This week’s edition of HH101 focuses on the practical uses of apple cider vinegar
Legend has is that Cleopatra once dissolved a pearl in a measure of vinegar before drinking the concoction, thus winning a wager against Marc Antony that she could spend a fortune on a single meal. Truth or fiction, we may never know; but the Queen of the Nile most likely knew the special qualities of vinegar. The versatility of Apple Cider Vinegar as a powerful body cleansing agent is legendary. It’s been traced to Egyptian urns as far back as 3000 B.C. Since 5,000 BC, the Babylonians had been using it as a preservative and condiment; and long before Cleopatra’s costly cocktail, Hippocrates had extolled vinegar’s medicinal qualities. The Greeks and Romans kept vinegar vessels for healing and flavoring. It was used in Biblical times as an antiseptic and a healing agent and is also mentioned in the Bible. In Paris during the Middle Ages, it was sold from barrels by street vendors as a body deodorant, healing tonic, and a health vinegar drink. Even Christopher Columbus and his crew on his voyage to America in 1492 had their vinegar barrels for prevention of scurvy as did the soldiers in the American Civil War. For centuries in Japan, the feared Samurai warriors drank it for strength and power. Throughout the ages vinegar has been made through the fermentation of a crazy list of materials, including molasses, dates, sorghum, fruits, berries, melons, coconut, honey, beer, maple syrup, potatoes, beets, malt, grains and whey. But of all the vinegars on the block, that made from apple cider is the darling of contemporary remedies. From soothing sore throats and upset stomachs to fighting hiccups and diabetes, behold the benefits of apple cider vinegar:
Rich in potassium, a mineral that is often times lacking in adult diets. This mineral is key for growth, building muscles, transmission of nerve impulses, heart activity etc. It also helps to prevent brittle teeth, hair loss and runny noses.
Rich in acetic acid. This acid is said to slow the digestion of starch which can help to lower the rise in glucose that commonly occurs after meals.
Rich in ash which gives ACV its alkaline property. This aids your body in maintaining proper pH levels for a healthy alkaline state. (It is particularly important if you drink a lot of coffee or wine.)
It can help regulate blood pressure and reduce bad cholesterol.
Rich in malic acid which gives ACV its anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.
May help improve bowel irregularity and helps to remove toxins from the body at a faster rate.
It can help clear up skin conditions and blemishes.
ACV helps with weight loss by breaking down fats so that your body can use them rather than store them.
A few lab studies have found that ACV may be able to kill cancer cells or slow their growth.
So before you pay top dollar for the latest weight-loss gimmick or run to your doctor for a prescription to help you get over being sick try apple cider vinegar instead. Peace!
-Tamara El(@MliwiHakalu)
