I can’t remember exactly when or what internet rabbit hole I went down that led to my discovery of apple cider vinegar (ACV) and its long list of health benefits, but when you read the Amazon reviews of Bragg Raw, Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar you would think you’ve stumbled upon the magic cure-all for human ailments and disease.
Weight control, digestive improvement, and increased energy levels are some of the benefits people have realized from taking ACV. I was hoping I would see a reduction in my adult acne and minor toenail fungus. Supposedly, ACV aids the body in maintaining a balanced pH level which leads to healthy skin and nails.
I thought acne, except for the occasional zit, was a thing of the past for me. This year, however, I started breaking out. Adult acne tends to linger longer than teenage acne. And the pimples rarely form heads as they did so reliably in my acne of yore, leaving me with zero zit-popping gratification.
I began with the upper limit of the recommended dosage, which is 2 teaspoons per 8 ounces (1 cup) of water. The acidity level was too much for me, so I lowered to 1 teaspoon per cup of water (sometimes 1 teaspoon to 2 cups of water). I drank 1-2 cups of this concoction per day for about 3 weeks. It tasted awful.
The only effect I noticed, which was completely unexpected, was bowel stimulation. Once I became acclimated though, after maybe 2 or 3 days, the ACV-induced bathroom trips stopped. I soldiered on for about 2 and a half more weeks, until I thought I might be doing damage to my tooth enamel.
I tried to avoid any possible damage to my teeth early on by drinking the ACV cocktail through a straw; however, a post-cocktail discomforting sensation in my teeth one day (the last day) was too much to ignore. I had to quit without giving ACV the proper chance to prove itself the panacea I hoped it would be. It was thusly and unceremoniously downgraded to the status of food ingredient.
I tried apple cider vinegar diluted with water a few years back for health…did it a while but never noticed any difference and didn’t enjoy it. I’ll stick to tea, as even if it doesn’t help, I enjoy it a lot.
I personally don’t like the taste of it, But sure it has some health benefits.