Apple cider vinegar has been used for centuries for cooking and medicinal purposes. It houses some benefits, including fighting infection, clearing the skin, and cleaning surfaces. This is one of those ingredients that you want to use daily to help improve your digestive health and reduce your risk of developing diabetes or heart disease.
But not all apple cider vinegar is made equally. They are not all good for you, and you will need to find the best option for your health.
It is more than just looking for an organic option in the supermarket. This is also more than just making your own. You want to look for very specific types of making sure you put only the best raw ingredients into your body.
You will also need to think carefully about how the apple cider vinegar is stored and where it is placed in your home. Here’s a look at how to get the best apple cider vinegar for your health.
What Exactly Is Apple Cider Vinegar?
As you would expect, apple cider vinegar is made from apples. You will need to create a must, which then later becomes the vinegar.
To make your own, you will need to crush whole apples. Keep the seeds, skin, and stem completely intact, as you crush to make the must. This will need to be fermented and oxygenated to help turn all the natural sugars in the apples into alcohol. Think of the fermenting to get cider. This is a very similar process.
Once you have the alcohol, you would need to turn the mixture into acetic acid from the oxygenation process. This gives the health benefits of the ingredient. If any of the steps are missed or done incorrectly, you will not get all the health benefits of apple cider vinegar.
It is often much easier to just buy something from the store. However, before you do, make sure you get the best type.
Always Look for Organic, Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
You do not want anything that has been treated or had any chemicals added to it. Because this is made from real apples, you will need to find out more about the apples that are used in the fermentation process. Make sure they are organic, meaning that they do not have any pesticides used to protect them from insects.
However, it is not just good enough to look out for organic. Look for those that are “certified organic.” These apples will not have any GMO products either. GMO products are used for growing larger, genetically modified fruits and vegetables. It is unclear just what the products do to the body long term, but there are many of them. It is best to play it safe and avoid adding extra toxins to your body.
Finally, look out for raw vinegar. During the fermentation and oxygenation processes, it is common for some manufacturers to use chemicals or a filtration process. They say that the processes help to improve the quality of the vinegar, but there’s no proof that the processes are good for the body. You will always want to avoid anything with artificial flavors, often used to make the apple cider vinegar taste “better.”
Look out for organic and raw apple cider vinegar as much as possible.
Always Choose Unpasteurized Where Possible
Unless you are pregnant, you will always want to choose unpasteurized products over pasteurized. This is especially the case with apple cider vinegar.
Unpasteurized products get a bad reputation for their bad bacteria. They are supposed to be dangerous in the gut and can lead to some digestive complaints. Therefore they are not recommended during pregnancy. It is not clear what the bacteria could do to the developing fetus.
However, when you are not pregnant, your stomach is not as sensitive. The process to get rid of the bad bacteria also gets rid of the good bacteria. It may also get rid of some of the other nutrients in the liquid. You are left with little beneficial from the apple cider vinegar.
So far, we know that organic, raw, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar is the best. However, there is more to find the best option for your health.
Look Out for the Mother
The “mother” is the term given to the vinegar. You should be able to see it floating around the bottom of your apple cider vinegar when it can rest. It looks bad, but it is very good for you and is a necessary part to improve your health.
The mother is just the live enzymes and bacteria. When you are ready to use your apple cider vinegar, give it a shake and mix it all. You should find that it all separates normally.
When the vinegar is not made right, the mother will not be there. This could suggest either something happened in the fermentation process or that artificial ingredient was added in. If you must use pasteurized options due to pregnancy, you may not see the mother there.
Skip Anything in Plastic Bottles
The best apple cider vinegar will also depend on the way it is packaged and stored. Whether you make your own, get it from a health store, or buy a grocery store option, you will need to check the material on the packaging.
If the apple cider vinegar is stored in plastic, skip it completely. Plastic is full of toxins, and they do break down into your food. Considering the nature of apple cider vinegar, it should not be surprising that you will get a lot of unnecessary toxins by using the wrong storage materials.
Even if you find bottles that are BPA free (the most harmful, and banned in parts of the world, toxin), you need to watch out for other toxins. The companies cannot get rid of everything and do not want to. Many manufacturers refuse to believe that there is anything dangerous about their bottles.
The best type of bottles to buy is glass. Sure, they are more breakable, but they cannot hold onto toxins. They will not realize the toxins in your food afterward.
Consider the Following Apple Cider Vinegar Products
Now that you know what to look out for, it is time to consider the types of apple cider vinegar to buy. The last thing you want is to go to the stores and look at all the ingredients lists. You just do not have the time to do it!
Certain products have already proven to be good for you. Do look out for the packaging, however. Some of them do use plastic, especially for the bigger bottles.
BRAGG Apple Cider Vinegar
One of the best on the list is BRAGG. This company uses plastic bottles for the larger ones, but the smaller options are made in glass bottles. The focus of this company is completely organic and homegrown apples. That means you will only find apples used on the ingredients lists. There are no pesticides and no arsenic. Yes, some manufacturers use arsenic in their vinegar!
While using natural products, the mush is stored in wooden barrels for the fermentation process. This method has been used for centuries as it is the best. The wood helps with the natural process, creating the apple cider vinegar quicker and richer. You will get far more health benefits from it.
Vitacost Apple Cider Vinegar
If you want to keep the costs to a minimum, you may want to consider Vitacost. You will get a good amount for your money, although the smaller bottles will be better for you.
All the apples are organic and unpasteurized. You will physically be able to see the mother in each bottle on the shelf, without even having to pick the bottles up! Nothing is added to the ingredients, making this completely safe, artificial ingredient free, and vegan-friendly.
Fleischmann’s Apple Cider Vinegar
Fleischmann’s is one of the oldest apple cider vinegar around. The vinegar was created from the 1920s, from the yeast of the alcohol created. There is even specialty vinegar created to add more flavor. The majority are completely natural and unfiltered.
There are no artificial colors every used, even in the specialty options. The company believes in using all-natural ingredients and makes an apple cider vinegar suitable for all dietary requirements.
Dynamic Health Apple Cider Vinegar
When you want a halal friendly option, Dynamic Health is the option to turn to. This is also kosher, as well as completely organic and natural. Moreover, the vinegar is one of the most affordable options on the market and only comes in glass bottles.
You can usually get the apple cider vinegar in health stores, but some grocery stores are now starting to stock up on it. If you struggle with liquid vinegar, look out for the capsules from this brand.
What to Avoid when Shopping for the Best Apple Cider Vinegar
There are things you need to avoid to make sure you only get the best apple cider vinegar.
The biggest is to avoid the look of the labels. Just because the label looks fancy does not mean it is the best apple cider vinegar for your health. The labels are designed to draw your attention and make you want it. That is the whole ploy of marketing.
Try to avoid the grocery stores as much as possible. Sure, supermarkets have plenty of apple cider vinegar for sale, but they are not likely the best options. Unless you find one of the four brands mentioned above, you will want to check the ingredients labels in detail. Do not just fall for statements on the front. Make sure that all the ingredients are natural, organic, and raw.
Too many brightly labeled supermarket options are full of artificial and non-organic ingredients. You can find yourself adding more toxins and not getting the mother to help improve your health.
Avoid looking out for shiny, clear apple cider vinegar. The best options will look murky and dark; cloudily is exceptionally good. They appear to have fibrous material and bits floating around, but this is just the mother. This is a sign that you will get all the health benefits of apple cider vinegar. If they look clear, the vinegar has been treated and will add more toxins to your body.
When making your own, watch out during the fermentation and oxygenation process. It is tricky to make your own that has all the health benefits. The chances are that you will not get it right the first time. Do not panic too much. Allow yourself the practice until you start making the best apple cider vinegar in town.
If you are in doubt about your skills or you just do not have the patience or time, do not push yourself to make your own. There are options out there that will work for your needs.
It is Time to Get the Best Apple Cider Vinegar Possible
Apple cider vinegar has a range of health benefits. It can help to reduce your risk of developing diabetes and heart disease. People have used it for centuries to treat health problems, especially those linked to the common cold and inflammation. The apple cider can boost the immune system effectively and quickly.
You can use apple cider vinegar in its pure form to help fight off infection and settle digestive complaints. Some people prefer the taste with a little water to help dilute the vinegary burn. Either way, you will gain many health benefits from just a teaspoon or two a day. You just need to make sure you get the best apple cider vinegar.
It is not about making your own. This is an option, but you will need to have the time and space for the fermentation. Sometimes it is best to consider the different store brands for your needs. Find those that offer only the best ingredients and never put their apple cider vinegar through a filtration process. Always make sure the mother is included and look out for that cloudy appearance.
You owe it to yourself to get the best apple cider vinegar possible.
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