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Five Great Ways to Use Apple Cider Vinegar

     You might use Apple Cider Vinegar as an ingredient in salad dressings, marinades or vinaigrettes, but what most people aren't aware of is that ACV can also be used as a secret weapon against health-related issues. This inexpensive and natural remedy has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties that help treat diabetes, boost weight loss, cure hiccups, detoxify your body, clear acne, and much more. Who would've thought that a certain type of vinegar had so many proven benefits?

1. Treat Health Problems

     Apple Cider Vinegar is used for a variety of reasons, one being to help treat several health problems like heart disease, diabetes, sore throats and ear infections. For instance, in 2004, the American Diabetes Foundation published a study where 29 individuals were placed into one of three categories: healthy, those with pre-diabetic signs and those diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Each participant took a dosage of ACV before meals to find that they all had better blood glucose readings afterward. Individuals with pre-diabetic symptoms benefited the most, cutting their blood glucose concentrations by nearly half, while those with Type 2 diabetes improved their blood glucose levels by 25 percent. I’d say the study’s results were significant!

2. Boost Weight Loss

     I have learned that Apple Cider Vinegar can boost weight loss by increasing your metabolism, lowering your blood sugar and suppressing your appetite. A recent study, published in the Journal of Functional Foods, states that sipping a tablespoon of ACV with 8 ounces of water before a meal may help lower your blood sugar and increase insulin sensitivity. In addition, AVC has strong properties that help fight candida, a form of yeast that causes most fungal infections. People who suffer from candida overgrowth usually experience cravings for sugar and carbohydrates, which often lead to weight gain.

3. Cure Hiccups

     There are many natural remedies for hiccups, such as consuming a spoonful of peanut butter, a teaspoon of honey, a dab of hot sauce, or breathing slowly and deeply into a small paper bag. One proven cure is no other than our admired ACV. All you need to do is sip a glass of warm water mixed with one teaspoon of the vinegar.

4. Detox Your Body

     When your body is going through toxic overload, you feel your systems begin to weaken and ache, also considered fatigue, constipation, muscle pain and skin abnormalities, among other discomfort. Fortunately, there is a way to release your insides of waste and chemicals with a safe ACV cleanse. You will need raw vinegar that contains “mother,” the leftover sediment from fermentation process. This remedy aids in digestion and cleaning of the intestines, allowing you to significantly reduce your level of toxins. To add flavor to this not-so-tasty cure, check out Dr. Axe’s detox recipe.

5. Clear Acne

     Acne may appear on your skin no matter what age you are. For me, I seem to get more blemishes at 26 years old than I did during my high school years. People who use ACV to treat acne say their skin is soft, pores are small and scars have faded. How? The malic and lactic acids found in AVC help soften and exfoliate skin, and restore and balance its pH level. Try this AVC “cocktail” recipe that is known to clear up complexions in just a few days.

However you use ACV, make sure to take in small dosages because consuming too much acetic acid may hurt your throat; it is recommended to mix one tablespoon in a glass of water or juice. Share your Apple Cider Vinegar natural remedies, recipes and wellness uses in the comments below!

Alicia Lepore is a proud part of the SBT team as a digital content manager. Her current interests include learning her mother's Italian recipes, reading romance novels and trying to keep up with the latest fashion trends. Alicia dreams of one day traveling the world and experiencing different cultures.

The Power of Touch for Stress Relief

     When’s the last time you treated yourself to a massage? Maybe you were cruising the shopping mall and spotted one of the infamous chair massages for $5? Or maybe your sweetie treated you to a hot stone massage with complimentary mimosas for your birthday? Or maybe, you’ve just been thinking about how badly you would like to try massage therapy for yourself but just haven’t yet?     Whether you have anxiety about massage or are just confused on what kind of massage to look for that suits your needs best, there is help for you to figure it out so you can book an appointment soon and start enjoying the relaxing and healthy benefits of a massage therapy. soon. Getting a massage with a professional massage therapist is an excellent outlet for your body whether it’s to unwind or to aid in soothing recovering sore muscles.

Starting your Massage Therapy

     A well trained massage therapist who acknowledges your body’s wellness and weak points is an essential element to the success of finding a well suited massage therapy practice for you. There are many types of massage, some types offered and easily accessible are: hot stone massage, swedish massage, deep tissue massage, shiatsu massage and ashiatsu barefoot massage. Massage therapy is an great way to approach alternative healing for conditions that can debilitate you from your every day. Conditions like arthritis, insomnia, anxiety and lower back pain are all common conditions that can benefit greatly from massage therapy because of massage’s ability to melt away stress and induce relaxation in the body and mind. Distancing yourself from harsh medicines that disrupt your body’s natural chemistry and embracing the power of touch through massage therapy could be a new avenue for you to try for your condition.

     The disruptions to everyday life that serious conditions like arthritis or very common conditions like lower back pain can slow down the pace your brain wants to really go for. An important factor to remember when researching the right massage therapist for your needs is to ask around, read reader reviews and possibly try different massage therapists or different massage disciplines to find the best fit for you.

Massage with Colorful Additions

     Adding massage oil to your favorite massage therapy can add aromatherapeutic elements to your overall experience. Aromatherapy is an excellent source of creating an enlightening experience for the senses and the oils have an added benefit of adding moisture to the skin. Taking care of your skin, the body’s largest organ that accounts for 10% of your body, can easily be done through massage and use of massage oil blends. Finding a great oil blend for your aromatherapeutic experience is fun and adventurous. Oil blends can be catered and created according to a person’s mood, likes and dislikes. Oils like sunflower oil, sweet almond and apricot oil are all naturally pumped full of vitamin E for moisturization and all carry very subtle scents for those not keen on highly scented oils. Scented oils with herbal blends of lavender, sage, eucalyptus and ylang ylang are all recommended for those looking for a calming and relaxing massage experience. Those in search of a more energizing experience like say, before a big work presentation or in prep for a triathlon, might try massage oil blends with herbal elements of ginger, grapefruit, orange, peppermint and rosemary.

The Cost Efficient Way to Strengthening Immunity

     You may have tried a little bit of this and that to ward off the winter blues or the aches that come along with colds and flu. Focusing on having a regular massage weekly or even monthly may be the added benefits your body needs to ward off viruses and illness. The natural added boost from massage can help in killing off or decreasing cortisol, which has been proven to be linked to the production of the cells associate with illness. Even as little as a 30 to 45 minute massage can up the body’s production of lymphocytes, which help ward off illnesses. Along with a healthy diet of low sugar and processed foods, massage therapy could be your body’s answer to warding off a winter cold, achy muscles or even the flu.

Where’s the Line? Your Massage Therapist is Not a Psychiatrist

   Once you start to develop a certain level of comfort with your massage therapist you may feel the need to talk a little more to them while in session. In the professional massage world, talking about your personal life in detail to your massage therapist or vice versa is more than often discouraged. Your massage session whether it be 30 minutes or 2 hours, shouldn't be a gateway excuse to treat your massage therapist like he or she is also a psychiatrist.

     You may find in your own massage therapy path that you either like to be spoken regularly throughout your session by your therapist or you don’t. Being polite and clear about how you feel about talking during your session in important and necessary. If you don’t feel comfortable talking directly to your therapist because you feel you might hurt their feelings, then ask to speak separately to the spa or wellness center’s manager. Massage therapy is an excellent stress relief therapy but knowing the personal boundaries for your own safety and comfort and your therapist’s is essential. Don’t be afraid to shop around for the massage therapy or therapist for you. There are many talented therapists that have the right service for you and your wellness path endeavors.