(ThySistas.com) You’ve walked right by it countless times in the grocery store – never once giving it a second glace. Or maybe you did actually glance at it for a quick second, giving yourself just enough time to turn your nose up at its brown, murky appearance. Who’d want to get that gross-looking stuff, when they could get a bottle of crystal clear, beautifully refined white vinegar? Well, lots of people love to buy the murky stuff – myself included! In fact, the most educated of healthy living nuts know that when shopping for apple cider vinegar (aka ACV), you should indeed go for a brand of ACV that contains the “murky stuff” (aka “the mother”) because that’s where you’ll find an abundance of healthy goodies like vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Now just in case you’re wondering, a quick Google search could easily wrangle up at least 20+ health, beauty, household and other totally random uses of apple cider vinegar, and today I’ve plucked out 8 pretty cool (and a few surprising) health, beauty and home uses of apple cider vinegar that every woman should know. Let’s get started!
- Clarifying/Conditioning Hair Rinse
Acetic acid, the main ingredient in apple cider vinegar, is wonderful at removing product buildup from hair while also balancing hair to its normal pH level, which will then leave hair softer, shinier and less prone to tangling. To make an ACV hair rinse, mix 1/3 cup ACV and 4 cups of water, pour the ACV rinse over your hair, let sit for a few seconds, and then rinse your hair with cold water.
- Dandruff Remedy
Apple cider vinegar contains natural antifungals which makes it a nice, natural remedy for dandruff, which just so happens to be commonly caused by an overgrowth of fungus on the scalp. Mix equal parts apple cider vinegar and water, pour over hair and then massage into your scalp before shampooing.
- Wart Remover
Bet you didn’t see this one coming! A little ACV can go a long way for removing bothersome and unsightly warts. Place a cotton pad soaked in apple cider vinegar on the affected area, then secure with a bandage. Leave on overnight and remove in the morning. Do this daily for a week, and you should start to see wart shrinkage and eventual removal.
- Facial Toner and Acne Remedy
As mentioned earlier, ACV contains acetic acid which also helps balance skin’s pH level and it can also help kill bacteria which is a common cause of acne. Mix one tablespoon apple cider vinegar and two cups water. Moisten a cotton ball, and gently swipe the mixture over a freshly cleansed, dry face.
- Body Detox
Apple cider vinegar contains key minerals, vitamins, and enzymes that help alkalize the body, which plays a major role in disease prevention, liver detoxification and self-healing. Dilute 1 tablespoon of ACV in one cup of water and drink before first thing in the morning.
- Digestive Aid
Apple cider vinegar contains pectin, a type of soluble fiber that promotes healthy digestion and healthy bowel movements. Mix one to two tablespoons of ACV in water, and drink before meals.
FIT TIP: When choosing ACV make sure the label says that it contains “mother” which is a wonderful mix of protein, enzymes and friendly bacteria that you won’t find in certain filtered brands of ACV. Bottom line, mother is what gives apple cider vinegar its cloudy, murky appearance and mother = awesome, so make sure your ACV has it.
- Fruit Fly Wrangler
Another one I bet you didn’t see coming! To get rid of pesky flies, just fill an old jar to the halfway mark with ACV, then cover with clear plastic wrap and punch a few holes at the top. Like flies to honey, the aromatics in ACV will attract the fruit flies into the jar and they’ll literally die a sweet death.
- Disinfectant
From counter tops to toilet bowls, apple cider vinegar is a natural antiseptic that can be used to kill many household germs and remove odors. Dilute ACV with water – one part water, one part ACV – then clean as usual. You can also add a couple drops your favorite essential oils to the mix for a bit of aromatherapy.
And that concludes today’s Fit 411 on apple cider vinegar! Were you surprised by any of the ways you can use ACV? Know of any other ways apple cider vinegar can be used to spread some healthy living magic?
Written by Dr. Phoenyx
Official website; http://www.drphoenyx.com