If you’ve ever wondered why people are so fascinated with apple cider vinegar, I’ll give you a clue; actually, I’ll give you more than one – I’ll give you eight.

You might already know this, but it’s worth repeating.

Apple cider vinegar has been used for thousands of years for helping improve health, ever since ancient civilizations discovered that acidic leftovers of fermented apple juice had therapeutic properties. It’s these properties that have since been brought into holistic/alternative treatments for all kinds of health conditions.

Made in a similar process as kefir, kombucha, and wine, apple cider vinegar (or ACV for short) is fermented with yeast and the sugar from apples to create an acidic profile that interacts positively with our bodies.

If you’ve ever gone to buy raw, unpasteurized ACV then you might have seen active cultures of natural yeast inside. The yeast helps to make ACV actually contain living cultures inside it; that’s why ACV can sometimes appear to have “floaties” when you shake it. Surprisingly, it’s these living floaties which give ACV an overwhelming array of awesome health benefits.

Let me show you what they are.

You Won’t Stop Using Apple Cider Vinegar When You See What It Does

#1 – It can kill fungus:

One of the main reasons apple cider vinegar is good for your health is because it’s an anti-fungal; and you might not know this, but something about acid and fungus don’t mix. That’s why if you’ve got toenail fungus or another topical fungal infection, you might be able to use ACV to get rid of it. Just rub it on the affected area 2-3 times a day and see if it begins to go away.

#2 – It can help fight off yeast infections:

Interestingly enough, yeast-rich ACV also has a dependable track record of killing yeast infections – especially candida.  The reason it’s so effective at battling these common infections is because of the acidic nature of ACV.  It has the ability to inhibit the growth of yeast and can help you get rid of the infection entirely. ACV is also rich in probiotics (healthy bacteria for the gut), which can alter your gut’s bacterial makeup in a good way.  A gut that works the way it was designed to is quite helpful for clearing out a yeast infection.

If you have a low-level candida or yeast infection, you can take 1 tbsp of ACV daily for several weeks while also removing all sugar from your diet to gain the upper-hand. That very well could help get rid of the yeast that’s been giving you so many problems.

#3 – It can safely whiten teeth:

While the acidity of ACV might kill off things like fungus and yeast, it’s also helpful at removing surface level stains from teeth. Pretty simple, really – just dip your finger in some ACV and rub it on your teeth for about a minute. This can help lift stains and won’t damage your sensitive enamel in the process.

#4 – It can help with heartburn:

I want to make sure you understand that this isn’t uniformly true.

Some of you might suffer heartburn for reasons ACV won’t address. But, for many of you, your stomach might have an unbalanced pH level; this would ultimately lead to stomach acid traveling up the esophagus and producing heartburn.

ACV can help establish the correct pH while also helping to instill good gut-health by giving you valuable probiotics and enzymes.

The “cure” is really simple – just make sure to stick to this suggestion with every meal to ensure success. Before every meal, mix 1 tbsp of ACV with a glass of water and then drink. Once you’ve had your ACV water mixture, wait about 5 to 10 minutes; then you can eat. Ideally, this will keep your stomach from spewing harmful stomach acid up your throat and will help restore your stomach’s ideal pH levels.

#5 – It can relieve pain from sunburn:

I’m going to try this the next time I accidentally forget my sunscreen and get toasted! This is so simple, and one of the reasons I love alternative treatments.  Place a cup of ACV in a warm bath along with 1/4 cup of coconut oil and lavender essential oil and soak. The combination of the oil and the acid from the ACV will help provide you some relief. Of course, once you’re out of the bath, some organic Aloe Vera lathered on top will help “lock in” the pain relief.

#6 – It might be able to improve cardiovascular health:

There have been several animal and human studies revolving around ACV, and some of them seem to indicate that apple cider vinegar might help improve cardiovascular health.

Authority Nutrition writes about this:

It is known that several measurable biological factors are linked to either a decreased or increased risk of poor heart health.

Several of these “risk factors” have been shown to be improved by vinegar consumption… but all of the studies were done on rats.

These rat studies showed that apple cider vinegar can help lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Apple cider vinegar may also contain the antioxidant chlorogenic acid, which has been shown to protect LDL cholesterol particles from becoming oxidized, a crucial step in the heart disease process .

There are also some studies showing that vinegar reduces blood pressure (a major risk factor) in rats.

The only human study in regards to ACV and heart health was a Harvard study which showed women who ate salads with ACV saw a decreased risk of having poor heart health. However, the study only found a correlation between ACV consumption and cardiovascular risk; it didn’t offer definitive proof.

#7 – It can be used as a natural deodorant:

Many of you are aware there happen to be numerous correlations between conventional deodorant use and health problems. This is because many researchers and physicians suspect the main ingredient in these deodorants, a type of aluminum, can absorb into the skin and disrupt vital functions in the body.

ACV to the rescue! Since bacteria and yeast are primary causes of body odor, using an ACV-based deodorant might be able to help reduce the odor. Some people actually mix the ACV with essential oils to help kill the bacteria and help it smell better; others just take ACV and rub it in the area they want cleansed, and voila!

#8 – It might be able to help you lose weight:

That’s correct – ACV in the diet might be able to help with weight loss. The way it works (according to researchers who have studied ACV) is vinegar can promote a sense of fullness when ingested with or without a meal.

This feeling of satiety can then translate into a reduced rate of caloric intake (you eat less), helping you keep off the pounds. According to one of the studies, ACV helped people consume an average of 200-275 fewer calories than they normally would.

One study in particular followed obese subjects for 12 weeks and had them consume varying amounts of ACV with their meals. After tracking them for some time, they noticed those who consumed 1 tbsp lost 2.6 pounds by reducing caloric intake; those who consumed 2 tbsp lost even more weight – 3.7 pounds total. The researchers discovered that daily ACV intake “led to reduced belly fat, waist circumference, lower blood triglycerides and weight loss.”

Of course ACV isn’t a magic weight loss aid, but its inclusion in your diet might facilitate healthy weight loss and promote healthier eating habits.