Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is alkaline-forming in the stomach and is a great natural remedy for digestive issues including heartburn, indigestion and bloating. I’ve recently turned to ACV as I’m suffering really bad pregnancy-induced heartburn and found the mild traditional treatments like Gaviscon and Tums, which are suitable for use in pregnancy, are not providing enough relief (at least not in anywhere near the recommended dosage!)
Does apple cider vinegar really work for heartburn relief?
ACV has been a lifesaver for me. I’ve been taking it before and after meals and it has really helped ease the burn. I still need to make more of an effort to eat smaller meals and keep away from my trigger foods, which include dairy and eggs. The only issue with dairy is chocolate…although I’ve been getting around that lately by making my own coconut oil/cacao choc. But eggs are a particular challenge because I love them and eat them often! Inexplicably boiled eggs seem to be worse triggers than fried/omelette (WEIRD.) Hmm…this final trimester of pregnancy will be a real test!
What sort of dosage?
I’ve had severe heartburn at times, so I’ve been taking 1-2 tablespoons in a sitting. It does burn the back of my throat for several minutes but that’s only because I am overly impatient and don’t dilute it. When I’ve got mild heartburn or I can feel the symptoms coming on and want to take a pre-emptive strike, I take a couple of teaspoons in a small amount of water, which is much more pleasant.
Other uses for apple cider vinegar:
Salad dressing
ACV with a little Dijon mustard and olive oil makes for a delightful salad dressing. If you are accustomed to a sweeter dressing try adding a little honey or rice malt syrup.
Weight loss
ACV stabilises blood sugar levels and is thought to help prevent cravings. I’ve no idea if this works but if you want to test-drive this theory you could try taking 1-2 teaspoons in a small amount of water 20 minutes before each meal.
Throat gargle
Apparently the antibacterial properties in ACV will help kill nasty sore throat causing bacteria. Mix with a little water and gargle away.
Cleaning spray
I’m not really big on DIY cleaning products but apparently ACV is antibacterial, so if you are so inclined you could mix one part ACV to one part water and get cleaning!
Fruit-fly killer
Bit of an odd one, but we had a serious fruit-fly epidemic in the office over summer so we filled a few cups with ACV and added some dish washing liquid and it was very effective at attracting and killing ALL of the flies!
Which brand is best?
Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar is great but just look for any that are raw, organic and have sediment that has settled at the bottom of the bottle (that’s the good stuff right there!) That said, when I’m at work and desperate I’ve been guzzling the leftover ordinary supermarket ACV that we used to kill those fruit-flies and it does the trick!
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