Apple cider vinegar is a cooking liquid that has several impressive health benefits. Interestingly, it also has a lot of different uses of beauty, home and kitchen. Uses of this vinegar include cleaning, washing hair, preserving food and improving skin function. It can also be used in all kinds of recipes, including salad dressings, soups, sauces, hot drinks and much more. Here are 30 ways to use apple cider vinegar:
1. To Reduce Blood Sugar:
It has been claimed that apple cider vinegar helps diabetics control their blood sugar levels. Some studies have shown that consuming vinegar after a high carbohydrate meal can improve insulin sensitivity by up to 34% and reduce blood sugar levels significantly. However, if you are taking diabetes medication, you should consult your doctor before taking this vinegar.
2. To Help You Feel Full:
Apple cider vinegar is sometimes recommended as an aid in weight loss. This is because it can help you feel full. Some short-term studies have shown that eating apple cider vinegar can help you eat fewer calories, lose weight and reduce belly fat. However, its long-term effects on weight loss are unknown and are likely to be small unless other dietary and lifestyle changes are also made.
3. Preserve Food:
Like other types of vinegar, apple cider vinegar is an effective preservative. In fact, people have used vinegar as a preservation agent to preserve food for thousands of years.
“It works by making the food more acidic, which deactivates its enzymes and kills any bacteria in foods that can cause deterioration”.
4. As a Deodorant:
Apple cider vinegar is known to have antibacterial properties. Because of this, it is often claimed that apple cider vinegar can eliminate bad odors. There is no research to support these claims, but you can try mixing apple cider vinegar with water to make a deodorization spray. This makes a natural alternative to odor neutralizers. It can also be mixed with water and Epsom salts to use as a mixture in which the feet are soaked. This can help get rid of unwanted foot odor by eliminating the bacteria that cause odors.
5. Make a Salad Vinaigrette:
An easy way to use apple cider vinegar is to make a salad dressing that can be prepared in very simple ways. Homemade salad dressings can be much healthier for you than store-bought ones, and are often also tastier. Learn more about “the properties of vinegar” in our article: The 5 best benefits of apple cider vinegar.
6. To Decrease the Risk of Cancer:
It is often claimed that apple cider vinegar can help reduce the risk of cancer. In studies with test tubes, vinegar has been shown to kill cancer cells. Some observational studies, which cannot prove causation, have also linked the consumption of apple cider vinegar with a lower risk of esophageal cancer. However, other studies have linked apple cider vinegar with an increased risk of bladder cancer. In general, there is insufficient evidence to make claims about the effects of apple cider vinegar on cancer risk.
7. To Make a Cleaner for All Purposes:
Apple cider vinegar is often a popular option for a natural alternative to commercial cleaning agents. This is due to its antibacterial properties. Mix 1 cup of water with half a cup of apple cider vinegar, and so you will have a natural all-purpose cleanser. However, it is worth noting that although vinegars such as apple cider vinegar can kill some bacteria, they are not as effective in killing harmful bacteria as commercial cleaning agents.
8. To Soothe a Sore Throat:
Apple cider vinegar is a popular home remedy for sore throats. It is believed that its antibacterial properties could help kill bacteria that could be causing the problem. However, there is no evidence to support its use in this way. If you try this at home, be sure to mix the vinegar with water before gargling. This is because apple cider vinegar is very acidic and has been known to cause throat burns when consumed undiluted.
9. As a Facial Tonic:
It has been claimed through anecdotes that apple cider vinegar helps to remedy skin conditions and reduce the signs of aging. As such, many people like apple cider vinegar to make a skin tonic. The most common recipe is to mix 1 part of apple cider vinegar with 2 parts of water. This is applied to the skin with a cotton pad. However, if you have sensitive skin, you may want to make a more dilute solution.
10. To Catch Fruit Flies:
Fruit flies can be a plague. Interestingly, it is really easy to use apple cider vinegar to make an economical fruit fly trap. Simply pour some apple cider vinegar into a cup, add a few drops of dish soap (so that any trapped fly sinks) and you’re ready, with nothing else.
11. Boil Eggs Better:
Adding vinegar to the water used to boil or cook the eggs can help you get much better cooked eggs. This is because the egg white protein hardens more quickly when exposed to a more acidic liquid. When the eggs are being cooked, the egg whites are wanted to become firm as quickly as possible so that the eggs maintain their shape. The use of vinegar when boiling eggs can also accelerate the coagulation, or hardening, of egg whites. This can be useful if the shell cracks while the egg is boiling.
12. As Marinated:
Another way to use apple cider vinegar when cooking is to make a marinade. In fact, apple cider vinegar is a popular ingredient in many meat marinades, as it gives the meat a sweet and sour taste. Combine it with wine, garlic, soy sauce, onion and cayenne pepper, it is an exquisite recipe, to give your meat a delicious flavor.
13. To Wash Fruits and Vegetables:
Pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables can be a concern for many people. That is why some people like to wash their fruits and vegetables in apple cider vinegar. The hope is that it will be more effective in eliminating chemical waste than water alone. Although it is not entirely clear if it will eliminate more pesticides than when simply washed with water, it can help kill any dangerous bacteria in food. For example, it has been shown that dangerous bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella are eliminated in foods that are washed in vinegar.
14. To Clean Dentures:
You can also use apple cider vinegar to clean dentures. Although there is no consensus on the best method to clean dentures, it is believed that residues left by the vinegar might be less harmful to the skin in the mouth than other cleaning agents.
15. For the Shower:
For the same reasons that people use the use of apple cider vinegar as a homemade facial toner, they also like to use it in the shower. If you want to try it, add 1 or 2 cups of apple cider vinegar to the water you use to bathe and enjoy a shower in your bathtub.
16. As a Hair Conditioner:
It is said that an apple cider vinegar hair rinse is conducive to eliminating the accumulation of products, detangling and adding shine to your hair. Try mixing 1-part this vinegar with 1-part water and pour the mixture over the hair. Leave it for a few minutes before washing it. If you have sensitive skin, I suggest that you should try to do this with a weaker solution first, since the vinegar is absolutely acidic.
17. As a Treatment for Dandruff:
Massaging diluted apple cider vinegar on your scalp can help get rid of dandruff. It is not clear how effective this is, but the theory is that the acid in the vinegar could help stop the growth of the Malassezia fungus, which can contribute to dandruff.
18. In a Sauce:
Apple cider vinegar can be a great ingredient for a spicy sauce for your meal. Try adding it to tomato-based sauces to give them a more complete flavor.
19. In Soup:
Adding this vinegar to soups can help bring its flavors to life. If your favorite homemade soup tastes a little bland, try adding some vinegar at the end. Add it gradually until the soup tastes more pleasant to you.
20. To Effectively Eliminate Weeds:
Another great use for apple cider vinegar is as a homemade substance to eliminate weeds. Spray undiluted vinegar on unwanted weeds in your garden to get rid of them. You can also try mixing it with soap and lemon juice to see if that makes it more effective.
21. In Homemade Cakes and Candies:
Apple cider vinegar is a popular flavor and texture enhancer in baked recipes, especially when it comes to vegans that can’t include eggs. You can also add extra flavor to homemade sweets and candies, in your favorite recipes.
22. In a Hot Drink:
Mix 2 tablespoons of vinegar, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1 tablespoon of honey and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice in 12 oz (355 ml) of hot water for a good hot drink option.
23. As an Excellent Mouthwash:
It is often said that apple cider vinegar is a useful alternative for commercial mouthwashes. Its antibacterial properties can help with bad breath, although there are no studies examining its effectiveness. If you try, be sure to dilute it well with water (the usual amount is 1 tablespoon per cup, or 240 ml, of water), since the acidity of the vinegar could damage your teeth.
24. To Clean Your Toothbrush:
To have really clean teeth, it is worth considering the cleaning of your toothbrush. Since apple cider vinegar has antibacterial properties, it can be used as a homemade cleaner for your toothbrush. To make your own toothbrush cleaner, mix half a cup (120 ml) of water with 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of this vinegar and 2 teaspoons of baking soda and mix well. Leave the head of your toothbrush in the mixture for 30 minutes. Be sure to rinse the brush thoroughly before using it, as the acidity of undiluted vinegar could damage your teeth.
25. Whiten Teeth:
Apple cider vinegar is acidic, so some people like to use it to remove stains and whiten their teeth. If you want to try this, rub a small amount of vinegar on your teeth with a cotton swab. The results are not instantaneous, but repeated use could eliminate stains over time. However, be careful with this method of teeth whitening. Be sure to rinse your mouth very well afterwards, as the acid can damage the tooth enamel.
26. To Treat Acne:
It is claimed that applying small amounts of diluted apple cider vinegar on grains is a good way to get rid of them. However, undiluted vinegar is strongly acidic and putting it directly on the skin can cause burns.
27. To Get Rid of Warts:
As with acne, it is often claimed that apple cider vinegar is a natural agent to get rid of warts. It is likely to be effective in removing warts from the skin due to its acidic nature. However, keep in mind that this method is very painful, and some people who have tried it have required a local anesthetic.
28. As a Natural Deodorant:
It is said that cleaning your armpits with diluted apple cider vinegar is a homemade alternative to commercially produced deodorants. That said, although it is popular in some circles, it is not clear how effective it is.
29. As a Dish Detergent:
Rinse your dishes in apple cider vinegar could help eliminate any unwanted bacteria and keep them clean. Some people even put it in their dishwasher.
30. To Get Rid of Fleas:
This vinegar can help prevent your pet from getting fleas. It is believed that if you spray a mixture of 1 part of water and 1 part of this vinegar in your pet you will create an environment that will not be suitable for fleas to remain in it.
Anything Else?
Apple cider vinegar is an extremely versatile product for the home that has a ton of different uses.
