With a quick Google search, you’ll find thousands of ways to use apple cider vinegar, ranging from the new-age woo to practical, everyday uses.
Some of these are not just point-blank useless, but quite harmful. As mild as it is, apple cider vinegar is still acidic and doesn’t belong everywhere.
We’ve compiled all the scientifically proven, healthy, and handy uses of apple cider vinegar for you. (*)
In mere minutes, you’ll know what to mix apple cider vinegar with, and how to make the best of it.
All The Uses of Apple Cider Vinegar – ALL BACKED BY SCIENCES
The claimed benefits of apple cider vinegar are wide; aiding in weight loss, removing acne, helping digestion, creating a glowing complexion, and boosting a healthy gut microbiome.
It sounds too good to be true, so let’s see what the truth is, backed by science. (*)
Mixing Apple Cider Vinegar With Food And Drink
Apple cider vinegar is scientifically proven to prevent blood sugar spikes, especially before high-carb meals. (*)
If you want to lower the glycemic index of your meal, drinking some apple cider vinegar is a useful method.
But how do you go about it safely? Read along, your teeth will thank you later.
Is drinking apple cider vinegar good for you every day?
For healthy adults in moderation; yes! However, there are three dangers to consuming apple cider vinegar every day:
- Consuming it excessively every day for a prolonged time.
- Apple cider vinegar should be avoided on certain drugs and supplements.
- It can wreak havoc on your teeth’ enamel in the long run.
So, how can you avoid these health hazards while making the most of eating and drinking apple cider vinegar?
- Never drink more than 237ml or 8 ounces per day, however, diluted it is. (*)
- Don’t take apple cider vinegar on diabetes drugs or insulin. (*)
- When regularly taking apple cider vinegar, up your potassium intake with bananas, carrots, spinach, milk, or oranges. (*)
- Never drink apple cider vinegar undiluted; for 1 part vinegar, add at least 4 parts of other diluting ingredients to protect your teeth’ enamel. (*)
Now you know how to mix apple cider vinegar safely into your daily routine. Let’s see the best drinks to mix apple cider vinegar with!
The best drinks with apple cider vinegar
1. Strawberry-Ginger Electrolyte Refresher
We’re taking a wild guess here, but healthy, safe, and yumm sounds like a good deal to us!
This electrolyte DIY drink can be a great, healthy option for summer parties or morning and post-workout shots to boost your health.
2. Plum & Cardamom Summer Mocktail
There’s a secret ingredient in this culinary gem; black pepper. It’s the perfect blend of healthy, delicious, refreshing, indulging, and zappy at the same time!
3. Peach-Basil Bourbon Cocktail
You’d never think of mixing some apple cider vinegar into your cocktails, but that’s the difference between pro bar mixers and amateur cocktail connoisseurs.
Some of the best drinks come with a surprising element, in this case, apple cider vinegar.
It’s an element of summer, but can also be an early fall drink for your next Friday evening Netflix and Chill.
4. Fire Cider Shot- A natural cold, flu, and sore throat remedy
Ending the drink section strongly, this is a golden ticket to a quick recovery from the flu or cold.
You typically expect these kinds of drinks to be made from apple cider vinegar, but this one will taste warm and welcoming as a plus. It’s worth keeping a batch of it during the cold months.
Now let’s see all the safe ways you can eat apple cider vinegar safely, to max out the health benefits too.
Using Apple Cider Vinegar in Foods
5. Salad Dressings
When we think of vinegar, salad dressings naturally come to mind. In a vinaigrette, you can hide your daily dose of apple cider vinegar and still enjoy all the health benefits from it.
6. Marinades
Powerful meat marinades are as old as humanity. But there’s a good chance apple cider vinegar won’t be the first thing to come to mind when you bathe your chicken in flavorful seasonings pre-cooking.
That’s fine! But next time, try this meat-softener marinade mixed with apple cider vinegar and see for yourself.
7. Sauces
To get the most health benefits from apple cider vinegar, you should eat it raw. Mixing it into sauces is a great way to do so!
A lip-smackingly sweet barbeque sauce could benefit from the light tartness of apple cider vinegar.
8. Cooking with Apple Cider Vinegar
For endless possibilities, you can do a deep dive into cooking with apple cider vinegar.
Our favorites are the glazed pork chops, apple pie, and creamy apple butter.
After eating anything and everything mixed with apple cider vinegar, let’s see how we can incorporate it into our beauty routine.
Apple Cider Vinegar in DIY Cosmetics
Let’s start with the obvious; should we even use apple cider vinegar in cosmetics?
The answer is complex, so let’s go over each cosmetic use of apple cider vinegar.
9. Apple cider vinegar for teeth whitening
Shockingly, the internet is chock-full of teeth-whitening DIY tips with vinegar, especially apple cider vinegar.
Just to be clear, you should never use acids, or home remedies to whiten your teeth. The enamel is a delicate layer, and professionals know the exact acidity levels they can take without permanent damage. (*) (*)
We want the best for you, so skip teeth whitening with apple cider vinegar. You can find plenty of other, beneficial cosmetic uses for it.
10. Apple cider vinegar hair health hacks
As opposed to teeth whitening, maintaining hair health with apple cider vinegar is a big YES! ( * )
Surprisingly, acids don’t break up hair particles, especially when diluted. The only bummer is that they can wash out colored hair.
So let’s see the best DIY cosmetics mixed with apple cider vinegar for your hair and scalp.
Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse – For deep cleaning hair
It’s best to use raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar to get the most benefits, and you need to dilute it to avoid harming your scalp. Also, it’s not an everyday remedy but more like a deep cleanse for your scalp and hair follicles.
ACV mixed with a hair rinse can remove excess cosmetic residue buildup from your hair.
Diluted vinegar can also give your hair a healthy shine without using tons of chemicals.
How To Use Apple Cider Vinegar on Your Skin
Our skin is somewhat like teeth; once the outer barrier is damaged, the trouble is already done for a long time.
Mixing apple cider vinegar into cosmetics is tricky, as acidic elements can quickly cause chemical burns on your skin. (*)
Frankly, there are plenty of risks and little to no evidence of the benefits. Still, with a very diluted ratio, apple cider vinegar can be mixed into a gentle, cleansing toner for your skin.
Apple cider vinegar cleansing toner
This cleansing toner has antifungal properties, among others, and has more beneficial probiotics than any store-bought toner.
It also kills bacteria that cause acne without harming the good microbiome of your skin.
As you see, there are plenty of options for using apple cider vinegar in cooking, cocktails, dressings, and even cosmetics. But we love science, and we left the most advantageous uses for last.
Our Favorite Ways To Mix And Use Apple Cider Vinegar
12. Morning immune & energy boost drink with apple cider vinegar
There are many morning shots with apple cider vinegar, but the majority include some honey, lemon, and cinnamon.
This shot with added ginger, turmeric, citrus juices, and garlic is a heaven-sent for your immune system, while it also tastes good.
13. Heston Blumenthal’s Chipotle chicken wings
This recipe is one of the best things that can happen to apple cider vinegar. Heston Blumenthal is a culinary genius, making the most of surprising elements in the kitchen.
It’s not shy of seasonings, but apple cider vinegar is a crucial component of this recipe. This will be the crown of your week for sure!
14. Apple Cider-Glazed Ham
Perfectly glazed ham is a culinary art that’s hard to master. Apple cider can help you with that.
This mind-blowing ham with a hint of maple syrup can be the crown jewel of your next holiday course.
15. Chef’s Tomato Chutney- With Apple Cider Vinegar
Tomato chutney is an underrated gem. They are not like a jam; they need a tint of acidity to make the flavors pop!
There’s no denying how healthy ACV is, but let’s summarize our verdict based on scientific facts.
What We’ve Learned So Far?
Among vinegar, balsamic and apple cider vinegar have the most health benefits. ( * )
Still, there are some uses when they do more harm than good, such as whitening teeth. You should absolutely steer away from it.
However, it is excellent to curb your blood sugar spikes after a big dinner or boost your energy levels with healthy probiotics in ACV.
Up Next: What Does Apple Cider Vinegar Taste Like?
