Showing posts with label Vinegar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vinegar. Show all posts

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Does Drinking Cider Vinegar Help a Raspy Dry Throat?

Feb 21, 2012 | By Brynne Chandler Photo Caption Cider vinegar has been used as a home remedy for centuries. Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images

Cider vinegar is reputed to cure many things from sore throat to acne. There is some truth to the claims of its health benefits, but this only applies to the nutrients found in the sediment of raw apple cider vinegar. Cider vinegar is high in acetic acid, which can burn your throat if taken undiluted, so to treat a sore throat it must be well diluted.

A dry, raspy throat can have several different causes, from the benign to the more serious, according to NYU Langone Medical Center. Benign causes include clearing your throat too often, being in a very dry climate, mild dehydration and straining your vocal chords. Less benign causes are acid reflux and a growth in the throat; if your dry throat occurs with no obvious cause and continues for more than three days, consult your physician.

Proponents of cider vinegar are usually referring to raw apple cider vinegar. This is made from pressed apples, generally organic ones. The resulting pulpy liquid is strained and fermented, resulting in a dark and cloudy vinegar. The sediment at the bottom of raw apple cider vinegar is called the "mother," and it contains high levels of acetic acid, magnesium, potassium and malic acid. The clear cider vinegar you see in the grocery store has been pasteurized, removing many of these nutrients.

The traditional apple cider home remedy for a dry, raspy throat is to dilute 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in about 4 ounces of water. Stir it well and drink it once an hour for seven hours. There is no medical proof that this works, though the vitamin C in cider vinegar is known to support the immune system.

Complementary and alternative cures and home remedies can be helpful in easing symptoms, but it is never wise to diagnose or treat yourself. A dry and raspy throat can be one sign of a more serious condition, so it’s best to consult with your physician rather than trying to diagnose or treat a dry, raspy throat on your own.

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Posted by Unknown at 3:51 PM 0 comments
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Apple Cider Vinegar and Dizziness

May 16, 2012 | By Sirah Dubois Photo Caption Apple cider vinegar is typically made from red apples. Photo Credit Creatas Images/Creatas/Getty Images

Apple cider vinegar is produced by fermenting the juice of red apples, particularly those varieties that are low in sugar and high in acidity. Apple cider vinegar is consumed as a salad dressing, although it’s probably better known as a folk remedy to combat a variety of health problems, especially gastrointestinal complaints. There are anecdotal reports that claim consuming apple cider vinegar is also effective for relieving dizziness and vertigo, but no clinical studies support such claims as of 2012. Although not well understood, apple cider vinegar can impact blood pressure and blood glucose levels, which may explain why it can relieve or cause dizziness in some users. Consult with your doctor before supplementing with apple cider vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar is produced by fermenting apple cider, which is less filtered than raw apple juice. The fermentation process uses yeast to convert fruit sugar, or fructose, into alcohol and then eventually into vinegar with the help of acid-forming bacteria, according to the “PDR for Nutritional Supplements.” Apple cider vinegar contains mainly acetic acid, but also some malic acid and citric acid. Consequently, it has a very tart or sour taste. Apple cider vinegar is a good source of many trace minerals, electrolytes, vitamin C, natural enzymes and amino acids.

Scientific research on the benefits of apple cider vinegar is sparse, although anecdotal reports proclaiming its medicinal value are numerous and date back many generations, according to the “Natural Standard Herb & Supplement Reference: Evidence-Based Clinical Reviews.” The acidity of apple cider vinegar can aid digestion, which then impacts blood glucose levels, insulin release and metabolism. Apple cider vinegar also displays antimicrobial properties and may be beneficial for infections. In addition, it impacts blood pressure by helping to regulate water content in tissues because it contains electrolytes such as potassium and sodium. Furthermore, it oxidizes, cleanses and thins the blood, making platelet cells less sticky.

Dizziness, also called lightheadedness, is a common symptom related to a wide variety of disease conditions and dietary factors. Common causes of dizziness are related to blood sugar levels and blood pressure, according to the “Textbook of Functional Medicine.” Skipping meals and poor digestion contribute to low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, which usually leads to lethargy, headache and dizziness. Poor circulation and low blood pressure also lead to a type of dizziness when a person stands up, which is called orthostatic hypotension. If apple cider vinegar stimulates digestion and regulates blood sugar and blood pressure, then that may explain how it helps some people with some types of dizziness. However, dizziness is also caused by various diseases, traumas and lifestyle factors that are likely to be unaffected by apple cider vinegar supplementation. As such, it’s important to consult with your doctor if you experience chronic dizziness.

If apple cider vinegar impacts blood pressure, then there may be a risk of reducing blood pressure too low and actually causing dizziness if you consume too much of it. Most users supplement with a tablespoon or two daily, but start with less and see how you feel afterward. Furthermore, there is some concern that long-term use may deplete iodine levels in your body and put you at risk for hypothyroidism, or low thyroid function. One of the symptoms of hypothyroidism is dizziness.

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Posted by Unknown at 11:32 AM 0 comments
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Saturday, November 23, 2013

Honey & Vinegar Tonic for Insomnia

May 06, 2012 | By Claire Plum Photo Caption Combining honey and vinegar could be what you need to get a good night's sleep. Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images

There are many home remedies for insomnia, the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep for long periods of time. Honey and apple cider vinegar both have been used to treat insomnia. They can also be combined into an easy-to-make tonic that will help you get to sleep.

Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which a person has trouble falling asleep or sleeping through the night. It can also cause someone to wake up several hours early and keep him awake. There are two types of insomnia: acute and chronic. Acute insomnia only lasts for a few days and is usually caused mostly by stress. Chronic insomnia lasts for a month or longer and is usually a secondary symptom of another problem.

Honey has been thought of as a natural, healthy and side-effect free remedy for insomnia since the Ming Dynasty. Dr. Li Shizen named honey’s ability to help with sleep as one of its five medical properties. Much like sugar, honey causes a rise in insulin, which releases serotonin, a neurotransmitter that improves mood and happiness. The body converts serotonin into melatonin, a chemical compound that regulates the length and the quality of sleep. However, honey produces a gradual, more controlled release of insulin than sugar and avoids those sudden spikes and crashes of energy caused by pure cane sugar. Honey also contains omega-3 fatty acids, which research has found reduces fatigue.

Like honey, vinegar has long been used as a remedy for insomnia. The ancient Greeks also used it as a disinfectant and antibiotic. Apple cider vinegar is used more often than regular white vinegar for the amino acids inside that help combat fatigue and for its better taste. As an acid, apple cider vinegar helps regulate digestion and break down fatty acids, and releases tryptophan. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that regulates growth and synthesizes proteins. Tryptophan is not produced by the body and is absorbed through nutrients and food, and is the only substance the body can convert into serotonin.

Cal Orey, author of "The Healing Powers of Vinegar," recommends combining 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup of honey as an effective tonic to treat insomnia. The mixture can either be taken with a spoon or mixed with water and consumed as a drink. This tonic is cheap, free of side effects and not habit forming.

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Posted by Unknown at 11:16 PM 0 comments
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