By Helen West
Apple cider vinegar is a kitchen staple that has several impressive health benefits.
Interestingly, it also has a ton of different beauty, household and cooking uses.
Apple cider vinegar uses include cleaning, washing hair, preserving food and improving skin function.
It can also be used in all sorts of recipes, including salad dressings, soups, sauces, hot drinks and more.
Here are 30 ways to use apple cider vinegar.
1. To Lower Blood Sugar
Apple cider vinegar is claimed to help diabetics control their blood sugar levels.
Some studies have shown that consuming vinegar after a high-carb meal can improve insulin sensitivity by as much as 34 p and reduce blood sugar levels significantly (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9).
However, if you're on medication for diabetes, you should check with your doctor before taking apple cider vinegar.
2. To Help You Feel Full
Apple cider vinegar is sometimes recommended as a weight loss aid.
This is because it may help you feel full.
Some short-term studies have shown that consuming apple cider vinegar may help you eat fewer calories, lose weight and reduce belly fat (10, 11).
However, its long-term effects on weight loss are unknown and likely to be small unless other dietary and lifestyle changes are also made (2).
3. To Preserve Food
Just like other types of vinegar, apple cider vinegar is an effective preservative.
In fact, people have used vinegar as a pickling agent to preserve foods for thousands of years.
It works by making the food more acidic, which deactivates its enzymes and kills any bacteria in the food that may cause spoilage.
4. As a Deodorizer
Apple cider vinegar is known to have antibacterial properties.
Because of this, it's often claimed that apple cider vinegar can eliminate bad smells.
There isn't any research to back up these claims, but you can try it out by mixing apple cider vinegar with water to make a deodorizing spray.
This makes a natural alternative to odor neutralizers.
You can also mix it with water and Epsom salts to make a foot soak, like this. This may help get rid of unwanted foot odor by killing off odor-causing bacteria.
5. To Make a Salad Vinaigrette
One easy way to use apple cider vinegar is to make a simple salad dressing.
Homemade salad dressings can be much healthier for you than store-bought ones and they're often tastier too.
6. To Lower the Risk of Cancer
It's often claimed that apple cider vinegar can help lower your risk of cancer.
In test-tube studies, vinegar has been shown to kill cancer cells (12, 13, 14, 15).
Some observational studies, which can't prove causation, have also linked consuming apple cider vinegar with a decreased risk of esophageal cancer. However, other studies have linked it with an increased risk of bladder cancer (16, 17).
Overall, there is insufficient evidence to make any claims regarding the effects of apple cider vinegar on the risk of cancer.
7. To Make an All-Purpose Cleaner
Apple cider vinegar is often a popular choice for a natural alternative to commercial cleaning agents. This is because of its antibacterial properties.
Mix 1 cup of water with half a cup of apple cider vinegar and you'll have a natural all-purpose cleaner.
However, it's worth noting that although vinegars such as apple cider vinegar can kill some bacteria, they aren't as effective at killing harmful bacteria as commercial cleaning agents (18).
8. To Soothe a Sore Throat
Apple cider vinegar is a popular home remedy for sore throats.
It's thought that its antibacterial properties could help kill off the bacteria that could be causing the problem. However, there is no evidence to support its use in this way.
If you try this at home, make sure you mix the vinegar with water before gargling.
This is because apple cider vinegar is very acidic and has been known to cause throat burns when consumed undiluted (19, 20).
9. As a Facial Toner
Anecdotally, apple cider vinegar is claimed to help remedy skin conditions and reduce the signs of aging.
As such, many people like to use apple cider vinegar to make a skin tonic.
The general recipe is 1 part apple cider vinegar to 2 parts water. This is then applied to the skin using a cotton pad. However, if you have sensitive skin, you may want to make a more diluted solution.
10. To Trap Fruit Flies
Fruit flies can be a pest.
Interestingly, it's really easy to use apple cider vinegar to make a cheap fruit fly trap.
Simply pour some apple cider vinegar into a cup, add a few drops of dish soap (so that any trapped flies sink) and you're good to go.
11. To Boil Better Eggs
Adding vinegar to the water you use to boil or poach eggs can help you produce consistently good eggs.
This is because the protein in egg whites firm up more quickly when exposed to a more acidic liquid (21, 22).
When you're poaching eggs, you want the egg whites to firm up as quickly as possible so that the eggs keeps their shape.
Using vinegar when boiling eggs can also speed up the coagulation or clotting, of the egg whites. This can be useful if the shell cracks while the egg is being boiled.
12. As a Marinade
Another way to use apple cider vinegar when cooking is to make a marinade.
In fact, apple cider vinegar is a popular ingredient in many steak marinades, as it gives the meat a nice sweet and sour flavor.
Combine it with wine, garlic, soy sauce, onion and cayenne pepper, like in this recipe, to give your steak a delicious flavor.
13. To Wash Fruits and Vegetables
Pesticide residue on fruits and vegetables can be a concern for many people.
That's why some people like to wash their fruits and vegetables in apple cider vinegar. The hope is that it'll remove more of the chemical residues than water alone.
Although it's not entirely clear if it will remove more pesticides than simply washing with water, it may help kill any dangerous bacteria on food.
For example, washing foods in vinegar has been shown to remove dangerous bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella (23, 24, 25).
14. To Clean Dentures
You can also use apple cider vinegar to clean dentures.
Although there's no consensus on the best method to clean dentures, it's thought that the residues left by apple cider vinegar could be less harmful to the skin in your mouth than other cleaning agents (26, 27).
15. In the Bath
For the same reasons people like using apple cider vinegar as a homemade facial toner, they also like using it in the bath.
If you want to try it, add 1–2 cups of apple cider vinegar to your bath water and enjoy a soak in your tub.
16. As a Hair Rinse
An apple cider vinegar hair rinse is said to remove product buildup, detangle and add shine to your hair.
Try mixing 1 part apple cider vinegar with 1 part water and pour the mixture over your hair. Leave it in for a few minutes before washing it out.
If you have sensitive skin, then you should try doing this with a weaker dilution first, as the vinegar is quite acidic.
17. As a Dandruff Treatment
Massaging diluted apple cider vinegar into your scalp may help get rid of dandruff.
It's unclear how effective this is, but the theory is that the acid in the vinegar could help stop the growth of the fungus Malassezia, which may contribute to dandruff.
18. In a Sauce
Apple cider vinegar can be a great ingredient for a tangy sauce for your food. Try adding it to tomato-based sauces to give them a fuller flavor.
19. In Soup
Adding vinegar to soup can help bring its flavors to life.
If your favorite homemade soup tastes a little bland, try adding a little vinegar to it at the end. Add it gradually until the soup tastes great.
20. As a Weed Killer
Another great use for apple cider vinegar is as a homemade weed killer.
Spray undiluted vinegar on unwanted weeds in your garden to get rid of them. You can also try mixing it with soap and lemon juice to see if that makes it more effective.
21. In Homemade Cakes and Candies
Apple cider vinegar is a popular flavor and texture enhancer in baking, especially when making vegan treats that can't include eggs.
It can also add extra flavor to homemade candy and caramels, like in this recipe.
22. In a Hot Drink
Mix 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1 tablespoon of honey and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice into 12 oz (355 ml) of hot water for an alternative hot drink.
23. As a Mouth Wash
Apple cider vinegar is often said to be a useful alternative to commercial mouthwashes.
Its antibacterial properties may help with bad breath, although there aren't any studies examining how effective it is.
If you try this, make sure you dilute it well with water (the usual amount is 1 tablespoon for every cup or 240 ml, of water), as the acidity of the vinegar could damage your teeth (28).
24. To Clean Your Tooth Brush
To have really clean teeth, it's worth considering how clean your toothbrush is.
Given that apple cider vinegar has antibacterial properties, you can use it as a homemade cleaner for your toothbrush.
To make your own toothbrush cleaner, mix half a cup (120 ml) of water with 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of apple cider vinegar and 2 teaspoons of baking soda and mix well. Leave the head of your toothbrush in the mix for 30 minutes.
Make sure you rinse your brush well before you use it, as the acidity of undiluted vinegar could damage your teeth.
25. To Whiten Teeth
Apple cider vinegar is acidic, so some people like to use it to remove stains and whiten their teeth.
To try this, rub a small amount of apple cider vinegar onto your teeth with a cotton swab. The results aren't instant, but repeated use could remove stains over time.
However, be wary of this method for teeth whitening. Be sure to rinse out your mouth really well afterward, as the acid can damage the enamel on your teeth (29).
26. To Treat Acne
Dabbing small amounts of diluted apple cider vinegar onto pimples is claimed to be a good way to get rid of them.
However, undiluted apple cider vinegar is strongly acidic and putting it directly onto your skin can cause burns (30, 31).
27. To Get Rid of Warts
As with acne, apple cider vinegar is claimed to be a natural agent for getting rid of warts. It's likely effective for removing warts from skin due to its acidic nature.
However, be aware that this method is very painful and some people who've tried it have required a local anesthetic (32, 33).
28. As a Natural Deodorant
Wiping your underarms with diluted apple cider vinegar is said to be a homemade alternative to commercially produced deodorants.
That said, although it's popular in some circles, it's not clear how effective it is.
29. As a Dish Detergent
Rinsing your dishes in apple cider vinegar could help kill off any unwanted bacteria and keep them clean.
Some people add it to their dishwater, while others even put it in their dishwasher.
30. To Get Rid of Fleas
Apple cider vinegar may help prevent your pet from getting fleas.
It's thought that spraying a mixture of 1 part water and 1 part apple cider vinegar onto your pet will create an environment that fleas won't want to hang around in.
31. Anything Else?
Apple cider vinegar is an extremely versatile household item that has a ton of different uses.
It can be a cheap and easy way to tackle many problems around your home.
Reposted with permission from our media associate Authority Nutrition.
Though made in large part of plastic, glass, ceramics, gold and copper, they also contain critical resources. The gallium used for LEDs and the camera flash, the tantalum in capacitors and indium that powers the display were all pulled from the ground — at a price for nature and people.
"Mining raw materials is always problematic, both with regard to human rights and ecology," said Melanie Müller, raw materials expert of the German think tank SWP. "Their production process is pretty toxic."
The gallium and indium in many phones comes from China or South Korea, the tantalum from the Democratic Republic of Congo or Rwanda. All in, such materials comprise less than ten grams of a phone's weight. But these grams finance an international mining industry that causes radioactive earth dumps, poisoned groundwater and Indigenous population displacement.
Environmental Damage: 'Nature Has Been Overexploited'
The problem is that modern technologies don't work without what are known as critical raw materials. Collectively, solar panels, drones, 3D printers and smartphone contain as many as 30 of these different elements sourced from around the globe. A prime example is lithium from Chile, which is essential in the manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles.
"No one, not even within the industry, would deny that mining lithium causes enormous environmental damage," Müller explained, in reference to the artificial lakes companies create when flushing the metal out of underground brine reservoirs. "The process uses vast amounts of water, so you end up with these huge flooded areas where the lithium settles."
This means of extraction results in the destruction and contamination of the natural water system. Unique plants and animals lose access to groundwater and watering holes. There have also been reports of freshwater becoming salinated due to extensive acidic waste water during lithium mining.
But lithium is not the only raw material that causes damage. Securing just one ton of rare earth elements produces 2,000 tons of toxic waste, and has devastated large regions of China, said Günther Hilpert, head of the Asia Research Division of the German think tank SWP.
He says companies there have adopted a process of spraying acid over the mining areas in order to separate the rare earths from other ores, and that mined areas are often abandoned after excavation.
"They are no longer viable for agricultural use," Hilpert said. "Nature has been overexploited."
China is not the only country with low environmental mining standards and poor resource governance. In Madagascar, for example, a thriving illegal gem and metal mining sector has been linked to rainforest depletion and destruction of natural lemur habitats.
States like Madagascar, Rwanda and the DRC score poorly on the Environmental Performance Index that ranks 180 countries for their effort on factors including conservation, air quality, waste management and emissions. Environmentalists are therefore particularly concerned that these countries are mining highly toxic materials like beryllium, tantalum and cobalt.
But it is not only nature that suffers from the extraction of high-demand critical raw materials.
"It is a dirty, toxic, partly radioactive industry," Hilpert said. "China, for example, has never really cared about human rights when it comes to achieving production targets."
Dirty, Toxic, Radioactive: Working in the Mining Sector
One of the most extreme examples is Baotou, a Chinese city in Inner Mongolia, where rare earth mining poisoned surrounding farms and nearby villages, causing thousands of people to leave the area.
In 2012, The Guardian described a toxic lake created in conjunction with rare earth mining as "a murky expanse of water, in which no fish or algae can survive. The shore is coated with a black crust, so thick you can walk on it. Into this huge, 10 sq km tailings pond nearby factories discharge water loaded with chemicals used to process the 17 most sought after minerals in the world."
Local residents reported health issues including aching legs, diabetes, osteoporosis and chest problems, The Guardian wrote.
South Africa has also been held up for turning a blind eye to the health impacts of mining.
"The platinum sector in South Africa has been criticized for performing very poorly on human rights — even within the raw materials sector," Müller said.
In 2012, security forces killed 34 miners who had been protesting poor working conditions and low wages at a mine owned by the British company Lonmin. What became known as the "Marikana massacre" triggered several spontaneous strikes across the country's mining sector.
Müller says miners can still face exposure to acid drainage — a frequent byproduct of platinum mining — that can cause chemical burns and severe lung damage. Though this can be prevented by a careful waste system.
Some progress was made in 2016 when the South African government announced plans to make mining companies pay $800 million (€679 million) for recycling acid mine water. But they didn't all comply. In 2020, activists sued Australian-owned mining company Mintails and the government to cover the cost of environmental cleanup.
Another massive issue around mining is water consumption. Since the extraction of critical raw materials is very water intensive, drought prone countries such as South Africa, have witnessed an increase in conflicts over supply.
For years, industry, government and the South African public debated – without a clear agreement – whether companies should get privileged access to water and how much the population may suffer from shortages.
Mining in Brazil: Replacing Nature, People, Land Rights
Beyond the direct health and environmental impact of mining toxic substances, quarrying critical raw materials destroys livelihoods, as developments in Brazil demonstrate.
"Brazil is the major worldwide niobium producer and reserves in [the state of] Minas Gerais would last more than 200 years [at the current rate of demand]," said Juliana Siqueira-Gay, environmental engineer and Ph.D. student at the University of São Paulo.
While the overall number of niobium mining requests is stagnating, the share of claims for Indigenous land has skyrocketed from 3 to 36 percent within one year. If granted, 23 percent of the Amazon forest and the homeland of 222 Indigenous groups could fall victim to deforestation in the name of mining, a study by Siqueira-Gay finds.
In early 2020, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro signed a bill which would allow corporations to develop areas populated by Indigenous communities in the future. The law has not yet entered into force, but "this policy could have long-lasting negative effects on Brazil's socio-biodiversity," said Siqueira-Gay.
One example are the niobium reserves in Seis Lagos, in Brazil's northeast, which could be quarried to build electrolytic capacitors for smartphones.
"They overlap the Balaio Indigenous land and it would cause major impacts in Indigenous communities by clearing forests responsible for providing food, raw materials and regulating the local climate," Siqueira-Gay explained.
She says scientific good practice guidelines offer a blueprint for sustainable mining that adheres to human rights and protects forests. Quarries in South America — and especially Brazil — funded by multilaterial banks like the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group have to follow these guidelines, Siqueira-Gay said.
They force companies to develop sustainable water supply, minimize acid exposure and re-vegetate mined surfaces. "First, negative impacts must be avoided, then minimized and at last compensated — not the other way around."
Reposted with permission from DW.