About a month ago I was dealing with some incredibly annoying bloating. Nothing about my diet had changed, nor my lifestyle, but towards mid afternoon my belly had swollen up to 6 months pregnant status. Knowing I couldn’t get pregnant that quickly, I turned to an alternative: Apple Cider Vinegar.
I’ve been putting the stuff on my face for months. I have a face mask that requires it be mixed with ACV for the best results… and I LOVE that face mask. It clears my skin in a matter of days. I figured if it can do so much good for my skin from the outside, it probably can do me some good from the inside.
So, I did a little research. There are Instagrammers all over the world preaching about this stuff. Basically, Apple Cider Vinegar claims to be a miracle worker but, with no hard evidence to back it up it’s hard to believe that it does all that it claims to do.
On Bragg’s website, they list all the benefits:
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And as far as I’m aware, they’re only listing the supposed benefits that come from drinking it. There are a boat load of beauty bloggers out there that claim it also can be used topically (hair and skin).
So, I didn’t really have a specific protocol for testing this out – all I knew was that I wasn’t about to drink this stuff straight (hint: you’re not supposed to anyway because throat burn = not good). I read that for sensitive tummy’s, it was probably best to drink your ACV concoction post meal to avoid upsetting your stomach. My stomach is pretty rock solid so I drank my ACV mixed with water and a hint of maple syrup (which is what they recommend on the bottle) to take the edge off before eating anything on most mornings (usually around 4-5x/week).
Here is what I found:
Bloating
I was still feeling quite bloated during the first week, I almost just stopped drinking it all together because I figured it just wasn’t working. I decided to try it out for a couple more days and I’m so glad I did because the bloating disappeared and never came back. The last time I was bloated was Christmas (and to be fair, who isn’t bloated at Christmas time?)
Bathroom Habits
**DISCLAIMER: I’m gonna talk about poop.
What I did notice in the first week however that I had started going to the bathroom far more regularly, but the stools were, um… soft… and just annoying (yum).
However, much like the pattern of my bloating, my bathroom habits improved drastically. Prior to drinking the ACV I had been… how do you say it?… a little… backed up. After drinking the ACV regularly, my bowel movements became a perfect, regular occurrence that I’m sure even Gillian McKeith would be proud of.
Weight Loss
One thing I should probably add here is that ACV made me lose weight. I actually didn’t put two and two together on this until recently.
I started feeling super skinny just before Christmas, which as a fit chick trying to build a booty was quite concerning. My jeans were fitting looser, my leggings were falling down. It was especially concerning seeing as I wasn’t actively trying to lose weight.
I had stopped drinking protein shakes a few months ago and I thought the effects of that were catching up to me and I was losing muscle mass (which was confusing as I wasn’t losing any strength). It wasn’t until recently that I put two and two together and realized that all those “I lost weight drinking apple cider vinegar” articles… was me.
Skin
The biggest, most significant change I saw once I started drinking ACV every day was in my skin. This was the LAST thing I expected from this, all I was trying to do was get rid of the belly bloat and suddenly my skin is the clearest it’s ever been. And I do not say that lightly. I seriously mean it is the CLEAREST is has been since I sprouted my first pubertal zit in Grade 10.
Let me tell you how PEEVED I am. I have been dealing with acne for YEARS. Almost 10 YEARS. I have spent HUNDREDS of dollars on medications, face washes, and moisturizers to try and combat the tragedy that is my skin and all along I could’ve just been drinking ACV and my troubles will have gone.
Now when I break out, I get ONE zit. ONE. And then in 3 days time it’s GONE. They’re not those nasty, pussy, painful zits anymore either. They’re small little whiteheads that with a bit on concealer are practically invisible.
I’m actually annoyed that I don’t have any recent before and after pics of my skin so that I could show you the difference it has made. But if you lurk my social media you’re bound to notice a difference in the quality of it! (Insta: @louiseewaard, @littlebitoflouise)
#shamelessplug
Seriously. If you’re pooping habits are stellar and you never get bloated but you have acne pouring out of your face get yourself some ACV.
While I’m at it and obsessing over ACV, I thought I would give you some other uses for it that I found online.
Other uses for ACV:
Make your own ACV facial toner:
To make your toner it is as simple as mixing ACV with water. The more sensitive your skin is, the more water to ACV you would use. For example use 1 part ACV to 3 parts water. Don’t ever let the water amount go below the ACV though – we’re not trying to burn our faces off here, just tone them. Mix it all together in a little spray bottle (you can find them in the dollar store) and either spray it directly onto your face, or wipe it on with a cotton pad.
Make your own ACV hair rinse:
Again, as simple as just mixing ACV and water, and pouring it over your head after you’ve washed your hair. Leave it in for a few minutes and then rinse. I’ve heard that it helps with dry scalps and dandruff, as well as adding that ever sought after shine to hair.
Stain remover:
Soak stain in the vinegar. Then mix equal parts ACV with baking soda so that it forms a paste and scrub stain with the paste. The stain should lift!
Let me know if you decide to give Apple Cider Vinegar a try, or if you already have, what did you think?
Until next time
xx