Healthy Bite 027 - The Magical Elixir!

Super Simple Healthy Podcast

You may recall hearing stories about slick salesman in the 1800’s, pulling up in a wagon yelling “STEP RIGHT UP! you won’t believe your eyes!”. He’d try to scam people into buying his “magical elixir”. Well, today I’m going to talk about one, all natural “magical elixir: Apple Cider Vinegar. But this time, I swear – it’s true! The Magic of ACV Apple Cider Vinegar (or ACV) has been used as a natural remedy since the days of Hippocrates. A few of the various things it can be used for include: sore throat, indigestion, weight loss, and can even be used to clean your home! First, I’ll go over what ACV actually is and what makes it so special. And then I’ll share the various ways in which it is prepared as well as how NOT to use it. And finally, two specific problems it can help you with and how to use it. And for more suggestions, pop over to my website www.supersimplehealthy.com and click on “downloads” for the full list of “Magical Elixir” solutions. Apple Cider Vinegar is essentially fermented hard apple cider. The sugar in the fruit is first transformed into alcohol and during fermentation becomes aectic and malic acids. These acids are what gives ACV its strong, sour taste and smell and turns it into that antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, fat burning, immune boosting “magical elixir”. During the fall is a great time to take advantage of making your own ACV. You can make your own for about ¼ of what you will pay in the grocery store. I offer a special class in the fall called “Raw-Mazing!” where I teach you how to make your own home remedies and cleaning agents. Check out my website www.supersimplehealthy.com and click on “classes and events”. Although apple cider vinegar is all natural, please don’t overdue. As with most things, too much can cause more problems so don’t drink it straight it is very acidic. Pregnant or nursing moms or people on medications should always check with their doctor before starting any long-term apple cider vinegar regimen. Also, whether buying from the store or making it at home, make sure it is stored in a glass, not plastic container, as the chemicals from the plastic can leach into the vinegar! And be sure to get RAW, not pasteurized ACV because a lot of the vitamins, probiotics and enzymes are destroyed during the heating process of pasteurization. Here are a couple of ways in which to use this magical elixir: 1) To ease indigestion, add 2-4 tsp of acv to 8oz of room temperature water and drink it slowly over a period of 20-30 min. If you really can’t stomach the taste, try adding a small squirt of raw honey into the mix. Remember don’t overdue, start with the smaller dose of acv and add one tsp over time if you don’t already feel the benefits. This mixture can help to reduce symptoms of reflux, heartburn, gas, bloating, abdominal pain, cramping and constipation, which are often caused by having too little stomach acid rather than too much! 2) To help ease symptoms of excema, add 1 tsp of acv to 8oz of room temperature water and drink this combo 1-3x/day. Again, if you are not seeing/feeling results, you can increase dosage slowly by 1 tsp, but do not exceed 1 TBSP. Alternatively, you can use it externally by mixing 1 part acv with 1 part water into a spray bottle and applying the spray 1-2x/day. Once dry, you may want to apply a little coconut oil to the area to add moisture back to the skin. Recap: 1) Make or purchase only raw, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar, stored in glass containers. 2) Check with your doctor if you are pregnant, nursing or on any medications before starting any long-term acv regimen. 3) Start with low doses and increase only if necessary, do not drink undiluted. As always, if you found this information helpful, please feel free to share with friends and family and leave your comments and ratings on iTunes! Until next time: Keep it simple. Be Healthy.