If you’ve never used apple cider vinegar, you’re missing out on a dynamic — and cheap — ingredient with loads of potential. This substance can kill weeds, clean appliances, polish silver, and make salad dressings. Apple cider vinegar or ACV is as useful in the kitchen and mop cupboard as it is in the medicine cabinet, thanks to the calcium, magnesium, potassium, and other vitamins and minerals it contains.

Whitens Teeth

If you can stomach the flavor, you can use apple cider vinegar to restore your pearly whites. Yellow teeth can be embarrassing, but whitening kits and pastes are expensive. Apple cider vinegar is an easy and cheap way to bring back that natural sheen. It kills bacteria throughout the entire mouth and removes stains. Gargle the apple cider vinegar for a short time before brushing your teeth as normal.

Triggers Weight Loss

Acetic acid, when consumed regularly, supports weight loss. Unfiltered, raw apple cider vinegar contains a significant amount of acetic acid. Various health studies show that people with obesity experienced decreased abdominal fat, waist circumference, and overall body weight when regularly consuming ACV. Besides weight loss, consumption of acetic acid also prevents fat buildup.

Controls Blood Sugar

The body naturally produces insulin to regulate the amount of sugar in the blood. Apple cider vinegar has anti-glycemic effects, which means it improves hormone sensitivity. People who struggle with hormone resistance could benefit from taking a shot of apple cider vinegar with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Stir one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar into a glass of water. This addition slows glucose production and absorption to help lower blood sugar.

Treats Constipation

Water-soluble fibers like pectin assist with bowel movements, and because apple cider vinegar contains this polysaccharide, it treats constipation. If other medications have failed or for those who prefer an at-home, natural option, drink two tablespoons with a glass of water. If the taste is too much, adding a touch of apple or grape juice can help the concoction go down easier. Drinking this mixture twice a day can promote normal digestion and regularity.

Conditions the Hair

Combining equal parts apple cider vinegar and water makes a natural hair solution that nourishes and leaves locks shiny and soft. It can also help destroy the fungus that causes dandruff and restore the pH balance. Apply the mixture and let it soak for at least 15 but no longer than 60 minutes, one or two times per week.

Creates Radiant Skin

Apple cider vinegar can transform uneven skin tone thanks to its natural astringent properties. Dilute ACV with water and soak a cotton pad in the mixture, then dab it directly onto blemishes. The mixture can also help reduce wrinkles and fine lines. Half a cup of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water can also serve as a toner, tightening the pores and regulating pH.

Gets Rid of Leg Cramps

The minerals in apple cider vinegar not only help with pain, but they can reduce the intensity and frequency of leg cramps in general. When a cramp strikes, sip a glass of warm water with two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. You can also add a bit of honey. Drink it slowly, and the pain should recede in minutes.

Helps with Coughs and Colds

During cold season, apple cider vinegar can help relieve the symptoms of the viruses that tend to circulate. Simply mix a teaspoon each of honey, warm water, and apple cider vinegar. Take this syrup three times a day to reduce coughing and thin secretions. Congestion, stuffy nose, and other cold symptoms should also clear up more quickly.

Fights Infections

The antiseptic properties in apple cider vinegar combat fungal and bacterial infections. It is especially effective topically to prevent acne and other skin problems. As for internal infections, the amount of ACV that can be applied most likely won’t be enough to cure an active ear infection or UTI, but it can prevent them from reoccurring.

Lowers Blood Cholesterol

Apple cider vinegar has the power to decrease bad cholesterol and increase good at the same time. People who are advised to lower their low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) levels and raise their high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) can benefit from apple cider vinegar. This can help people with diabetes, which causes lower levels of “good” HDL and raises “bad” LDL cholesterol. Anyone with existing health issues should speak to a doctor before making this change in their diet, however.

Curbs Hiccups

A teaspoon of apple cider vinegar could stop an episode of hiccups. In one case report, a person with persistent hiccups experienced relief by drinking the vinegar, after several pharmacological remedies were ineffective. The mechanisms behind this are largely unknown, but some researchers believe that sour compounds in ACV are a contributing factor. Dilute apple cider vinegar with water to avoid throat irritation and stomach upset.

Increases Energy

Intense exercise or excessive stress can trigger a buildup of lactic acid in the body, leading to feelings of fatigue. With its amino acids, enzymes, and potassium, apple cider vinegar can help restore vitality. Since antioxidants in ACV help lower blood pressure and stabilize blood sugar, they help mitigate the tiring effects of oxidative stress throughout the body.

Fades Bruises

Lactic acid and other constituents in apple cider vinegar help reduce scarring and inhibit the growth of bacteria that cause acne. Lactic acid is a common alpha-hydroxy acid that can enhance skin tone and texture. It also stimulates the production of collagen, promoting the growth of new and younger-looking skin. Studies suggest that succinic acid, a short-chain fatty acid in apple cider vinegar, can suppress acne-induced inflammation. Acetic acid, another ACV component, helps unplug blocked skin pores. For topical use, dermatologists suggest diluting one part vinegar in four to 10 parts water, depending on skin sensitivity.

Eases Sore Throat

Many people have found relief for their sore throat by gargling apple cider vinegar with warm water or mixing it with honey. In clinical studies, ACV demonstrates strong antibacterial and antifungal activity as it restricts the growth of microbes on soft tissues. The vinegar appears to support healthy lymphatic drainage to ease a sore throat and other symptoms of seasonal allergies. Potassium in ACV helps thin and break up mucus, a common issue with throat soreness.

May Reduce Bloating and Indigestion

It is possible that apple cider vinegar can aid digestion, but empirical evidence of this benefit is sparse. The yeast or “mother of vinegar” in ACV is thought to be a probiotic that can boost the population of beneficial gut bacteria while inhibiting the growth of harmful gut microbiota. A teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with a cup of water before or after meals may help prevent or reduce gas buildup. Doctors associate a low risk with trying this remedy.