Vinegar is all the rage these days, with health-conscious people chugging apple cider vinegar in their morning tea or replacing toxic cleaning products with the antibacterial prowess of white vinegar. The hype is not unwarranted; however, studies have proven vinegar’s veracity in disinfecting and other related areas. There are so many uses for vinegar that it can be hard to know where to start! This list will give you some of the best, most practical uses for this acidic miracle worker.
5 Ways Apple Cider Vinegar Will Make Your Hair Rock
I make no secret of my love for apple cider vinegar (ACV) and that love extends to my hair, where ACV can help clarify, moisturize and bring balance to my locks. ACV can help just about any hair problem, and its affordability makes it a cost-effective way to care for your hair naturally.
20+ Ingredients To Fix Thyroid Dysfunction
Nearly 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid dysfunction, and nearly 60 percent of the people who have it don’t even know it. Women are five to eight times more likely to have a thyroid disorder than men, and most of those women have hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid. [Read more…]
6 Ways to Use Apple Cider Vinegar for a Beautiful Home and Garden
Apple cider vinegar is the perfect non-toxic alternative for your home and garden. In fact, it’s suitable for even the toughest cleaning and gardening tasks thanks to the acetic acid in the vinegar. And, because of apple cider vinegar’s antibacterial and antifungal properties, it also makes an effective disinfectant that prevents molds and bacteria from flourishing. Here are six ways to use ACV in your home and garden.
Ant Repellant Spray with Apple Cider Vinegar
Ants communicate by using sounds, touch, and pheromones, and can perceive smells with their antennae. If a forager ant finds food, it will mark a trail leading back to the colony. Soon the other ants will follow to the source of the food. Each time the trail is traveled, the smell is intensified. Apple cider vinegar disrupts their scent trails, making it harder for them to find the food source.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups apple cider vinegar
- 3 tbsp dish soap
- 2 tbsp baking soda
Supplies:
- Large spray bottle
- Large bowl or bucket for mixing, do not try to mix this in the spray bottle!
Instructions:
- Gather the ingredients and the spray bottle.
- Measure the apple cider vinegar and the dish soap.
- Pour both ingredients into the large bowl or bucket.
- Add the baking soda very slowly. It will foam up a lot, so be patient.
- After it has stopped foaming, fill the spray bottle with the mix using a funnel.
- Now fill the bottle to the top with water.
- Mix well before each use.
- Spray the problem area with ants really well. This mix will not harm your outside plants if you have an ant problem there as well.
- Use as often as needed.
This project takes about 10 to 15 minutes to make.
ACV Drain Cleaner
Some drain cleaners contain an extremely dangerous chemical (sodium hydroxide) that can be harmful to your health if swallowed, inhaled, or come in contact with your skin and eyes. The New York Times health guide notes that some symptoms may cause severe reactions that include:
- Abdominal pain
- Breathing difficulty (due to throat swelling)
- Collapse
- Loss of vision if the poison touched the eyes
- Mouth pain (severe)
- Throat pain (severe)
- Severe burns
- Vomiting
Instead, use a non-toxic solution to clear and deodorize partially clogged drains made with apple cider vinegar, baking soda and cup salt. Simply mix together 1/2 cup of salt and 1/2 cup of baking soda and pour into the clogged drain. Next, pour 1/2 cup of ACV down the drain. After two to three hours simply flush the drain with water.
Permanent weed killer with apple cider vinegar
Weeds sprouting through driveways and walkways can drive you to distraction. Nothing ruins curb appeal more than weeds. Apple cider vinegar is an effective weed killer, but when mixed with salt — kills them permanently! Unlike commercial weed killers, ACV is eco-friendly and won’t harm people, pets or the environment.
The acetic acid in the vinegar will draw out the water in the weeds, making them dry up. The salt will prevent the weeds from absorbing water, eventually killing them. The dish soap acts like a surfactant, helping the solution adhere to the weeds better. Here’s what you’ll need:
Ingredients:
- 4 cups apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup of salt
- 1 tsp liquid dish soap
Supplies:
- Large spray bottle
- Large bowl or bucket for mixing
- Wooden spoon
- Funnel
Instructions:
- Measure the apple cider vinegar and salt in a large bowl or bucket.
- Mix ingredients together with the wooden spoon until salt completely dissolves.
- Add the dish soap to the mixture and stir to combine.
- Fill the spray bottle with the weed killer, using a funnel.
- Soak the weeds with the solution on a dry, sunny day. Coat all surfaces well with the spray.
Any plants soaked with the ACV weed killer will die within several days. They won’t return, and nothing else will ever grow in their place. So, make sure you only use this where you want nothing to grow like sidewalks, walkways, driveway and patio stones.
Keep animals out of your garden with apple cider vinegar
Animals love the garden. Whether they’re using it as a feeding ground or a litter box, apple cider vinegar will keep them out. Rabbits, cats, raccoons, moles, rodents, and deer hate the smell of vinegar. Just soak a few rags in apple cider vinegar and place them around the garden or any areas that attract unwanted animals. Apple cider vinegar will keep them at bay without causing any harm. Simple re-soak the rags occasionally, as needed, to keep animals from entering the garden.
Kill mold fast with apple cider vinegar and baking soda
Mold exposure can cause a number of health concerns. But the problem is, you could be suffering and not even realize your symptoms are due to mold. Symptoms may range from runny noses, headaches and rashes to fatigue, depression and memory loss. Serious exposure could cause respiratory or neurological problems. Therefore, it’s important to remove mold in your home when you find it. One area that seems to attract a lot of mold is window sills, particularly tracking. Apple cider vinegar and baking soda are a quick way to zap mold fast.
Simply pour baking soda over moldy window tracking. Then pour apple cider vinegar over the baking soda. Let it sit and soak in. Use a paper towel to wipe up the mess. Make sure to wear gloves and a mask to prevent breathing in mold spores.
Homemade glass cleaner with apple cider vinegar
Some brands of glass cleaners contain nerve-damaging butyl cellosolve according to Organic Consumer Association. Others may contain ammonia, which can irritate airways and will release toxic chloramine gases if accidentally mixed with chlorine-containing cleaners. ACV is a wonderful and safe alternative for cleaning glass, here’s what you’ll need:
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
- 1 tbsp cornstarch (the cornstarch reduces streaking)
- 2 cups water
- 10 drops orange, lemon or lavender essential oil
Supplies:
- Large spray bottle (reuse an old one, or head to the dollar store)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in the spray bottle.
- Shake well to mix, and each time prior to use.
- Spray onto the glass surface and wipe clean. Make sure to label your bottle.
If you’ve never used ACV in your home or garden, now’s your chance. Along with ACV, keep a few basic ingredients on hand like baking soda, cornstarch, and salt to refill your bottles. Once you try these low cost, non-toxic and environmentally friendly solutions you’ll never go back to using commercial cleaning and gardening products again.
Best Things You Can Do to Sleep Better
We all have trouble sleeping from time to time. The National Sleep Foundation reports that forty-five percent of Americans report that poor or lack of sleep interferes with their daily activities. Many illnesses are precipitated by a lack of sleep as well. Sleep is necessary not only for physical health but also for mental health.
I myself have had difficulties sleeping from time to time. Even though I might fall asleep at a good time, I would wake up and toss and turn for several hours before finally falling back to sleep. When this little no-sleep issue going on I was groggy during the day and unable to catch up on my sleep due to my busy work schedule.
What worked for me
What I did find was that there were several home-remedy type things that helped me get back on a regular sleep schedule. These are easy things that I have picked up through the years and stored in my memory bank. If you have a difficult time sleeping, try some of these remedies and perhaps you will be snoozing before long.
Get a good mattress
I put getting a new mattress off for many years mostly because I didn’t want to spend the money. What I didn’t realize was that a high-quality mattress is essential to a restful night’s sleep. Because your body changes as you age, it is imperative to get a new mattress about every seven years or so. As your mattress ages, it is not able to provide the support that you need to sleep well. Pillows also need to be replaced at least once a year in order to provide proper support for your neck and spine. Take your time to shop around for a good mattress, be picky and don’t skimp. About two weeks after I purchased my new mattress I was able to sleep the entire night through without any issues at all.
Create an oasis in your bedroom
Making your room a calm and relaxing space will help you fall asleep quicker. You want your room to be cool and dark, quiet and cozy. For me, this meant, taking my desk out of my room, replacing it with a table full of plants and candles. I put new blinds on my windows that would keep my room dark. I changed the color of my wall to a calming sage green and purchased an essential oil diffuser as well. Do what you need to in order to create a relaxing space that bids you come and fall asleep, It is also a good idea to keep your space cooler than the rest of the house. I like to leave a window open and keep my ceiling fan running even in the winter.
Process thoughts before you go to bed
One of the issues I had with getting to sleep on time at night was the fact that I taking the time to run over all kinds of thoughts in my mind. It seemed that one thought would just lead into another and so 0n and so on…. To alleviate all those random thoughts in your brain try writing them down. When I got back to journaling it was amazing how much lighter my brain felt. You could also try recording your thoughts, that works as well. According to Michael A. Grandner, Ph.D., an instructor of psychiatry at the Behavioral Sleep Medicine program at the University 0f Pennsylvania,
“A better approach would be [to] take some time in the evening to work through the day, make lists to do tomorrow and clear your mental desktop of the stuff that you still have to think about.”
More Tips for Sleeping Better
- Try yoga
- Take a bath with lavender oil and Epsom salts
- Keep your work out of your bed – no computers or phones
- Don’t eat a heavy meal within 3 hours of bedtime
- Exercise regularly but not too close to bedtime
- Keep to a regular sleep and waking time
- Wear socks to bed
Try this delicious bedtime elixir
I discovered this delicious and healthy bedtime elixir that helps me wind down before hitting the hay… give it a try. It features two of my favorite foods, apple cider vinegar, and raw honey. Honey has long been thought of as a natural remedy for insomnia. Dr. Li Shizen named honey’s ability to help with sleep as one of its five potent health properties. Honey causes a rise in insulin, which releases serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps improve mood. In the body, serotonin is converted into melatonin, a chemical compound that regulates the length and quality of sleep. Because honey causes insulin to rise slower than sugar it is great insomnia buster. Apple cider vinegar helps to regulate digestion and break down fatty acids, and release tryptophan, that converts into serotonin.
To make: Combine 2 teaspoons of raw apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon of raw honey in 8 ounces of warm water and enjoy!
– Susan Patterson
Foods That Balance Blood Sugar And Promote Weight Loss
Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes impacting over 27 million Americans and is one of the fastest growing health conditions in our country. According to a study published in the Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, type 2 diabetes accounts for 90%-95%of all diabetes cases in America. With these startling statistics, it would behoove us to ask why this condition is so prevalent. The number one risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes is obesity. It is not surprising that the number of overweight and obese people in this country is skyrocketing. The Centers for Disease Control report that more than one-third of adults are obese.
Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the best ways to keep from developing diabetes along with a host of other conditions including hypertension, heart disease, and cancer.
Understanding blood sugar
Once you have finished eating a meal, the sugars contained in the food enter the bloodstream and raise the sugar levels. In response, the pancreas produces insulin which lowers the blood sugar levels so that the cells can take up sugar for energy.Waiting too long to eat or eating a diet laden with unhealthy foods will cause blood sugar to fall too low. In an effort to maintain balance, the body produces the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol. Eating healthy foods that will help your blood sugar stabilize is a good thing at this point. However, if you continue to eat poorly or skip meals, the stress hormones will hang out and cause chaos. Cortisol will signal your body to hang on to fat, especially around the midsection.
What is insulin resistance?
Eventually, the cells in muscles, liver, and fat no longer respond to insulin and the sugar builds up in the blood, leading to insulin resistance, diabetes and a number of scary medical conditions.
Get control and keep control
Controlling blood sugar is a key to maintaining a healthy weight and keeping type 2 diabetes from developing. Many popular food items cause blood sugar spikes and promote overeating and fat storage. These foods include fatty foods, foods that contain artificial sweeteners, foods that contain wheat and sugar. Controlling blood sugar will keep your appetite from going crazy and allow your body to use calories efficiently for energy.
Signs that your blood sugar is out of whack
Because the human body is all about balance, it will give us signs when something is not right. The key is to understand your body well enough to know the signs and make the necessary changes to bring the body back into balance. Here are some signs that your body might give you when your blood sugar is not where it should be.
- It is hard for you to lose weight
- Your waist is bigger than your hips
- You crave sweet food
- You are irritable if you miss a meal
- You cry or get anxious for no reason
- You wake up a lot at night
- You feel “out of it”
- You are hungry all the time
- You get really sleepy in the afternoon
Foods that help you balance your blood sugar
There are a number of foods that you can eat to help keep your blood sugar from flying off the rails. Including these foods in your diet will give you energy and stave off cravings for unhealthy foods.
- Greens – Nutrient dense greens such as kale, broccoli, and spinach are full of fiber and calcium. Eating some greens with every meal will keep your blood sugar on track.
- Healthy protein – Wild caught fish, free-range eggs, and free-range beef are excellent sources of blood sugar-stabilizing protein. Aim for 4 to 6 ounces twice a day for best results.
- Gluten-free grains – Protein-rich, gluten-free grains including quinoa and millet will give you plenty of energy throughout the day without spiking your blood sugar.
- Nuts – Nuts are loaded with healthy fat that keeps you from binging on unhealthy foods. They also contain fiber and protein, which will help your body maintain blood sugar stability.
- Beans – Lentils and garbanzo beans are especially helpful when it comes to blood sugar management. They are high in fiber and protein and low in fat. Remember to soak dry beans overnight before eating to ease digestion.
Apple cider vinegar and blood sugar
Research shows that consuming apple cider vinegar before meals and before bedtime will help keep levels of sugar in the blood even as it increases insulin’s sensitivity. Of course, this is something you can do in addition to eating a healthy diet. Take one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with warm water three times a day. To sweeten you can add a little raw, organic honey or some stevia drops.
Other things you can do
In addition to eating a healthy diet, be sure that you are drinking enough water daily, exercising at least twenty minutes a day, sleeping at least 7 hours a night and managing the stress in your life. Paying particular attention to these things will help your body keep blood sugar in check.
-Susan Patterson
6 Ways to Use Apple Cider Vinegar for a Beautiful Home and Garden
Apple Cider Vinegar is a perfect non-toxic alternative for your home and garden. In fact, it’s suitable for even the toughest cleaning and gardening tasks thanks to the acetic acid in the vinegar. And, because of apple cider vinegar’s antibacterial and antifungal properties, it also makes an effective disinfectant that prevents molds and bacteria from flourishing. Here are six ways to use ACV in your home and garden.
Ant Repellant Spray with Apple Cider Vinegar
Ants communicate by using sounds, touch, and pheromones, and can perceive smells with their antennae. If a forager ant finds food, it will mark a trail leading back to the colony. Soon the other ants will follow to the source of the food. Each time the trail is traveled, the smell is intensified. Apple cider vinegar disrupts their scent trails, making it harder for them to find the food source.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups apple cider vinegar
- 3 tbsp dish soap
- 2 tbsp baking soda
Supplies:
- Large spray bottle
- Large bowl or bucket for mixing, do not try to mix this in the spray bottle!
Instructions:
- Gather the ingredients and the spray bottle.
- Measure the apple cider vinegar and the dish soap.
- Pour both ingredients into the large bowl or bucket.
- Add the baking soda very slowly. It will foam up a lot, so be patient.
- After it has stopped foaming, fill the spray bottle with the mix using a funnel.
- Now fill the bottle to the top with water.
- Mix well before each use.
- Spray the problem area with ants really well. This mix will not harm your outside plants if you have an ant problem there as well.
- Use as often as needed.
This project takes about 10 to 15 minutes to make.
ACV Drain Cleaner
Some drain cleaners contain an extremely dangerous chemical (sodium hydroxide) that can be harmful to your health if swallowed, inhaled, or come in contact with your skin and eyes. The New York Times health guide notes that some symptoms may cause severe reactions that include:
- Abdominal pain
- Breathing difficulty (due to throat swelling)
- Collapse
- Loss of vision if the poison touched the eyes
- Mouth pain (severe)
- Throat pain (severe)
- Severe burns
- Vomiting
Instead, use a non-toxic solution to clear and deodorize partially clogged drains made with apple cider vinegar, baking soda and cup salt. Simply mix together 1/2 cup of salt and 1/2 cup of baking soda and pour into the clogged drain. Next, pour 1/2 cup of ACV down the drain. After two to three hours simply flush the drain with water.
Permanent weed killer with apple cider vinegar
Weeds sprouting through driveways and walkways can drive you to distraction. Nothing ruins curb appeal more than weeds. Apple cider vinegar is an effective weed killer, but when mixed with salt — kills them permanently! Unlike commercial weed killers, ACV is eco-friendly and won’t harm people, pets or the environment.
The acetic acid in the vinegar will draw out the water in the weeds, making them dry up. The salt will prevent the weeds from absorbing water, eventually killing them. The dish soap acts like a surfactant, helping the solution adhere to the weeds better. Here’s what you’ll need:
Ingredients:
- 4 cups apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup of salt
- 1 tsp liquid dish soap
Supplies:
- Large spray bottle
- Large bowl or bucket for mixing
- Wooden spoon
- Funnel
Instructions:
- Measure the apple cider vinegar and salt in a large bowl or bucket.
- Mix ingredients together with the wooden spoon until salt completely dissolves.
- Add the dish soap to the mixture and stir to combine.
- Fill the spray bottle with the weed killer, using a funnel.
- Soak the weeds with the solution on a dry, sunny day. Coat all surfaces well with the spray.
Any plants soaked with the ACV weed killer will die within several days. They won’t return, and nothing else will ever grow in their place. So, make sure you only use this where you want nothing to grow like sidewalks, walkways, driveway and patio stones.
Keep animals out of your garden with apple cider vinegar
Animals love the garden. Whether they’re using it as a feeding ground or a litter box, apple cider vinegar will keep them out. Rabbits, cats, raccoons, moles, rodents and deer hate the smell of vinegar. Just soak a few rags in apple cider vinegar and place them around the garden or any areas that attract unwanted animals. Apple cider vinegar will keep them at bay without causing any harm. Simply re-soak the rags occasionally, as needed, to keep animals from entering the garden.
Kill mold fast with apple cider vinegar and baking soda
Mold exposure can cause a number of health concerns. But the problem is, you could be suffering and not even realize your symptoms are due to mold. Symptoms may range from runny noses, headaches, and rashes to fatigue, depression and memory loss. Serious exposure could cause respiratory or neurological problems. Therefore, it’s important to remove mold in your home when you find it. One area that seems to attract a lot of mold is window sills, particularly tracking. Apple cider vinegar and baking soda are a quick way to zap mold fast.
Simply pour baking soda over moldy window tracking. Then pour apple cider vinegar over the baking soda. Let it sit and soak in. Use a paper towel to wipe up the mess. Make sure to wear gloves and a mask to prevent breathing in mold spores.
Homemade glass cleaner with apple cider vinegar
Some brands of glass cleaners contain nerve-damaging butyl cellosolve according to Organic Consumer Association. Others may contain ammonia, which can irritate airways and will release toxic chloramine gasses if accidentally mixed with chlorine-containing cleaners. ACV is a wonderful and safe alternative for cleaning glass, here’s what you’ll need:
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
- 1 tbsp cornstarch (the cornstarch reduces streaking)
- 2 cups water
- 10 drops orange, lemon or lavender essential oil
Supplies:
- Large spray bottle (reuse an old one, or head to the dollar store)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in the spray bottle.
- Shake well to mix, and each time prior to use.
- Spray onto the glass surface and wipe clean. Make sure to label your bottle.
If you’ve never used ACV in your home or garden, now’s your chance. Along with ACV, keep a few basic ingredients on hand like baking soda, cornstarch, and salt to refill your bottles. Once you try these low cost, non-toxic and environmentally friendly solutions you’ll never go back to using commercial cleaning and gardening products again.
-Susan Patterson
My Favorite Apple Cider Vinegar Facial Toner
I love the way my face feels when it is clean and fresh. Using this easy-to-make apple cider vinegar tonic is a great way to clean impurities from my skin while tightening and lifting. I especially like to use this toner after I have been out in the sun. It always leaves my skin refreshed and squeaky clean.
Apple cider vinegar helps balance the pH of your skin. It can lighten sun and age spots. It can also improve acne scars and remove oils and makeup off of your face. Why waste your money on commercial toners when you can make your very own non-toxic toner at home for a fraction of the cost?
Apple Cider Vinegar Facial Toner
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup filtered water
Equipment
- Glass spray bottle
- Pint-sized mason jar
Instructions
- Gather all ingredients and containers.
- Pour filtered water and apple cider vinegar in spray bottle.
- When filled, store the rest of the mix at room temperature in a jar with lid.
- Spray mix onto a cotton pad and wipe over entire face. Do not rinse off.
Prep time is only about 10 minutes. Enjoy!