The festive season has come to an end which means the new year resolutions begin to form. For many of us this means getting our health back on track. To help get your healthy juices flowing, here is a look at how apple cider vinegar can benefit you both short and long term.

At the start of a new year, there is certainly no shortage of ideas to kickstart your health routine.  It can be overwhelming to try and sift through recommendations and remedies suitable for you and your lifestyle. With so many different ways to use ACV, we are here to help you get a better understanding of utilising the benefits of ACV in your diet. 

Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

Coming into the new year it's almost certain more and more benefits will arise to do with ACV, however let's have a look at a couple of the current benefits you can look forward to having in your diet come 2021. 

Skin benefits:

ACV has many benefits when it comes to skin, particularly with things like acne and eczema on your skin to dandruff on your scalp. Due to its antibacterial and antifungal properties in ACV, it can help to kill bacteria and yeast on the skin. Our skin lies on the acidic end of the pH scale, which means that ACV can also be very useful in rejuvenating some of the skin's natural pH properties due to its high acidic levels. So whether or not you have a skin condition ACV will still benefit you by keeping your skin looking younger for longer by retaining those high pH levels.

Internal benefits:

Immunity

The host of beneficial bacteria in raw and unfiltered ACV supports your gut health, helping to strengthen the first intestinal line of defence against pathogens. The bacteria lining your gut form a physical barrier through which nasty things can't pass, and they keep the villi of your intestines healthy and in good order. 

Blood Sugar Management

ACV very kindly slows stomach emptying, which not only helps you feel fuller for longer but prevents large sugar spikes when taken before a high-carb meal. It's also been shown to increase insulin sensitivity, enabling your body to move more glucose out of the bloodstream and into your cells. The overall effect is to lower your fasting glucose levels.  

Cholesterol and Blood Pressure

Evidence for the cholesterol-busting properties of ACV has only been collected from animal studies so far, but acetic acid has visibly lowered both cholesterol and blood pressure in rats. 

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is a hormonal condition associated with insulin resistance, abnormal menstruation and hormone imbalances. The role of gut health in hormone regulation is more important than we generally assume, and studies showed that regular ingestion of ACV improved hormone levels, insulin sensitivity and menstruation in women in PCOS. 

Weight Loss

Since ACV slows stomach emptying, it makes us feel fuller for longer, thus reducing inter-meal snacking. The acetic acid in ACV may also reduce visceral fat and the calories absorbed from carbs, as well as facilitating digestion. 

Digestion

The acidic properties of ACV may act like other nutritional supplements which increase the acidity of your stomach, thus aiding in the breakdown of nutrients and minerals. 

Halitosis

Those same antibacterial properties can help solve bad breath caused by malodorous bacteria. Simply gargle with ACV every evening for a breath of fresh air. 

General Wellbeing

ACV is really just a great way to make sure you're giving your probiotic buddies a helping hand, maintaining your gut in peak health so that your body functions at maximum capacity. Gut health is central to effective immunity, digestion, hormone regulation, sleep, tissue health, and so much more, so ACV is one habit amongst many that can contribute to a healthy lifestyle. 

Have fun with ACV

The ways in which you can take your dosage of apple cider vinegar are seriously endless and that's why new innovations are popping up everyday. Starting the new year I’m sure you don’t just want to taste the tanginess of ACV by itself (or maybe you do!) and that's why it’s best to mix it with things. ACV can be used for a variety of things such as; a salad dressing, part of an iced tea, regular tea or even a mocktail. These are just a few different ways it can be taken, but I’m sure you can find many other fun and unique ways in which it can be utilised for your diet in the new year, don’t be afraid to innovate with your favourite foods and drinks this summer.

New Years Revolution

Looking ahead to 2021 I’m sure you are wanting to see the most healthy version of yourself and apple cider vinegar is here to help make that resolution a reality. It’s not difficult to make ACV part of your diet for the foreseeable future, we have it in both a liquid or capsule form, it really comes down to what’s best for you.

Make the new year yours - give your body that extra kick it deserves by adding our apple cider vinegar to your new and improved diet for 2021!