who entered.