Apple Cider Vinegar
Health Benefits

Apple Cider Vinegar: Uses, Health Benefits and FAQ

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.

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18 User Reviews
5 star (9) 
  50%
1 star (5) 
  28%
(4) 
  22%

Posted by Julie (Oktaha, Oklahoma) on 01/10/2012

I am wondering if mixing lemon (1/2 of a lemon), 1 cup warm water and agave with the ACV is okay or does it dilute the benefits too much?


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Posted by Liam (Co. Westmeath, Leinster, Ireland) on 01/06/2012
★★★★★

Hello, I've taken Apple Cider Vinegar for past 2 months never felt better.


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Posted by Rubigirl (Alberta, Canada) on 01/05/2012
★★★★★

I did ACV for a month.. And honestly I found things different.. I was drinking it daily.. Hourly.. And well.. I just think I got addicted to it.. I wasn't even wanting my morning coffee's no more.. Now that is a shock.. Being off it for 1 month now. I feel more bloated and more heavy in weight.. Seems odd but it is true. I am going to start this up again and the brand I enjoy is bought at walmart and a product of Germany. It tastes super with green tea and honey and well of course water. I have read the Blackstrap Molasses info as well and going to be getting that into our lives here.. Especially with my husband who has Pulmonary Fibrosis of lungs and myself a lot of joint pain. Will post in a month.. This all works as long as you are safe and feel good doing it. Good Luck Everyone.


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Posted by Shernosonny (Wellington, Fl) on 12/28/2011

For all you people that are trying to get cures from ACV remember, it has to be organic. There is really only one brand that I even know about, unfortunatly we're not allowed to post the name. If you go to your health food store and ask for it they will be glad to steer you in the right direction.. Don't use store bought Apple Cider Vinegar it will not work- yes it is cheaper but it has been processed with heat and has no healing properties in it. There is a book on the organic apple cider vinegar you would be amazed at all it cures its worth getting...

Replied by Spiky
(London, Uk)
02/19/2012

Sorry I beg to differ while store bought ACV might not be AS effective as organic ACV with mother ive been using it for about two months now and my joint pain has lifted and my IBS has virtually disappeared plus my libido has returned after a bit of an absence. by all means use organic ACV but sore bought while it may not be the best is better than nothing.


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Posted by Deborah (Houston, Texas) on 12/12/2011

Today, I decided to start taking acv, to help lower my blood sugar level, so I drank about 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar by itself on a large serving spoon, then at that instant it took my breath away, it made me gasp for oxygen, so I grabbed the closest glass and poured water in it and tried to drink it, while still gasping for my breath, finally the water did help, although now the back of my throat has a burning sensation, so I ate some tomato soup and now, the burning has stopped.

Replied by Mmsg
(Somewhere, Europe)
12/13/2011

PLEASE EVERYONE start your experiments with VERY SMALL dosages!!! 1/4 CUP of vinegar is a BOMB!!! You should start with more like 1/4 TEASPOON!!!! And build up slowwwwwly!!

And this goes for MOST new things one may want to try, unless you are given a very specific dosage for YOUR ailment and condition!!!!

Replied by Debbie
(Melbourne, Australia)
12/13/2011

1/4 cup is waaaay too much!!! You only need about 1-2 tablespoons in a cup of water. Some people only take 1 teaspoon in water.

Replied by Linda
(New Haven, Ct - Connecticut)
12/15/2011

Deborah, ACV should be taken in water, not straight or it will burn your throat. It can also cause damage to the enamel on your teeth. Take 2 teaspoons in 8 to 12 ounces of water twice a day and don't brush your teeth for about 1 hour. Many on this site also recommend using a straw to drink it down.


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Posted by Joyce (Warwick, Ri) on 11/30/2011
★★★★★

My cousin is a big apple cider vinegar and water drinker, we did a 26.2 mile walk to raise money for cancer, and she was sipping on the concoction all day. When I asked her about it she explained to me that ACV helps with water absoprtion. In doing some further investigations I found that a popular hangover cure in several Northern European countries is to drink pickle brine, the primary cause of hangover pains being dehydration (and vitamin depletion). I drink it after the gym now, it has the added benefit of helping my acid reflux as well! I can eat tomato sauce again! Luckily I like the taste of vinegar, so no suggestions on how to mask the flavor.


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Posted by Yebbo (Callahan, Fl) on 11/26/2011

Does it have to be organic ACV? I have a 2 quart bottle of White House ACV. The bottle says it's all natural from fresh apples. I'm trying to use it for very oily skin and low libido. lease let me know how to use this product.


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Posted by Kim (Winsted, Ct) on 11/23/2011

Hello. Ive been reading a lot about the benefits of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar and just as many articles on solutions for masking the taste to help overcome the vinegary palate. Orange juice, molasses, honey, grapefruit juice... And the list goes on. Is it just me... Or hasn't anyone else thought of taking good old raw unfiltered apple cider with the mother (or is that the grandmother? ;) and adding it back to it's relative? Is this Like kissing your sister? Canibalism? Lol. I tried it, (also shaking the apple cider so that the sediment on the bottom got into the mix) and I lived! Wasn't sure if I would, seeing it seemed like overkill. Any ideas? At first I thought it was not suggested because lots of sugar, or acid, but that's the same with orange or grapefruit juice. Why don't they just make raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar tablets with the Mother? They could use all the "mother" they filter from clear cooking vinegar. Do I think too much?


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Posted by Surekha (Pune, Maharashtra / India) on 11/19/2011

Heart failure and diabetic people also can take this ACV every day? Any side effect?


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Posted by Millie (Memphis, Tn) on 11/18/2011

Actually, for those of you saying that you should not take vinegar orally, there are three well done, peer reviewed studies in recognized medical journals such as Diabetes Care. These show an improvement in blood sugar and insulin levels taking either at bedtime or before a meal. These studies were done with both apple cider and white vinegar. I wouldn't mix with baking soda as I saw no studies on that, but to say that it is harmful to take vinegar by mouth (I think 2 tbsp was the dose) is not backed up by research. (No studies were about toe fungus, however, they do promote the use of vinegar by mouth for systemic effect)

Replied by Marwa
(Toronto, Canada)
11/21/2011

Hi Loraine,

I have been searching for posts on ACV and most posts are from 2008-2009 but I finally found yours. I have a question I take a table spoon of apple cider vinegar in a half liter water. I wonder if it is better to take the vinegar on its own.

I want to use it for acid reflux or just reflux. I avoid most foods that are acidic and know which ones are alkaline but I get reflux as soon as I eat what is normal meal for most people... If I want to stay away from trouble I need a child meal or very little food and also drinking water far away from meals. I went to the restaurant yesterday and it was bad but I didn't want to leave tasty and expensive food on my plate!

Anyone who is reading this let me know if taking ACV without water would be better for me since having water around lunch and dinner makes me regurgitate.

Also, is it good to mix my honey with the ACV. So far I take honey on an empty stomach.

Thanks


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Posted by Katy (Alexandria, Virginia ) on 11/16/2011
★★★★★

My great great aunt takes 2 tsps ACV straight every morning. She is 89 and still going strong. As soon as I turned 20 I started taking a "shot" of ACV in the morning. The vinegar was much too strong on my stomach first thing so after a few days I started mixing it with some local honey and water and would mix it all in a glass. It is so good it tastes like apple cider with a kick.

Replied by Mary
(Hyderabad, Ap, india)
11/18/2011

Where do I get apple cidar vinegar in India, especially Hyderabad? I had a hard time finding it in stores.

Replied by Mary
(Hyderabad, Ap/india)
11/21/2011

Got it in QMart


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Posted by Ethelsue (Cincinnati, Ohio) on 11/13/2011

I drink a shot of apple cider vinegar with water every evening. I have heard taking Apple Cider Vinegar when taken daily causes esophagal, pancreas and liver cancer. Have you heard this too?


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Posted by Patricia (Hanover, Ontario Canada) on 11/09/2011

Hey there. Just reading the ACV cures section and I have to say it is a load of info to sift through. I would like to start taking ACV for a number of different reasons but have the odd reaction of gagging when I drink anything dissolved in water. I tried ACV straight up and was totally fine (almost) with the taste and am wondering if that is ok, in the long run, to take it that way. I can drink the water a few minutes later and drink a fair bit in a day anyway. Do most people take it everyday or do they take breaks with it? What are the thoughts on this?

Replied by Ralph
(Miami, Fl Usa)
11/09/2011

No harm will come in taking ACV straight up daily. I drink 1 once with half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper every day with no problems. I workout every day and it prevents lactic acid build up.


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Posted by Tom (Houston, Tx) on 10/09/2011

Please help me to understand this about vinegar being alkaline. Apple Cider Vinegar is Acetic ACID with a ph of about 4.5. It is not alkaline when ingested. How can it be good for gastric reflux and other acid casuing illnesses when the acetic acid is very irritating to the esophagus and temporarily lowers blood ph to the acid side until the kidneys balance the ph back to 7.4 which is the boy's normal ph, slightly alkaline. Where am I going wrong?

Replied by H. Anton
(Danbury, Ct)
10/09/2011

You are quite right that apple cider vinegar is quite acidic. Just as it is with lemon juice, after it is metabolized, the residue (ash) is alkaline and helps to alkalize the body.

However, it could be irritating to the esophagus as you drink it since it is still acidic at this point.


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Posted by Ann (Kingston, Jamaica) on 09/21/2011

Doesn't ACV bleach your face. Does it work the same for black people?

Replied by Tracy
(Boulder City, Nv, Usa)
09/10/2012

Hi Ann, I'm not sure about ACV bleaching the face but hydrogen peroxide will bleach your face. However, They both will dry your skin out, so be sure to use some coconut oil as a fabulous moisturizer to replenish your skin :) I am an Esthetician and I use it daily.



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