This week another healthy ingredient that many of you would have in your pantry already, apple cider vinegar. I’ve always had apple cider vinegar in my pantry however have had the wrong brand. I can’t stress enough about making sure you check your labels on the food that you purchase to ensure it doesn’t have any added cane sugar or nasties.
What is Apple Cider Vinegar?
Apple cider vinegar, otherwise known as cider vinegar or ACV, is a type of vinegar made from cider or apple must and has a pale to medium amber colour. Unpasteurized or organic ACV contains mother of vinegar, which has a cobweb-like appearance and can make the vinegar look slightly congealed.
My favourite brand of apple cider vinegar is Bragg as it is organic, raw, unpasteurised and naturally gluten free. When you look at the different brands of apple cider vinegar compared to Bragg’s you will notice that it isn’t clear like other brands as it hasn’t been pasteurized. As I have stated in previous blogs (Why Use Raw Honey?) pasteurizing is a heating and filtration process to make it clear, meaning all the beneficial enzymes have been lost.
You can generally find the Bragg brand in the health food section at the supermarket or alternatively your local health food store will definitely stock a healthy brand of apple cider vinegar.
What are the health benefits?
Apple cider vinegar has lots of benefits including great for detoxification, promotes weight loss, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure, helps with digestion, alleviates skin problems, promotes soft and shiny hair, helps relieve asthmatics, gout, allergies, arthritis, relieves nausea, migraines, heart burn, chronic acid reflux, sinus pressure and infection, reduces inflammation, reduces and lowers glucose levels in diabetics, regulates PH balance in the body, gets rid of fingernail and toenail fungus, dissolves kidney stones, gets rid of build-up on your scalp and helps ward off sickness.
How to Use it?
Use in salad dressings, marinades, vinaigrettes, chutneys, flavour in cooking, use when a recipe calls for a vinegar or simply just add to half an avocado and enjoy with a spoon! I’ve seen my Dad do this many times and it is actually a great healthy snack idea.
So next time you are at your local store, why not purchase some apple cider vinegar to add to your pantry staples. It’s another simple, healthy change to you and your family’s lifestyle!
