What Are The Risks Associated With Apple Cider Vinegar
As with anything, there are always potential risks or side effects. In the case of apple cider vinegar, the following risks are more common with overconsumption16:
- Indigestion
- Erosion of enamel
Indigestion
Although apple cider vinegar can help contribute to feelings of satiety, meaning that you dont feel the need to consume as much food, studies have also shown that some people struggle with indigestion and nausea when they consume it in larger quantities17.
Bone Damage
This is an uncommon side effect of apple cider vinegar but worth noting nonetheless. It has been shown that prolonged use of this product can considerably reduce potassium levels and lead to brittle bone disease, even in people who are typically thought of as being too young to develop such a condition18.
Delayed Stomach Emptying
Scientific studies have proven that, despite the aforementioned laxative properties of apple cider vinegar, consuming it regularly actually keeps the contents in the stomach for longer19. This can cause heartburn, nausea, and bloating, and make dealing with type 1 diabetes more challenging.
Erosion of Enamel
Acidic foods and drinks cause erosion of tooth enamel, which can have lasting effects20. For example, in some cases, consuming high quantities of apple cider vinegar to encourage weight loss has led to incredibly high levels of tooth damage21.
Benefits Of Consuming Apple Cider Vinegar During Pregnancy
Consuming apple cider vinegar is not always recommended during pregnancy. It is strictly advisable that pregnant women consult their doctor before adding any dose of apple cider vinegar into their diet to gain some health benefits, such as the ones given below. Please bear in mind that there are hardly any studies to prove the benefits of consuming apple cider vinegar during pregnancy. Therefore, we urge readers to seek guidance and inputs from their medical practitioners.
Apple cider vinegar may have been known to combat a lot of conditions, but due to the absence of adequate research and studies, we strictly recommend that you consult your medical practitioner before including it in your pregnancy diet.
Benefits Of Apple Cider Vinegar During Pregnancy:
The apple cider vinegar, when consumed in moderate amount, is recommended because of its immunity-boosting benefits. Here are listed a few of them:
1. Morning Sickness:
Women during pregnancy usually face morning sickness.ACV is pH neutral and helps the acids in the stomach to settle down, which reduces nausea. Therefore, ACV provides relief from morning sickness, mostly in the first trimester.
2. Prevents Urinary Tract Infections:
Cloudy urine in pregnant women is the first sign of urinary tract infections. Apple cider vinegar contains the enzymes and minerals which help in the prevention and treatment of these infections.
3. Regulates Heartburn:
Heartburn is very common in pregnant women because of the acid refluxes into the food pipe and also because of the growing fetus. Incorporating apple cider vinegar in the diet can help in reducing heartburn. ACV is considered as one of the quickest natural remedies for heartburn.
4. Maintains Blood Pressure:
Pregnant women often face issues with blood pressure. It sometimes becomes high and occasionally low. Drinking the right amount of ACV helps in maintaining blood pressure. The acetic acid present in the ACV lowers the blood pressure by reducing the activity of the rennin enzyme, the one responsible for high blood pressure.
5. Aids Digestion:
6. Combats yeast infections:
7. Streamlines blood circulation:
8. Detoxification:
9. Treats Diabetes:
10. Combats Acne:
11. Fights common cold:
See More: Sausage While Pregnant
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Apple Cider Vinegar Kills Bacteria
Did you know apple cider vinegar kills bacteria? In fact, apple cider vinegar was used for disinfecting wounds and treating fungus back in the day.
It was and still is a great way to treat and prevent infection because apple cider vinegar can kill bacteria easily. It also inhibits bacteria, like E-coli, from spoiling food so thats why its so often used as a food preservative. Its also natural and better than artificial preservatives. So awesome!
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What The Research Says
Apple cider vinegar might improve acid reflux in people not taking medications and with minimal risk. But although theres a lot of anecdotal evidence, theres very limited research.
In fact, no research supporting this claim has been published in a medical journal. A graduate thesis did find that raw or unfiltered apple cider vinegar may prevent heartburn, though.
More research is needed to determine whether apple cider vinegar is a consistent and reputable way to treat acid reflux.
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Lowers Blood Sugar Levels
Keeping your blood sugar levels in check is important and studies have shown that the acetic acid found in cider vinegar could be beneficial. Its believed the acetic acid blocks the enzymes that help digest starch. As a result of this, blood sugar levels dont fluctuate as much after eating starchy food, such as pasta or bread. In fact, drinking 4 teaspoons of vinegar before a high-carb meal may help prevent blood sugar spikes.
A 2017 review of studies published in Diabetes Research & Clinical Practice suggested just that having more vinegar with meals can decrease fluctuations in insulin and blood sugar after you eat.6
You Can Try Papaya As Well
This little helper has proven itself to be one of the best natural ways to get rid of heartburn while pregnant. The digestive enzymes in this fruit can soothe your insides. Eat it any form diced, dried, juice or tablets, and experience some relief as it will aid digestion and discourage heartburn. However, pay heed to this word of caution. You must be well aware that eating papaya during pregnancy in excess amounts is discouraged, and for good reason. While papaya in small amounts can provide you the relief you need, its safer to depend on fruits like bananas, watermelons, or muskmelons too.
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Wait Apple Cider Vinegar For Acid Reflux
This just doesnt compute. How can an item thats so acidic possibly help ones acid reflux symptoms? After all, acidic foods are usually on the no-no list for people with heartburn. So, how can drinking apple cider vinegar be one of the natural remedies for acid reflux?
Well, lets get this out of the way first. There isnt any medical research published to support the use of apple cider vinegar for acid reflux, so all we have are theories. And, as always, check with your doctor before trying any natural remedies for acid reflux.
What Causes Acid Reflux
There may be several reasons why youre experiencing acid reflux, and all of them have to do with the LES valve weakening or loosening.
All of the following can contribute to the loosening and weakening of the LES:
- Smoking
- Increased abdominal pressure from obesity or pregnancy
- A stomach hernia
Chronic acid reflux with GERD is more than acid reflux from time to time. Its a frequent, even daily, ordeal.
Some people experience acid reflux after eating or drinking:
- Spicy foods, which include minty foods
- Acidic fruits and fruit juices, such as citrus and tomatoes
- Coffee, chocolate, and other sources of caffeine
- Fast food and fried foods
- Carbonated beverages, such as soda and tonic water
- Alcoholic drinks
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Symptoms Of Acid Reflux
The main symptom of both acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease is heartburn, which is an uncomfortable burning feeling in your chest that can move up into your throat and down into your upper abdomen.
Other symptoms of acid reflux include:
- Regurgitation, or the feeling of fluid or food coming up into the chest
- Chest pain or burning, especially felt when lying down or bending over
- Unpleasant taste in the mouth
- Sore throat
- Pain or discomfort that appears after a large or spicy meal
Additional symptoms that are often a sign of chronic acid reflux, or GERD, are:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Pain that can move into your throat, but doesnt usually radiate to your shoulders, neck and arms
- Pregnancy
- Hiatal hernia
Though everyone can get acid reflux from time to time, GERD is a chronic condition that can lead to more serious problems if not treated.
Precautions To Take When Consuming Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is strongly acidic and must always be consumed in a diluted form. Here are some precautions you need to take when consuming apple cider vinegar:
Apple cider vinegar is believed to be a natural option to treat infertility, but results may vary on a case-to-case basis. Therefore, it is important for couples wanting to get pregnant to lead a healthy lifestyle and consult a specialist who can provide detailed guidance and treatment for fertility issues. Make sure you consume it after consulting your doctor, especially if you are on other medications.
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Apple Cider Vinegar Can Help Reduce Pregnancy Nausea
Another typical pregnancy symptom that may cause discomfort for many women is nausea or morning sickness, the acidity in the stomach causes it.
ACVs acetic acid has been shown to help with a variety of gastrointestinal issues, including stomach pains. As a result, it may assist some women who experience nausea during pregnancy.
However, there are no studies supporting this usage. Furthermore, taking too much apple cider vinegar might cause or exacerbate nausea.
Unpasteurized and pasteurized vinegar can also help with this symptom, since it is primarily due to the acidity of the vinegar rather than its bacteria.
Apple Cider Vinegar For Bloating And Digestive Issues
Adequate stomach acid production is crucial for the digestive process. Some people dont produce enough stomach acid for proper digestion. This may cause uncomfortable symptoms like bloating and gas. In the long term, low stomach acid can have serious consequences for your health.
If you have an autoimmune disease or anemia, there is a 5 to 50 percent chance that you have low stomach acid.
Apple cider vinegar has long been used as a home remedy for bloating and digestive symptoms. Recently, apple cider vinegar has become popular among health enthusiasts who claim that it can help to burn fat, lower blood sugar and reduce inflammation.
Can ACV really help with bloating and digestive symptoms? Are there other options that work better? Is ACV a cure-all for metabolic and inflammatory conditions?
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Condition Of Your Hair
If you have dry, brittle hair or an itchy scalp, replacing your usual shampoo with a bottle of unfiltered cider vinegar could give you more manageable tresses. Research found that using high alkaline shampoos leads to hair breakage and dryness.
The acetic acid in the mother is thought to help lower our hairs pH to combat that dry, frizzy feel. The pH level of our scalp and hair is acidic at around 5.5. Normal hair products are alkaline, which can contribute to our hair becoming brittle and dry. Water can have the same impact too because its pH neutral. But because apple cider vinegar is acidic, it can help restore hairs pH balance if you pour it on your hair after shampooing.
Acid Reflux Remedies During Pregnancy
Gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD is the medicinal name for the acid reflux, which is frequently referred to as heartburn.This condition happens when the contents that are in the stomach flow back into the esophagus due to malfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter.
Acid reflux disease may appear ineveryone, but it is quite common during pregnancy since the pregnant womenconstantly gain weight, which makes extra pressure to the abdomen, thus resulting inacid reflux. This condition in pregnancy is also induced by elevatedamounts of certain hormones, which have a great impact on the digestive system.
Home remedies for acid reflux duringpregnancy
Even though there are severalover-the-counter medicines that can be bought in the chemistry without a doctorsprescription, in pregnancy, the natural and home remedies for relieving thesymptoms of acid reflux are safer since they do not have any side effect likethe medicines. First of all, every pregnant womanshould consume plenty of water not only to prevent and cure acid reflux, but alsoto maintain the body well hydrated, which is necessary for the healthy growingof the baby. An expectant mother should drink at least two glasses of waterafter each meal.
Herbal remedies for acid refluxduring pregnancy
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Your Appetite May Seriously Decrease Or Increase Due To Consuming Too Much Apple Cider Vinegar
Drinking apple cider vinegar can affect your appetite, a published in the International Journal of Obesity revealed. As it can slow the process of breaking down foods, you may end up feeling fuller longer. This may result in you eating less and, subsequently, lead to weight loss. As previously noted, though, consuming it in excess may also cause nausea and further hinder any hunger pangs.
A 2018 in the Journal of Functional Foods found that people who consumed a low-calorie diet and drank apple cider vinegar lost more weight as well as had lower body mass indexes and lower cholesterol than those who exclusively dieted. Of course, you know what they say about best laid plans. They can backfire .
As it turns out, drinking too much apple cider vinegar can also have the opposite effect on your body and eating patterns. Registered dietitian Leslie Bonci told Womens Health that while you may feel full for a while after drinking it, that is typically because youve just consumed a gallon of water. Alas, when you pee that out, youre going to be hungrier, sooner, she explained.
Home Remedies For Heartburn: 10 Ways To Get Rid Of Acid Reflux
Despite what its name implies, heartburn has nothing to do with your heart.
Rather, its a burning sensation in your chest that occurs when stomach acid backs up into your esophagus, the 10-inch tube connecting your mouth to your stomach.
When it hits, heartburn can last for just a few minutes or as long as several hours. Either way, its uncomfortable so its no surprise if youre looking for a way to get rid of the sensation fast.
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Can Acv Help Reduce Pregnancy Nausea
Nausea or morning sickness is another common pregnancy symptom that can cause discomfort for many women.
Because pregnancy-related nausea has many causes, pinpointing if ACV can help in your specific case is difficult.
For women who have nausea related to excess stomach acid, there is some evidence to suggest ACV may be helpful to decrease acid production .
If your nausea is caused by a smell, food, or a stomach bug, then ACV might not be your best bet.
Since only pasteurized ACV is safe for pregnant mothers, you wont be getting any of the gut-friendly bacteria.
Instead, reach for pasteurized probiotic sources such as yogurt. We have a complete guide yo yogurt during pregnancy here, including some recommended brands for you to try.
ACV tonics are another way some women report relief from morning sickness.
Many of these tonics also contain ginger which is known to soothe nausea, and there is no research to pinpoint the ACV as the helpful ingredient.
Additionally, ACV is very acidic, and drinking too much at once or without diluting can actually lead to more nausea.
For more help on what to eat to fight nausea during pregnancy, we have a separate guide here to help.
Ways You Can Relieve Heartburn
- Eat smaller meals your digestion has slowed down so eating smaller meals more frequently may help along with drinking fluids between meals rather than during them.
- Wait at least 3 hours before lying down Giving your body time to digest food before laying down may cut down on your heartburn.
- Avoid acidic foods some food causes heartburn such as tomatoes, chocolate, citrus fruits, spicy food, and even carbonated drinks and caffeine.
- Drink Milk by drinking milk or having some dairy it will help neutralize the acidity in your stomach, I used to drink a gallon of milk a day when I was pregnant to help calm the heartburn.
- Wear comfortable loose clothing if your clothes are to tight it will put pressure on your stomach and make your heartburn worse, especially a tight bra .
- Tea drinking chamomile tea with some honey may help calm your heartburn. My favorite is thisPink Storkheartburn lemon mint tea.
- Sleep on the left side when trying to sleep at night, lay on your left side this helps so that your stomach is lower than your esophagus. For more information on pregnancy sleep, you may want to read this article on how to sleep while pregnant.
- Eat slower allow your body to digest the food by not scarfing it down but rather chewing every bite slowly so your stomach isnt overloaded with food all at once.
- Elevate Body have a pillow or something behind you to elevate your body at night.
- Avoid Fatty Foods these are known to flair up stomach acid and cause heartburn.
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Acv Is A Natural Deodorizer
Too tired or sick to clean yourself? Or, if youre in a haste to go to the doctor, rubbing yourself with ACV can help bad odor banish away. Thats because, as we said earlier, Apple cider vinegar can kill yeast and bacteria. Making you smell fresh likevinegar. Though you can mask that one out with perfume, right?