Not long ago I read that apple cider vinegar can help with weight loss. And before you can say “baby pooch” I had purchased a big bottle of organic, unfiltered vinegar. And then I tasted it. WHOA. It had better be packed with health benefits because – there’s no sugar coating it – it tastes awful.
I’m slowly getting the necessary ‘acquired taste’ to enjoy the benefits – and there are a ton! Made from fermented organic apples, apple cider vinegar is loaded with enzymes, beneficial living bacteria and nutrients. Here are two ways to reap the benefits, both inside and out.
ACV ‘Kill The Cravings’ Water
You’ve probably heard the advice that drinking a glass of water before meals can help you eat less. Adding a small amount of apple cider vinegar supercharges the effect. It works to stabilize blood sugar and control your appetite. Plus (total honesty here) just getting that drink down puts a damper on cravings. In addition, taking the acid in before eating will help your stomach break down food and reduce acid reflux.
Add 1-2 teaspoons of ACV to eight ounces of cold water and drink before each meal. I love it for an afternoon pick-me-up when the sugar cravings kick in. Start small and work your way up to 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons. I have a much easier time when I add a bit of honey or stevia, but you can use mint, ginger or lemon to help with the taste.
Herb-Infused Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse
Apple cider vinegar can also give your hair a major boost. Vinegar smoothes the hair cuticle creating lots of shine and balances the pH of your scalp and hair. If you’re working your way into no ‘poo territory this is a great place to start.
Herb-infused Conditioning Rinse
Materials
- 3 cups water
- handful dried chamomile or rosemary if you don't want to lighten your hair
- handful dried lavender
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil and remove from heat.
- Add herbs and let them steep for at least 30 minutes. The longer the herbs sit, the stronger your rinse will be.
- Strain the herbs and pour into a bottle with a lid.
- Add the apple cider vinegar and shake to combine.
- To use, pour onto your hair (a squirt bottle makes this much easier) and massage into hair.
- Let it sit for a a couple of minutes and finish with a quick rinse.
- You can forgo the final rinse if you want (no, you won't end up smelling like vinegar) for a more potent effect.
If you don’t have dried herbs on hand, add essential oils instead. Rosemary is recommended for all hair types. Lavender is great for oily hair or try tea tree for dandruff.
What’s your favorite use for apple cider vinegar?
You will get used to the taste eventually, when I first tasted it, I hated it too, it was nasty. But now I actually enjoy the taste, lol. Go figure.
Thanks so much for the ACV rinse recipe. Can’t wait to try it with chamomile and lavender! Really like how the ACV takes the yellowish tint that our well water adds to my hair. I have white and silver hair that really shines after using the rinse!
I put a little lemon and honey in my ACV. I’ve really gotten to like it!
I drink 1 1/2 tbsp of ACV in a large glass of water with 1 tbsp of raw honey. It doesn’t taste bad at all. I drink it before I go to bed and it took away my hot flashes. It’s been 2 months and I haven’t had any.
I drink ACV, lots of energy, my body doesn’t hurt any more but how can you take it before bed? It makes me pee lots.
…but 35$ for all of this?
Water, Apple Cider Vinegar, Cetrimonium Chloride, Silicone Quaternium-8, Glycerin, Rapeseedamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate, Polyacrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein PG-Propyl Silanetriol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Spathodea Campanulata Flower Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Taraxacum Officinale (Dandelion) Leaf Extract, Linoleamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate Dimethicone, Quaternium-96, Polyquaternium-55, Dipropylene Glycol, Propanediol, Propylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Hi, i would like to ask if i can use the HEINZ APPLE CIDER VINEGAR as my conditioner or should it really be the ORGANIC one? Thanks.
No. Buy Organic, and with the mother (Braggs is a favorite) for best results. Heinz is way too processed.
Vinegar as conditioner work and Bicarbonated soada for shampoo is great. I will never by shampoo or conditioner again
Ok I stopped using shampoo years ago because it was making my hair fall out really bad. Am going to try the acv rinse but would like to know how to do the bicarb. shampoo. Also how much acv to water ratio for the rinse?
Balsamic Vinegar has similar benefits as ACV – and tastes better! There’s gourmet oil and vinegar shops popping up everywhere (I used to work at one before going back to grad school). They make different flavors, and many of them taste fantastic in sparkling water, or even on their own.
Great conditioner idea Steph, def giving it a try!
Has the ACV worked for you for weight loss or reflux. I still cant get past the taste to take it regularly. I am looking for motivation. Thanks
Thanks for these great tips. One question please, what quantity of each of the essential oils can be substituted for the dried herbs? TY!
I’ve heard of people doing shots of this stuff before bedtime but I never thought of doing it before a meal. Now I’m gonna have to carry it around with me!
Be careful about drinking anything alkaline before a meal/food because acv is alkalizing internally and may interfere with the hydrochloric acid required by your body for digestion. Always consume organic acv with mother to avoid the heavily pesticide laden apples used to make it. Apples are some of the most heavily laden foods on the market.
Awesome tip about the ACV water! I just spent a week visiting my three nephews who have birthdays in April & May, and boy did I get my fill of sweets and candy! Of course, I baked most of the sweets for them, and I could not resist divulging in the yummy bakery cupcakes at one of the parties (something that I never eat at home). My sugar cravings have been out of control since being home for a week, and honestly, I’ve been caving into them much more so than I desire. This, my friend, will hopefully help me get back into my normal fruit consumption & no refined sugar foods. I think I’ll even try the conditioner; I’ve been wanting to make my own shampoo & conditioner, and this will be a good starting point. Thanks so much!
Just a HUGE thank you for these tips!!!