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People may have exaggerated the health benefits of apple cider vinegar, but that certainly doesn’t mean it’s snake oil. Studies have shown ACV can play a role in lowering blood sugar, combating bad breath, and more — not to mention all the good ACV can do around the house. Here’s how apple cider vinegar can improve your health, skin, home and life.
1. Clean and deodorize rooms, cars, and more
Ditch the chemicals and get a greener clean by using apple cider vinegar (ACV) in place of your normal disinfectants. Apple cider vinegar helps kill some types of bacteria, including E. coli. Spray a mixture of one part vinegar to one part water on a hard surface and wipe off.
It’s also great for getting rid of odors. Just leave a bowl of ACV near the source of an icky smell until it disappears. You can use it in bathrooms, kitchens, or even the car.
2. Relieve jellyfish stings
Cut the sting caused by jellyfish venom by applying apple cider vinegar to the skin, according to Apple Cider Vinegar For Health. Similarly, ACV added to a bath can help soothe sunburned skin, and soaking cotton balls and applying to bug bites or poison ivy can relieve itching.
3. Stop dandruff and itchy scalps
Apple cider vinegar works wonders for your hair. Use it to fight dandruff and itchy scalps, or to degunk product buildup and reveal shinier and smoother hair.
Mix with water, massage into your scalp, let it sit for at least 10 minutes, then rinse as usual. The vinegar regulates pH levels on the scalp and relieves irritation.
4. Lower blood sugar
Several studies have shown that apple cider vinegar can have health as well as beauty benefits. One study from Arizona State University found that people with insulin resistance who drank ACV before meals had lowered blood sugar levels after the meal.
Another study found that drinking vinegar before bed resulted in a four to six percent drop in blood sugar levels for people with type 2 diabetes. Drinking small amounts of ACV could be helpful for people with diabetes or those that want to balance their blood sugar levels. If you take medication to control your blood sugar, however, check with your doctor before using ACV.
5. Soothe a sore throat
Next time you feel the telltale tickle of an oncoming sore throat, try a gargle made with apple cider vinegar. Mix it with a bit of warm water and gargle about every few hours or so. The acid in the vinegar coats the throat and creates a germ-proof environment.
6. Get rid of foot odor
Stop foot odor in its tracks with a bath of apple cider vinegar. Soak feet after a long day in warm water and ACV for a relaxing and odor-absorbing treat. ACV can also help athlete’s foot and toe fungus.
7. Battle bad breath
The bacteria-fighting properties of apple cider vinegar can also help banish bad breath. Use the sore throat gargle as a daily mouthwash to kiss halitosis goodbye.
8. Kill weeds
Rid your garden of weeds and make plants like gardenias flourish with apple cider vinegar. Undiluted ACV will take care of weeds without damaging the soil. And for certain plants, diluted ACV acts as a great fertilizer.
Use only about one ounce of ACV for each gallon of water to water plants. This works best for gardenias, azaleas, hydrangeas, and blueberry bushes, since they prefer acidic soil, according to Ron Wolford, a horticulture educator at the University of Illinois.
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