The Wonders of Apple Cider Vinegar

Did you know that vinegar has been made and used by people for thousands of years? There have been traces of vinegar found in Egyptian Urns from around 3200 BC and recently still sealed clay urns of Vinegar were found in the south china sea area that may well be 5000 years old. If so, vinegar has been around for a remarkable long time.

And did you know that the benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar can be traced back to Biblical times and before? The Greek Hippocrates is known to have treated his patients with Apple Cider Vinegar (Or ACV). The Greeks and the Romans kept apple cider vinegar around for its healing and flavoring uses and Japanese Samurai Warriors were known to drink it for strength and power.

Apple cider vinegar, otherwise known as cider vinegar or ACV, is a type of vinegar made from cider or apple must and has a pale to medium amber color.  During the fermentation process, sugar in the apple cider is broken down by bacteria and yeast into alcohol and then into vinegar. Like many types of vinegar, apple cider vinegar contains a substance called acetic acid. Apple cider vinegar also contains some lactic, citric and malic acids.

In todays world more and more people are discovering the benefits of apple cider vinegar. Enthusiasts claim that apple cider vinegar can help with the following health conditions:

• acne
• allergies
• arthritis
• chronic fatigue syndrome
• diabetes
• flu
• gout
• heartburn
• high cholesterol
• sore throat
• lower blood sugar
• Blood pressure
• weight loss

Other Uses Of Apple Cider Vinegar

To Cure Athlete's Feet

Soak a cotton ball in Apple Cider Vinegar and apply it to your feet. Usually 2-3 applications will cure it up.

To Cure Acne

Mix 2 teaspoons of Apple Cider Vinegar in a 8 oz. glass of water three times a day.

Asthma

Same as the cure for Acne.

Colds or Coughs

Mix 2 teaspoons of Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey to taste to a 8 oz. Glass of Water 3 times a day. When you have a cold your body becomes unbalanced. The Apple Cider Vinegar helps to rebalance the acid level in your body.

Fatigue and Loss of Energy

Try the same recipe as for Colds and Coughs above. You will find after a few days that you will have more energy.

Sore Throat

Try using a gargle made of 2 teaspoons of Apple Cider Vinegar in a 8 oz. glass of water. You will find that it produces amazing results.

To Lower Blood Sugar

Take 2 teapsoons of Apple Cider Vinegar before each meal and you will find your blood sugar average readings may drop by as much as 1/3. Remember to carefully monitor your blood sugar readings. 

Losing Weight 

Mix 2 teaspoons of Apple Cider Vinegar and 1 tablespoon of honey in a 8 oz. glass of water. Drink one before each meal and you will find your appetite will not be as great.

Remember this information is given for information purposes only. Before you use Apple Cider Vinegar as a natural health remedy you should check with your medical professional and tell him or her what you are planning to do.

Side Effects and Safety Concerns

Undiluted apple cider vinegar, in liquid or pill form, may damage the esophagus and other parts of the digestive tract. Apple cider vinegar drinks may damage tooth enamel if sipped.

One case report linked excessive apple cider vinegar consumption with low blood potassium levels (hypokalemia) and low bone mineral density. People with osteoporosis, low potassium levels, and those taking potassium-lowering medications should use caution.

People with allergies to apples should avoid apple cider vinegar.

Vinegar applied to the skin may cause burns and scarring.

Excessive doses of apple cider vinegar have been found to cause damage to the stomach, duodenum, and liver in animals.

Possible Drug Interactions

Theoretically, prolonged use of apple cider vinegar could lead to lower potassium levels, which could increase the risk of toxicity of cardiac glycoside drugs such as Lanoxin (digoxin), insulin, laxatives, and diuretics such as Lasix (furosemide).

Because apple cider vinegar may affect blood glucose and insulin levels, it could theoretically have an additive effect if combined with diabetes medications. Apple cider vinegar may also lower blood pressure, so it may have an additive effect if combined with high blood pressure medications.

 “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” 

 ~Hippocrates

Weekend Eats: Garlic Buttered (Fried) Chicken

It's been a while since I posted something on my blog, I've been busy these past few weeks being a MOM. Just as I thought I could relax and breathe because it's summer vacation..... I was wrong! I was a lot busier now that my kids are at home 24/7, but I love what I do, I love being a full time mom.


This time I would like to share with you my own version of Garlic Buttered Fried Chicken. My son loves this dish, who wouldn't love that crunchy, sweet and buttery chicken? I was going to try Jive Bar's recipe of Buttered Chicken, but I decided to make my own.

GARLIC BUTTERED FRIED CHICKEN

Ingredients:

1 kilo chicken, chopped 

3 cloves garlic, minced

salt and pepper

6 tbsp. cornstarch

1 egg, beaten

oil for frying

Procedure:

• Put the chicken in a large bowl, add the salt, pepper and garlic. 
• Then, add the cornstarch and egg. mix well until the chicken pieces are all coated.
• Fry the chicken pieces until cooked. set aside.

garlic butter sauce:

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 stick butter or star margarine

1 tbsp sugar (you can add more if you want it sweeter)

juice of 1 pc. calamansi

Procedure:

• In a saucepan, melt the butter in a very low fire.
• Then add garlic, saute for a few minutes but make sure not to brown it. 
• add the sugar and calamansi juice, mix well until the sugar is fully dissolved. turn off stove.
• Put the chicken pieces one by one in the saucepan, coat it with the garlic butter sauce. arrange on a plate and enjoy!

I did not coat the chicken with the usual flour and egg, the reason is that I still want to taste the chicken. The problem with the flour and egg coating is that you taste more of the coating (because it is too thick) and not the chicken itself. 

Everytime I make this, my kids would start eating it even before I'm done coating all of the chicken pieces. They love it with or without rice and they would always say SARAP! Which always makes me feel ecstatic because my children are hard to please just like their dad. I also shared this recipe with my good friend Gina Bautista and she told me that her family loved it too! I am happy whenever I hear good feedbacks from my family and friends.

You too can try the recipe this weekend, turn that boring fried chicken into something new and interesting!

"This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook -- try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!"

- Julia Child

An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

An apple a day keeps the doctor away is a very true statement. A lot of people have no idea what an apple can do for them. Recent research says that eating apples can prevent prostrate cancer, lung cancer, and colon cancer. Compared to other fruits apples contain a relatively small amount of Vitamin C but are rich in antioxidants.

The fiber content in apples helps to prevent stomach problems and colon cancer. It is also believed that apples are great for weight loss, heart disease and controlling cholesterol so I guess the age old saying is true.

You really should wash your apples well with cold running water and eat the peelings of the apples also because they are really good for you. Recent studies say that the fiber in apples and apple peelings really can help to prevent various forms of stomach cancer including colon cancer.

People who eat apples greatly reduce their risk of heart disease and diabetes. And the more apples a day that you can eat the better off the health of your heart will be. And the more stable that your blood sugar levels will be.

Believe it or not but apples also help to increase your endurance levels and if you eat a diet heavy in apples and apple sauce you will find that you will be able to breathe much better and your lungs will be much healthier.

For children who have asthma drinking apple juice on a daily basis can really help the children to have far fewer problems with their asthma. Another interesting study says that mothers who eat apples on a regular basis will have far fewer children who have asthma problems.

There are substances in apples that strengthen the bones in humans. If women eat apples on a regular basis they will have far fewer problems with osteoporosis and eating apples on a daily basis may even strengthen bone density. 

There is a substance in apples called quercetin that may help to prevent Alzheimer's from developing. If so then this in its self is a miracle.

All women should know that by eating an apple a day they can reduce their chance of getting breast cancer. And some researchers say that you should eat three apples a day to prevent cancer of any type. Researchers say that apples are really great at preventing colon cancer.

One of the best recent health claims for apples is that by eating apples and apple sauce you can prevent dementia and people with early onset dementia can slow down the onset of dementia.

Galacturonic acid in apples lowers the bodies need for insulin and helps to maintain a well balanced blood sugar level.If you eat apple sauce with cinnamon sprinkled on it will also help to lower blood sugar levels and help to maintain a well balanced blood sugar level.

People who eat at least three apples a day are far more likely to be successful with weight loss than people who don't eat apples. Apples fill you up and prevent you from feeling hungry.

I bet you didn't know that apples could do all that did you? Well, I didn't too. LOL. I hope you learned something from this post, if you have tips or suggestions, feel free to post them. 

"Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree."

 -- Martin Luther