The Wonders of Apple Cider Vinegar

By Seneca Anderson, DOM, ND, L.Ac.

At Longevity, we talk a great deal with our patients about the importance of keeping an alkaline internal terrain.  As many health studies have proven, cancer cells and other toxins can only thrive in an acidic environment.  In addition to staying well hydrated and eating plenty of fresh produce, apple cider vinegar helps raise the pH of the body, thereby creating a more alkaline environment.

Historically used as a cleaning product, apple cider vinegar is produced by fermenting apples.  Hippocrates, considered the father of modern medicine, thought it useful for cleansing the body. Paul Bragg, N.D., is credited with being the originator of health food stores.  An organic, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar is marketed under the Bragg name.

Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid, which, when ingested, leaves an alkaline ash in the body.  It has also been proven to help regulate blood sugar and assist with weight loss. Most of what we eat creates an overly acidic terrain.  This includes meats, eggs, most grains, dairy products, sweets and processed foods.  That’s why we should load up on alkaline forming greens and eat a little apple cider vinegar every day.  It’s delicious in salad dressings and on roasted vegetables.  A healthful drink can be prepared by adding two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to eight ounces of purified water, and sweetening with organic honey, maple syrup, or stevia.

I encourage you to incorporate this simple health practice into your daily routine!