By Amber Yang and JoJo Novaes
Apple cider vinegar is widely used in beverages, salad dressings, pickled foods, and can even be used to clean houses. Not only does it aid digestion, help weight loss, activate blood circulation, control blood sugar, and is antibacterial—apple cider vinegar is also a precious winter health elixir. Herbal medicine educator, Erica Kuo, provides one effective way to take apple cider vinegar to help people enjoy a healthy warm winter.
Apple cider vinegar is made from fermented rock sugar and apples and is a traditional natural health supplement. Ms. Kuo said that apple cider vinegar can help diabetic patients reduce triglycerides and hyperlipidemia. Apple cider vinegar containing yeast (also known as the “mother”) can also help suppress appetite and achieve one’s weight loss and weight control goals.
Spicy Apple Cider Vinegar
There are many healthy recipes using apple cider vinegar. During the winter months adding warming spices and herbs can provide a wonderful tonic to boost the immune system. Ms. Kuo shares her personal recipe for spicy apple cider vinegar.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup Armoracia rusticana (horseradish)
- 1/4 cup ginger slices
- 1/4 cup garlic
- 1/2 cup onion
- 1/4 cup ginseng
- 2 to 3 chili peppers
- 1000~1500 ml (2.1~3.2 pint) apple cider vinegar
- 1/3~1/4 cup honey (to taste)
Preparation:
1. Chop all the ingredients and place in an 1800 ml (3.8 pint) sterilized glass bottle, add apple cider vinegar to cover all spices by about 2 inches.
2. Cover with baking paper and cap the bottle.
3. Shake the bottle every day for two weeks so that all ingredients are fully submerged and mix well with the apple cider vinegar.
4. Place in the warmest cabinet in the kitchen and let it sit for one month.
5. After one month, pour and filter the residue and pour the spicy apple cider vinegar into a clean container.
6. Add honey to sweetness desired, stir well with a spoon.
7. Spicy apple cider vinegar can now be stored in a cool kitchen cabinet until next spring.
Application:
1. For mild cold symptoms, mix 5 ml of spicy apple cider vinegar with 250 ml (8.5 fl. ounces) of warm water and drink. Take three to four times a day.
2. Add to salads for seasoning.
3. Apply spicy apple cider vinegar on sore muscles and joints to relieve discomfort.
4. Apple cider vinegar with a little honey offers more flavor and sweetness.
5. Apple cider vinegar added to oranges, apples, blueberries, and sesame leaves makes a healthy and nutritious dish.
Ingredients and Efficacy
Armoracia rusticana (horseradish): Promotes gastric acid secretion and appetite. When a cold or fever sets in, it can help induce sweating and improve respiratory and urinary infections.
Chili pepper: Helps cardio functionalities, especially irregular or weak heartbeat, poor blood circulation, and cold limbs. Chili peppers invigorate the body and can also promote gastrointestinal digestion and increase gastric secretion.
Ginger: Warms the stomach and intestines, promotes blood circulation, improves cold hands and feet in winter, enhances immunity, and the body’s anti-inflammatory function. It can also help induce sweating, reduce fever, and relieve nausea caused by food smells. Ginger can promote healthy bowel function.
Onions, and garlic: Contain a high quantity of flavonoids and polyphenols, of which allicin is the most important component. It has anti-virus, antioxidant, immune-promoting, and anti-inflammatory effects.
Ginseng: You can use either American ginseng or Korean ginseng. All ginseng can activate blood circulation and enhance the body’s resilience during stressful situations.
In addition to the above ingredients, some herbalists may recommend adding Salvia rosmarinus (commonly known as rosemary), thyme, or turmeric.
Rosemary: Can stimulate blood circulation and help the brain function. Because it promotes intracranial blood circulation, recent studies have suggested that, like sage, it can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and memory loss, sense of smell degradation, vision loss, etc. Rosemary also helps digestion, relieves flatulence, dizziness, headaches, and fever. Rosemary is often added to chicken and pork dishes for seasoning and has health-nourishment effects.
Thyme: Can boost the immune system and has bactericidal and antimicrobial effects.
Turmeric: Turmeric is a natural “cleansing” ingredient that can purify the blood, aid metabolism, and help clean up the liver. It can also help relieve fever, cramps, and menstrual pain.
Ms. Kuo advises that people with low blood pressure should reduce consumption of garlic and onions. People with high blood pressure can add cinnamon to spicy apple cider vinegar for a bit more flavor and sweetness. Garlic can prevent blood coagulation, so people who are on anticoagulants should not add garlic. If it is difficult to find Armoracia rusticana, you can replace it with turmeric.
What to Look for When Purchasing Apple Cider Vinegar
Ms. Kuo said that the following three types of people are not suitable for taking apple cider vinegar:
1. People with frequent gastroesophageal reflux: Although herbs are added to spicy apple cider vinegar, people with weak gastrointestinal tracts should not consume it on an empty stomach and should drink it during or after meals only.
2. People with high blood pressure, diabetes, or on diuretics should start with a small amount to gradually adapt to taking apple cider vinegar.
3. People with sensitive teeth: Rinse your mouth immediately after drinking apple cider vinegar.
When purchasing apple cider vinegar, Ms. Kuo suggests it’s best to choose organic and unfiltered apple cider from small farms. Unfiltered apple cider vinegar retains the mobility and nutrients of the acetic acid bacteria and with the acetic acid retained therein, it can help fight inflammation and stabilize the body’s blood sugar level.
