Apple Cider Vinegar

We all know from My Big Fat Greek Wedding the beloved papa Portokalos had one-and only one- solution to every ailment. Put some Windex on it.

That’s how I feel about Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV).  It’s basically a miracle in a bottle.

I first discovered this while researching what I could do to get rid of my acne (as most of my research tends to be for).  I was going to be a badass and take the ACV drink twice daily. It is 1 tbsp. ACV in a glass of water. I put some agave nectar in it in a feeble attempt to kill the vinegar taste, grabbed a straw to protect the enamel on my teeth, and started to drink. Eyes closed, not breathing it in, just sucking that straw like I was going to down it so quick and be done with it. I open my eyes to approximately ½ inch of liquid gone from the top of my glass. I was a pansy.

This got my brain working. I just want to get my skin better, I thought. So I decided that diluting it in distilled water and using it as a toner after I washed my face was going to be a much better route. And it was! I noticed my skin starting to clear up and my complexion balancing out within a couple weeks. Yes, it made my face smell like salad dressing for about 2 minutes, but it went away. Not a big deal.

Over time, I’ve found many other useful ways to incorporate this product into my life. And now I use it for everything.

-          Facial Toner: Balances PH levels in the skin and helps detoxify and combat acne

-          Detox bath: Pour a couple cups of ACV into a hot bath, sit and enjoy. Let your body sweat it out for about 20-30 minutes. Great to use when you’re sick, or just have a rough case of “bacne”. It will also help soothe your muscles.

-          Make up brush cleaner.

-          Athlete’s foot fighter. Place about 1 cup of ACV into hot water in a pot and soak feet. This will help balance out the skin as well as fight off some of that nasty fungus.

-          Hair rinse:  I prefer a small spouted bottle, shampoo hair normally, then squirt ACV into hair and work through scalp to ends. Rinse with cold (yes, COLD) water. No need to condition, product build-up has been removed and your hair will comb out smoothly as if you did use conditioner! The cold water will seal the hair shaft, resulting in very shiny, healthy hair. 

*UPDATE: My new ACV hair rinse is 2 parts ACV to 1 part water, along with rosemary and lavender essential oils. I'm in love with this mix!!!

-          Warts: Soak a cotton ball in ACV and tape (Band-Aid) to the affected area. Overnight, you should see some difference with it drying out. Keep going every night until it is gone!)

-          Smelly garbage disposal: pour some ACV and hot water down the drain and run your disposal for a little bit. The vinegar should help clear up some of the bacteria and smell.

If you are up for the challenge, the ACV drink is great for maintaining healthy body sugar levels, making your dieting much easier since you won’t be lusting over the sugars. Studies have shown it effective for someone who is pre-diabetic.  It is also a fantastic detox, without harsh propriety blends or the dehydration factor, it is rich in vitamins and nutrients to supply your body while (excuse the visual) pushing out the sludge. It should also improve your digestion, so the other very healthy foods you are eating will actually benefit your body better!

I'll be sure to update when I discover more amazing uses! I love this stuff!

XOXO Kayla Rae