By Brent Hauver

What is good is not always what is pleasant. I mean, it’s difficult enough to convince people to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into their diet when those are delicious, but a harsh reality remains. A lot of the time, the healthiest things are the hardest to take. There . . . I admitted it. That being said, I would like to taut the glories of an all-purpose, utility player in the game of health that often is maligned. It’s murky brown, full of sediment, and reeks. Behold! – Apple Cider Vinegar! Apple Cider Vinegar is a true superstar. There is almost nothing that this simple liquid cannot accomplish.

First, apple cider vinegar is made from apples. Apples have long held the position of nutritional powerhouse and deservedly so, apples are loaded with goodness. Apples are a low calorie, low fat, high fiber food stuffed with vitamins A, C, B1, B2, & B6, folic acid, niacin, sodium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, iron, and copper. Apple cider vinegar, made from whole apples and not pasteurized or filtered, will contain all these nutrients plus the many enzymes and organic acids produced during the two fermentation processes. That is impressive alone, but there is more.

Organic Acids – The fermentation process used to make apple cider vinegar creates some impressive organic acids. The acids in apple cider vinegar have an antiseptic property which deters the growth of bacteria and yeasts in the digestive track. Taking a little apple cider vinegar before eating can increase the acid in the stomach thereby improving digestion and nutrient uptake. Apple cider is even credited with promoting the healthy acid/alkaline balance in urine. It may sound weird, but proper acid balance in the urine can enable people to either completely bypass illness or to effectively combat it.

Vitamins and Antioxidants – the combination of vitamins, amino acids, and bioflavonoids in apple cider vinegar create a formidable antioxidant. This may be the most exciting health benefit of apple cider vinegar. The antioxidant combination found in apple cider vinegar helps protect the body against cancer and damage caused by overexposure to chemical toxins.

Fiber – Since apple cider vinegar is made from whole apples, it is full of pectin. Pectin is a water soluble fiber which can absorb water, fat, toxins, and cholesterol in the digestive tract and remove it from the body. This action promotes heart health by aiding glucose metabolism and lowering blood pressure.

Minerals – As previously noted, apple cider vinegar has a considerable list of minerals in an easily digestible form. Minerals are essential to proper bio-chemical processes in the body. If you are lacking vitamins, the body can make use of minerals, but lacking minerals, vitamins are useless. Apple cider vinegar’s minerals promote proper control of water balance, conduction of nerve impulses, contraction of muscles, maintenance of heart rhythm, storage and breakdown of carbohydrate, production of energy, and formation of bones and teeth. Promotion of all of these processes is vital.

Remedies–Apple cider vinegar might just be a miracle elixir. I know this may sound like an outrageous claim, but indulge me. As I am sitting here writing this article, I have a colossal pile of papers on my desk endorsing apple cider vinegar for an overwhelming variety of uses. Everything from weight loss to beauty, from constipation to sore throats, seriously, everything has an apple cider remedy. The quick list I threw together as an example already has over 52 remedies for very different ailments. There is no way I can list them all for the purposes of this article. My apologies. I would be more ashamed, but this only goes to prove the incredible power of apple cider vinegar.

Do me a favor – look up some apple cider vinegar remedies. You will be amazed. Don’t be guilty of discounting this phenomenal healing agent just because of its unappealing look and pungent aroma. You will miss out on a simple fix for so many problems. I am pretty sure there is a moral lesson in all this.

Brent Hauver is a Holistic Health Researcher who owns and operates Sage Health and Empowerment Center in Overton, NV.