Consuming apple cider vinegar has become a popular trend in the health world. Many people are incorporating it into their daily routine, and drinking it by the tablespoon. Unfortunately, no one is warning the people who have health symptoms and conditions of the many pitfalls of apple cider vinegar.

Acetic Acid and Gut Bacteria

Apple cider vinegar, which is acetic acid, adds to the acid already in the body from unproductive bacteria in the gut, and can worsen existing symptoms and conditions. One example is Streptococcus bacteria, which can cause urinary tract infections (UTIs), sinus infections, gum infections, ear infections, bacterial vaginosis (BV), yeast infections, bladder infections, sore throats, prostate infections, strep throat, gallbladder infections, appendicitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), bloating, styes, acnes, skin cysts and boils, conjunctivitis, and pink eye. Strep bacteria thrives in an acidic environment in the body, and adding more acid, like acetic acid from apple cider vinegar, magnifies this environment and can allow strep bacteria to stay strong in the body. 

When acetic acid encounters salt in the body, a chemical reaction occurs and this can result in chronic dehydration. When someone consumes apple cider vinegar, the vinegar begins to draw living water from cells and organs, and places the water in the wrong places in the body. This can give someone the illusion that they have lost weight from apple cider vinegar, but in truth, their body is just dehydrated from the vinegar. Not only can vinegar deeply dehydrate the body, but it can pickle organs as it reacts to salt and then draws water from cells and organs, allowing toxins to penetrate deeper into organ tissue. 

Appetite, Digestion and Bloating

You may have heard that apple cider vinegar helps to suppress the appetite. Apple cider vinegar does help to suppress the appetite, but only for a moment, and can leave someone hungry at the wrong time later. When apple cider vinegar enters the body, it suppresses the appetite by sucking the water out of the cells of the stomach lining. The apple cider vinegar, or acetic acid, is seen as something toxic as it is consumed and can shock the stomach. As a defense mechanism, the stomach instantly produces a layer of mucus to try and stop the vinegar from entering its cells; this layer of mucus can replace food for a short while and give the sensation of feeling full. 

As vinegar enters the stomach, the stomach glands start to release large storage bins of hydrochloric acid (HCL) to try and neutralize the acetic acid and break down the mucus the stomach lining is producing. This process can allow someone to feel like they are digesting better and can even relieve bloating for some people, but this is a temporary reaction. Once the stomach glands wear out as the months or years go by, depending on how much vinegar use occurs, or what condition the person’s stomach glands are in, the stomach glands can lose their ability to make more HCL, which can worsen digestion issues and cause bloating. 

Acid Reflux

Unproductive bacteria in the gut, like strep, staph, and E. coli bacteria, produce acid that can creep up into the stomach and esophagus, and cause acid reflux. When someone is dumping apple cider vinegar into their body, the glands in the stomach begin to release large amounts of HCL, which then helps to neutralize bad acids, and can provide some relief for acid reflux. Unfortunately, this relief is only temporary as stomach glands wear out, acid reflux returns, and apple cider vinegar no longer alleviates acid reflux symptoms. 

Teeth

Acetic acid depletes the body of the trace mineral calcium, which is used in the body to neutralize acidity. When someone is putting more acid into their body, by way of apple cider vinegar, or any vinegar, the more calcium the body needs to neutralize these acids, and the more calcium is taken from bones and teeth. This defense mechanism used by the body can potentially deplete calcium in teeth over time, and erode tooth enamel. 

Topical Use

Apple cider vinegar is loaded with trace minerals, micronutrients, antioxidants, and enzymes, and has many great topical uses. Shampoos with apple cider vinegar can be great for the scalp. Similarly, an apple cider vinegar rinse, mixed with water, can be used on the scalp for dermatitis and dandruff. Pouring apple cider vinegar into a foot bath with water can be helpful for surface wounds, open sores, foot fungus, athlete’s foot, poison ivy, or poison oak; vinegar is a cleansing agent and can help clean wounds and draw out puss. Please note that apple cider vinegar will not kill bacteria and should not be used in place of peroxide on surface wounds. An acne compress – made with hot water and apple cider vinegar on a face towel – is another great way to use apple cider vinegar topically. Hold compress on acne for five to ten minutes at a time for painful acne relief. 

When choosing which apple cider vinegar to use, it is best to choose the unfiltered with mother option.

In This Podcast Episode:

• Learn more in depth information on the topics in this article.
• Learn more about how apple cider vinegar can affect teeth.
• Is apple cider vinegar anti-aging?
• Find out more about alkalinity in the body.
• How vinegar can preserve toxins in the body.

Moving Forward

A common mistake in health and wellness is the belief that if a new health trend is bad for the body, the results will show right away, and if they don’t, then that trend is healthy. As with apple cider vinegar, we have learned that this isn’t always the case, and sometimes problems take time to show up in the body. Yes, apple cider vinegar is the best option when it comes to consuming vinegar. But even the best kind of vinegar can have a detrimental effect on the body and is best avoided, especially if you are dealing with eczema, psoriasis, acne, vitiligo, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, thyroid disorders, Lyme disease, or any other symptom or condition.

This item posted: 17-Oct-2020