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Text Version Auto Beauty & Self Books & Music Career Computers Education Family Food & Wine Health & Fitness Hobbies & Crafts Home & Garden Money News & Politic s Relationships Religion & Spirituality Society & Culture Sports Travel & Leisur e TV & Movies Alternative Medicine Site Victoria Abreo BellaOnline's Alternative Medicine Editor Fingernail Health Finger Nail Health & Nutritional Deficiencies Apple Cider Vinegar Guest Author - Linda Paul I am sure we have all heard the old saying , An apple a day keeps the doctor away. This could well have a lot of merit. Apples are among the most health-giving fruits available to us. They contain a host of beneficia l vitamins and minerals, such as phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iro n, and many trace elements as well. And, they are the central ingredient in appl e cider vinegar. Cider vinegar is a powerful detoxifying and purifying agent. It breaks down fatty, mucous and phlegm deposits within the body. By breaking down these substances it improves the health and function of the vital organs of the body, such as the kidneys, bladder and liver, by preventing excessively alkalin e urine. It also oxidizes and thins the blood, which is important in preventing high blood pressure. This powerful potion also promotes digestion, assimilation and elimination, all the while neutralizing any toxic substances that enter the body. Cider vinegar has been found to neutralize any harmful bacteria that may b e found in certain foods. When a mixture of cider vinegar and water is taken bef ore a meal (particularly food served in restaurants or at picnics where the prep aration or duration of food left uncovered and not refrigerated is questionable) , it seems to prevent diarrhea or digestive upsets. Apple cider vinegar contains a potent supply of potassium which researchers feel is helpful in easing the ef fects of common colds and allergies, including mucous formation, watery eyes, si nus and catarrhal problems. Cider vinegar can also be beneficial for symptoms su ch as tooth decay and splitting of the fingernails, which are symptoms of potass ium deficiency. Potassium is essential for the replacement of worn-out tissues w ithin the body. This mineral is also important to soft tissue repair, as calcium is to the bones and teeth. A deficiency of potassium within the body can produc e callous formations on the souls of the feet, insufficient replacement of worn tissue, and hair loss. Tests have proven that soil deficient in potassium will p roduce Women's pH HealthInterview With Deralee Scanlon, R.D Archives Forum Contact Free Newsletter! enter email Past Issues Bored? Games! Postcards Astrology Take a Quiz Rate My Photo Member Login Newsletters EBooks Courses Book Clubs BeMused Magazine English Culture Renaissance Special Education Natural Living Classic Film Books Read per Month ... Site Map

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Apple Cider Vinegar - Alternative Medicine All times in EST Low Carb: 8:00 PM Full Schedule anemic and undersized plants, but when potassium is introduced into the soil, th e plant becomes healthier and increases in size. When potassium, in the form of cider vinegar is fed to livestock their appearance improves and their stamina in creases. This can also prove true on a human level for those who have potassium deficiency. A few teaspoons of cider vinegar taken with water each day has been known to produce amazing results. Cider vinegar can be taken alone or used in co oking. It can be used as a salad dressing, for pickling, in making mayonnaise or sprinkled on potato chips or French fries. It can used as a hot or cold beverag e sweetened with honey. The best method of using apple cider vinegar is in its n atural liquid form. When the body is lacking certain minerals or salts, ill heal th can be the result. Toxic build-ups with the body can cause boils, blisters, a cne, etc. Cider vinegar detoxifies and helps with the cleansing and clotting pro cesses of the blood, by helping along the blood oxidation process. Cider vinegar is thought to be beneficial in the treatment of arthritis, as a beverage or wit h compresses soaked in hot vinegar applied directly to the joints. It is also th ought to be helpful when used to treat asthma, nose bleeds, osteoporosis, cancer , candida, high cholesterol, colds, constipation, muscle cramps, colitis, diabet es, diarrhea, depression, dizziness, ear discharge, eczema, fatigue, gallstones, kidney stones, hay fever, headaches, heartburn, hiccups, indigestion, insomnia, kidney and bladder problems, metabolism, nasal congestion, sore throats, stiff joints, ulcers and weight loss. Please check with your physician before starting any new treatments, including dietary changes. Alternative or holistic health p rocedures are meant to be complimentary process to traditional medical practices , and not used in place of them. Making Cider Vinegar at Home Two factors requir e special attention when making vinegar at home: oxygen supply and temperature. Oxygen is spread throughout the mixture by stirring it daily and by letting air reach the fluid through a cheesecloth filter, which is used in place of a regula r lid. The temperature of fermenting cider should be kept between 60 and 80 degr ees Fahrenheit (F). Lower temperatures do not always produce a usable vinegar, a nd higher ones interfere with the formation of the "mother of vinegar." Mother o f vinegar is a mat that forms on the bottom of fermenting wine that has gone bad . Do not use a metal container when making vinegar; acid in the mixture will cor rode metal or aluminum objects. Glass, plastic, wood, enamel, or stainless steel containers should be used for making or storing vinegar. The same holds true fo r making or storing foods that have more than 1 Tablespoon of vinegar in the rec ipe. Steps for Making Cider Vinegar http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art8171.asp (2 of 5)10/16/2007 5:58:56 AM

Apple Cider Vinegar - Alternative Medicine The following steps must be followed to make a high-quality cider vinegar: Make a clean cider from ripe apples. Change all of the fruit sugar to alcohol. This i s called "yeast fermentation." Change all of the alcohol to acetic acid. This is called "acetic acid fermentation." Clarify the acetic acid to prevent further f ermentation and decomposition. Step 1--Making Cider Cider is made from the winte r and fall varieties of apples (summer and green apples do not contain enough su gar). Fruit should be gathered, then washed well to remove debris. Crush the fru it to produce apple pulp and strain off the juice. Use a press or cheesecloth fo r straining. Adding yeast to activate fermentation is not essential, but will sp eed up the process. Special cultivated yeasts are available for this purpose at wine-making shops and biological labs--bread yeasts are not recommended. To make a starter, crumble one cake of yeast into one quart of cider. This makes enough starter for 5 gallons of cider; double the recipe proportionately when making m ore. Steps 2 and 3--Making Alcohol and Acetic Acid Pour all of the liquid into o ne or more containers to about threequarters capacity; do not close the lids on the containers. Stir the mixtures daily. Keep the containers away from direct su nlight and maintain the temperature at 60 to 80 degrees F. Full fermentation wil l take about 3 to 4 weeks. Near the end of this period, you should notice a vine gar-like smell. Taste samples daily until the desired strength is reached. Step 4--Filtering When the vinegar is fully fermented, filter the liquid through seve ral layers of fine cheesecloth or filter paper--a coffee filter works well for t his. This removes the mother of vinegar, preventing further fermentation or spoi lage of the product. Storing Your Vinegar The vinegar is now ready for storage i n separate, capped containers. Stored vinegar will stay in excellent condition a lmost indefinitely if it is pasteurized. To pasteurize, heat the vinegar before pouring it into sterilized bottles, or bottle, then place in a hot water bath. I n both cases, the temperature of the vinegar must reach at least 140 degrees F t o sterilize the product, and should not exceed 160 degrees F. Use a cooking ther mometer to ensure the correct temperature is met. Cool the containers and store at room temperature out of direct sunlight. http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art8171.asp (3 of 5)10/16/2007 5:58:56 AM

Apple Cider Vinegar - Alternative Medicine Flavored Vinegar Flavoring can be added to homemade vinegar just before bottling . Good examples of additives include green onion, garlic, ginger, or any combina tion of dried or fresh herbs. To make flavoring, place material in a small chees ecloth bag and suspend in the vinegar until desired strength is reached. This wi ll take about 4 days, except for garlic, which takes only 1 day. For every 2 cup s of vinegar, use one of the following: 1/2 cup crushed fresh herbs, 1 tablespoo n of dried herbs, 2 large cloves of garlic, or 8 small green onions. Other good flavorings include tarragon, basil, nasturtium, chives, mint, chervil, borage, h ot chilies, and raspberries. Adjust the amounts to taste, but be careful not to overload the vinegar. Too much vegetable matter can destroy the acid and ruin th e preservative quality of the vinegar. Some flavorings may not go well with cide r vinegar's distinct taste and color. When flavoring store-bought vinegar, use m ore delicate or decorative flavors. When flavoring store-bought vinegar, you wil l still need to pasteurize it and use sterile bottles. Flavored vinegars taste g reat and have a beautiful color, making them excellent for use in salads. You wi ll be tempted to display flavored vinegar; however, be sure to keep your bottles out of direct sunlight, which will destroy the flavor, acidity, and color of th e vinegar. Uses for Homemade Cider Vinegar Because the acidity of homemade vineg ars will vary, do not use them in foods to be canned or stored at room temperatu re. Homemade vinegar is, however, excellent in salads, cooking, or freezer and r efrigerator pickled products. Recipe for Apple Cider Vinegar prepared by Christi ne Nicholas, Intern Doris Herringshaw, Extension Agent, Family and Consumer Scie nces Ulcers Apple Cider Vinegar Usage And Dosage http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art8171.asp (4 of 5)10/16/2007 5:58:56 AM

Apple Cider Vinegar - Alternative Medicine Related Links: Zarif Fitness Apple Cider Vinegar Weight Loss Alternative Medicine Forum Posts A NATURAL steroid? Any experience with NAET as natural health cure? wellness esse ntial oils Content copyright 2007 by Linda Paul. All rights reserved. This conte nt was written by Linda Paul. If you wish to use this content in any manner, you need written permission. Contact Victoria Abreo for details. Previous Features Site Map For FREE email updates, subscribe to the Alternative Medicine Newsletter enter email address Past Issues Printer Friendly Bookmark Tell a Friend Forum Email Editor About BellaOnline Privacy Policy Advertising Become an Editor Website copyright 2007 Minerva WebWorks LLC. All rights reserved. http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art8171.asp (5 of 5)10/16/2007 5:58:56 AM