These Benefits Of Apple Cider Vinegar Are An Eco-Lover's Dream

If you’ve ever looked up homeopathic remedies, you know that apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a cure-all that you can drink up, soak in, wash with, or apply onto your body to make you superhuman.

Just like coconut oil, you need to make sure that you purchase raw, organic apple cider vinegar. In order to reap the ACV benefits, it needs to be unfiltered and include the “mother.” The “mother” is the strands of proteins, enzymes and friendly bacteria that give the apple cider vinegar its not-so-appealing, murky look. But once you learn the myriad of benefits of apple cider vinegar, you won’t be worried about the chunky appearance. You’ll be running to pick up a bottle of Mother Nature’s best medicine!

The ABCs Of ACV

You can’t believe everything you read on the internet. So before I go spouting off all the ways to incorporate apple cider vinegar into your beauty and healthcare routine, let’s talk about why it’s so good for you. 

Raw apple cider vinegar is made from the double fermentation processing of organic apples. The proteins, enzymes, and nutrients which are present in raw apples are preserved and heightened during the fermentation process. When these powerful natural ingredients are combined, they create restorative properties. ACV also contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C and E, all of which have individual and combined benefits.

Apple cider vinegar also contains calcium, potassium, and malic acid (which gives ACV antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral components). So, this product helps keep bacteria at bay both internally and externally: it can be ingested to relieve sinus problems, and it can be used as a cleanser or toner to prevent the formation of pimples on your skin. 

There are so many benefits of apple cider vinegar that today, we’re solely going to focus on its top beauty perks. Check back in with Green Future for more natural beauty tips using ACV!

Remember to talk your doctor before taking ACV, or any dietary supplements, to make sure it won't cause a reaction with any of your current medications or conditions. 

Apple Cider Vinegar Acne Uses

1. Apple Cider Vinegar Toner

Stress, air pollution, and diet all cause our skin’s delicate pH balance to go off-kilter. The natural acidity in a homemade apple cider vinegar toner can balance out your skin’s pH levels. It also will clear off excess oil, makeup, and dead skin to open pores and restore your skin to its prime.  

To make apple cider vinegar toner, follow one of the following recipes according to your skin type. Before you apply any variation to your face, test out the “sensitive skin” mixture on your arm. As you continue to use your apple cider vinegar toner, gradually create a mixture with more ACV and less water. Perform another arm test to make sure it isn’t too acidic for you!

Sensitive Skin: Mix 1 part apple cider vinegar with 4 parts water

Normal Skin: Mix 1 part apple cider vinegar with 2 parts water

Oily Skin: Mix 1 part apple cider vinegar with 1 part water

Dab some of your apple cider vinegar toner onto a cotton pad and gently swipe it onto your clean face. Once it has dried, you can apply your regular lotions or creams.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar Face Wash

If you have problem skin, whether you’re dealing with acne, eczema, dryness, or redness, your remedy could be as simple as switching to an apple cider vinegar face wash. A number of mass-market facial cleansers are full of chemicals, fragrances, and dyes that can irritate your skin and actually cause the “problems” that you use them to treat! 

Instead of throwing more chemicals at the problem, use nutrient-rich apple cider vinegar to safely soothe and cleanse your skin. Since you’ll use ACV as a wash rather than a toner on clean skin, the optimal combination is 1 part ACV and 2 parts water. If you have sensitive skin, you can dilute with more water (1 part ACV and 5 parts water), and then work up to equal parts water and ACV.

Again, you should spot test on a small area of your face, especially if you have sensitive skin and are worried about using anything other than your normal cleanser.

Mix together your parts of ACV and water, and then dip in a cotton ball to clean your face. Work around your face using a clean area of the cotton ball for each swipe, and take care not to get it in your eyes. The acidity that is great for your skin will not feel so great on your peepers!

When you start using your apple cider vinegar face wash, you can leave it on for 10 minutes and then rinse with lukewarm water. As your skin becomes acclimated to the ACV, you can leave it on longer — or without rinsing at all.

Apple Cider Vinegar For Your Body

3. Apple Cider Vinegar Detox Bath

Mix in two cups of raw apple cider vinegar to a regular sized tub, and keep the water as warm as you can tolerate. Soak in the bath for 45 minutes, or until the water has cooled. Don’t shower off for at least eight hours to give the ACV ample time to do its job on your skin.

An apple cider vinegar bath can provide relief as a detoxifier for everyday muscle aches, but is especially helpful for those who suffer from joint problems, tendonitis, arthritis, and gout.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar Yeast Infection Remedy

Yeast infections are caused by an abundance of the Candida fungus, which is normally present in small concentrations throughout the body. When your hormones or immune system are imbalanced and the Candida in the vagina grows more quickly, it usually results in an uncomfortable yeast infection. 

Thanks to the antifungal, antibiotic, and antiviral properties of apple cider vinegar, this one product can kill excess bacteria and fungi, restoring pH levels in the vagina.

There are several ways to use ACV as a preventative measure, or remedy, for yeast infections. Yeast infections can be serious, so before you use apple cider vinegar to treat an ongoing infection, you should check with your doctor.

• Incorporate ACV into your diet. Whether you drink it, take an ACV supplement, or mix ACV into your homemade salad dressings, any way that you ingest it will help. If you choose to drink it, you can mix 1- 2 tablespoons of raw, organic apple cider vinegar into a glass of water or tea. Drink your concoction daily for the best odds of preventing yeast infections.
• Use ACV as a topical solution. Soak a clean cloth or cotton ball in your diluted ACV mixture for two to three minutes. Gently place the cotton ball or cloth on affected areas, and repeat daily until the infection is gone.
• Soak in an ACV bath. Treating yeast infections is another benefit of an apple cider vinegar bath! Use the same method as described earlier, and you should feel an improvement after two or three baths.  

5. Apple Cider Vinegar Can Treat A UTI

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are an inconvenient and painful ailment. They occur when the bladder is infected by bacteria. You know what has natural antibacterial qualities and helpful enzymes, nutrients, and potassium? Yep, apple cider vinegar! If you are waiting for your doctor’s appointment or to pick up a prescription for a UTI, try this in the meantime:

Add 2 tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar to a glass of water and drink two times daily. You can add honey or lemon to improve the taste, and drink it warm or cold.

6. Apple Cider Vinegar Cellulite Use

Reduce appearance of cellulite with apple cider vinegar in one of two ways:

• Mix 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with a glass of water, and drink it up first thing in the morning!
• Mix 3 parts apple cider vinegar with 1 part massage oil and gently massage onto the affected area. If you have the time, do this twice daily for best results. 

7. Apple Cider Vinegar Wart Treatment

This one is easy. If you have an unsightly, annoying, or painful wart, simply soak a cotton ball in ACV and place it on the wart. Secure a bandaid over the cotton ball and leave it on overnight — or as long as possible. Many report that this home remedy has treated their warts within a week, but it’s encouraged to continue with the ACV treatment for another week to make sure that the wart doesn’t come back.

8. Apple Cider Vinegar Teeth Whitening

The taste may take some getting used to, but gargling with ACV every morning will make your smile brighter and your gums healthier. Brush as usual and then gargle with this mixture: ½ teaspoon of ACV with 1 cup of water. The mixture will help remove stains, whiten teeth, and kill rogue bacteria in your mouth and gums.

Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Care

9. Apple Cider Vinegar Dandruff Remedy

After ensuring that your skin will not have an adverse reaction to ACV, it can be applied directly to your scalp to get rid of any flakes! Mix ¼ cup apple cider vinegar with ¼ cup of water and pour into a spray bottle. (Or you can use an ACV-soaked cotton ball.) 

Part your hair and mist your scalp (or dab with the cotton ball). Massage your scalp gently for a few minutes, and then wrap your hair in a bun. Place a warm towel on top to ensure that the pores on your scalp open up to let in the ACV.

After an hour, rinse your hair with warm water — no shampoo needed! Repeat twice a week for best results.

10. Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse

ACV will restore the natural pH balance of your hair, and add tons of potassium and vitamins B and C. It also contains natural alpha-hydroxy acid, which gently exfoliates the scalp and removes dead skin cells. Bottom line? You’ll have smoother, shinier hair that is easy to manage.

Mixture: Your exact ratio in your apple cider vinegar hair rinse depends on the state of your hair. If you have thick or oily hair, you will probably be able to use a more concentrated concoction — anywhere from 3-4 tablespoons of ACV per large glass of water. If you have thin or dry hair, you should start with 2 tablespoons and work your way up.

After shampooing and rinsing your hair, lean your head back and simply pour your apple cider vinegar hair mixture over your head. (Make sure not to get any in your eyes!) You can leave it on your hair for 1 minute and then rinse thoroughly. Use the rinse twice a week, but pay attention to how your scalp and hair react. If you don’t see results after a month of using the rinse twice a week, you can play with the variables; wait longer before rinsing out, use more concentrated mixture, or use the apple cider vinegar hair rinse more often.