Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a piece of folk-wisdom that is useful for more things than you might know. From your health to home hygiene, your bottle that has not been touched in months might just become your new best friend.

ACV is made from apple juice that has been fermented by a group of bacteria and yeasts to give it its vinegar taste and properties. The two-step fermentation process begins with yeast breaking down the sugar contained in the juice to form an alcohol. From this, bacteria are then added to turn the alcohol into acetic acid, the main component of vinegar. A good quality ACV comes with its ‘mother culture’ proving it has gone through the proper process of fermentation. You will know if yours has the mother culture or not as the bottom will appear murky, as if there is a clump of cobwebs down there. Don’t fear, this is normal and means you’re onto a good one. Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar is stocked at The Leaf Store and can be found in the oil and vinegar section. Every bottle contains its ‘mother culture’ and is also certified biodynamic making it one of our top choices.

DIGESTIVE HEALTH

One of the best uses of ACV for your health is to aid your digestion. Digestive issues are a major issue for a lot of us and food intolerances are being reported by the bucket load. However, it’s important to think beyond the food and think about how well your digestion is working for you. Digestive strength needs to be at its peak right before you begin eating so that all the food you ingest is properly broken down and absorbed effectively. This improves your nutrition absorption and decreases your chances of digestive upsets. Decreased digestive capacity can come from things such as stress, nutrient deficiencies like zinc, medication use, hypothyroidism and just not giving yourself the time to sit and enjoy your meal. Symptoms of digestive weakness include indigestion, burping, gas, poor meat digestion, reflux or early satiety. This is where ACV can become very useful to start rebuilding your digestive capacity.

15 minutes before each meal combine 1-2 teaspoons of ACV with around 60ml of warm water and drink it. You can dilute it further if the taste is too strong for you however most people find this suits them. The ACV will kick-start your digestive processes and contribute to making your stomach a nice acidic environment for optimal nutrient absorption and food breakdown. An acidic environment also means that any bacteria contained in the food you eat is effectively killed off before it can do any harm to you.

Another way to include it in your diet to assist in digestion is to use it in your salad dressing. 1 part ACV to 2 parts olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper makes a lovely dressing that can be used on most salad recipes. In particular, using it as a dressing on bitter salad leaves such as roquette and radicchio and consumed before the main portion of your meal can aid in improving your digestive strength and lead to a much better digested meal.

HOME HYGIENE

Home hygiene is also another great use for ACV and a much much less toxic and cheaper option to commercial products. Firstly, you can use it as a fruit and vegetable wash to not only remove dirt and scum but also wash off any bacteria that may have come into contact with the produce from farm to shop. To do so, combine 2 tablespoons of ACV with a sink full of warm water and place your produce in the water allowing them to soak for a minute or two. Once your produce has soaked, scrub the ones that are tough enough to do so and rinse and dry the others.

Secondly, if you have babies and pets crawling around your floor then using the ACV floor wash is a great option for you to be assured you are not letting any toxic products come into contact with your loved ones. To try it out, combine 1 cup of ACV with warm water in your mop bucket and get mopping.

So, from digestive health to home health apple cider vinegar is a versatile and handy product to have in your pantry and is safe and easy to use. Come into The Leaf Store and pick up a bottle today.