Using Apple Cider Vinegar For Gout
In this post I’ll be discussing a home remedy that I have been using for a few years now and an internet favorite remedy on health forums and websites, used as a cure-all to treat anything from diabetes, weight loss, blood pressure, acne, dandruff and of course gout.
I’ll be discussing the age-old Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) which has been used for over 10,000 years to treat many different ailments. ACV has also been used as a condiment and preservative, as well as for flavoring and healing purposes, as a deodorant, healing tonic, and as a youth preserver.
Apple cider vinegar has been around since 2500 BC, when the Babylonians, Aryans, and Phoenicians developed a sour apple wine. This was passed down to the Greeks and Romans, who created apple cider vinegar as a byproduct of the sour apple wine.
Cleopatra is supposed to have cleansed her skin with ACV, which was thought to be the key to perfect skin in the Egyptian age. Cassius Dio, a Roman historian, characterized her as “a woman of exceeding beauty,” and Hollywood has presented her as a gorgeous seductress.
Christopher Columbus had barrels of apple cider vinegar on his ships to prevent scurvy and it was also used in the American Civil War to disinfect and heal wounds. All in all, apple cider vinegar has numerous benefits, and as a gout sufferer, you should include it in your diet.
Excessive levels of uric acid (Hyperuricemia)
Being healthy isn’t something you do on special occasions. To fortify yourself from within is a daily challenge. To minimize your chance of developing some of the chronic lifestyle diseases that are becoming more frequent, a good diet is as important as practicing certain healthy practices.
Because of our hectic schedules and handy options, having high uric acid levels is a problem that many of us may experience. A simple blood test can determine the amount of uric acid in your body, thus it’s critical to have regular check-ups.
Uric acid is a molecule found in your blood that is produced when your body breaks down a substance called purine. Purine can be present in a wide variety of foods, including peas, spinach, anchovies, mushrooms, dried beans, and even beer.
Most of the uric acid formed in the body dissolves in the blood and is excreted through the kidneys. If your body is producing too much uric acid or is not able to remove enough of it, it may lead to hyperuricemia.
The dangers of developing hyperuricemia
Uric acid levels in the body can create a variety of issues. It induces the production of solid crystals within the joints, resulting in our horrible curse: gout.
It can also induce kidney stones and, in severe circumstances, renal failure. Because the amount of uric acid in your body can be measured with a simple blood test, it’s critical to get regular check-ups.
What makes Apple Cider Vinegar so special?
Apple cider vinegar is available almost everywhere. Everyone is talking about it, and everyone appears to enjoy it. Is apple cider vinegar just a new fad, or is it genuinely beneficial? Is it true that apple cider vinegar has health benefits?
First and foremost, there is nothing new to be found here. For a long time, apple cider vinegar has been used as a natural remedy for health issues. It’s an ancient remedy, as we have already seen.
Those benefits appear to be getting more widely recognized these days, although they have always existed. It’s a re-discovery, to put it that way.
These days, more people are striving to improve their lives by making healthier, more natural choices. That’s why apple cider vinegar is mentioned frequently in discussions about health, food, and natural cures.
However, despite its wonderful properties, apple cider vinegar will not do miracles. It also won’t take the place of a well-balanced diet and regular exercise.
It promotes health and aids in its maintenance, but unless you’re also taking other actions to improve your health, drinking apple cider vinegar won’t make a significant difference. That is something that no treatment can achieve. Moderation is always essential.
Nonetheless, if you have gout, you should read the rest of this article. We guarantee you’ll leave feeling more hopeful and confident about managing your gout symptoms.
What is Apple Cider Vinegar, exactly?
Apple cider vinegar, also known as cider vinegar or ACV, is a pale to medium amber vinegar prepared from cider or apple must. ACV is used in salad dressings, marinades, vinaigrettes, food preservatives, and chutneys, among other things.
ACV is made by crushing apples and squeezing out the liquid. To begin the alcoholic fermentation process, bacteria and yeast are introduced to the liquid, and the sugars are converted to alcohol.
In a second fermentation process, the alcohol is converted into vinegar by acetic acid-forming bacteria (acetobacter). Acetic acid and malic acid give vinegar its sour taste.
Apple cider vinegar is full of nutrients like potassium, which helps remove toxins and excess water, iron, calcium, and amino acids that reduce toxin buildup and serve as antibiotics. Acetic acid is the major ingredient that is thought to be so effective in helping to treat gout.
Inside the body, acetic acid is converted to alkaline, creating a pH-balanced environment that may maintain healthy uric acid levels. While an acidic pH pH balance might cause gout, adjusting your pH balance toward alkaline may help you regulate your gout in the long run.
Please keep in mind that no research has been conducted to back up these claims.
Drinking apple cider vinegar may help break up the uric acid crystals and may prevent them from reforming in the joints by aiding blood circulation and purification. It may reduce inflammation and swell in the joints allowing for better flexibility of the joints.
The amount of malic acid in ACV is greater. This could explain why ingesting ACV in the right amounts is better for you than eating an apple.
Many people claim to have seen relief from gout symptoms after consuming apple cider vinegar for a few hours. Others, on the other hand, have reported feeling better after a few days.
How do gout sufferers use apple cider vinegar?
To get the full therapeutic benefit, consume 2-3 teaspoons 2 to 3 times each day. If you can drink it straight up with no dilution or sweetening, go for it. However, if you want to improve the taste of your gout concoction, mix it with a glass of water.
Because ACV is quite acidic, I highly recommend combining it with water. If you drink ACV straight, it might harm your tooth enamel over time, resulting in tooth decay and cavities.
Furthermore, due to its high acidity, drinking apple juice might produce nausea and acid reflux. If you experience any digestive issues after taking apple cider vinegar, stop using it.
You can also mix the ACV with a spoonful of raw honey (not suggested for diabetics). Why not add some cherry juice to it while you’re at it for a double dose of flavor? Don’t forget to use it to garnish your salad as well!
Potential Advantages of Using ACV to Manage Gout Symptoms
A simple internet search will turn up a slew of self-proclaimed miraculous cures that may be used to treat gout. Cherry juice, gout tea (yes, there is such a thing), and, of course, apple cider vinegar are all among them.
However, clear scientific evidence on the efficacy of drinking apple cider vinegar for gout treatment is still lacking. Apple cider vinegar, on the other hand, has been found to help people lose weight.
In an April 2018 study published in the Journal of Functional Foods, it was discovered that participants who drank apple cider vinegar before a meal lost more weight than those who did not. In addition, both groups in the study cut their daily caloric intake by 250 calories.
According to the Mayo Clinic, decreasing weight reduces the likelihood of getting gout, therefore drinking apple cider vinegar may be a healthy addition to your gout diet. Remember that food will not cure or treat gout, but it will help you manage it and reduce flare-ups.
When your body needs a detox cleanse, drinking raw, fermented apple cider vinegar, better known as ACV, is the way to go. Drinking apple cider vinegar has several key health benefits, as well as aiding your weight loss attempts.
Drinks with Apple Cider Vinegar for Weight Loss
If you want to shed stubborn body fat, increase your energy levels, and may even help reverse disease, then adding natural apple cider drinks to your diet and beginning an apple cider vinegar cleanse will help you improve your health and quality of life.
An apple cider vinegar drink is a beverage made with 1-2 teaspoons of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar and other components such as water and fruit juices. Here are some of our favorite drink recipes:
Apple Cider Vinegar Drink with Lemon Water:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of liquid
- 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tsp cinnamon powder
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- Honey (optional)
Instructions:
In a glass, combine all of the apple cider vinegar cleanse components. If it needs to be sweeter, add more honey.
Apple Cider Vinegar Recipe with Cranberry Juice
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ¾ cup water
- ½ cup fresh cranberry juice
- a squirt of lime juice
Instructions:
In a glass, combine all of the apple cider vinegar cleanse components. If desired, add more lime juice.
Weight Loss Drink with Green Tea and Apple Cider Vinegar
Ingredients:
- a cup of green tea
- 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
- Honey, just for taste
- Mint, just for taste
Instructions:
Make green tea, then add honey and apple cider vinegar to taste.
Other benefits of apple cider vinegar
Aside from gout, ACV is proven to aid with a variety of other ailments. Here are a few examples:
- ACV helps people with type 2 diabetes. One study which was published in the Journal of Diabetes Research found that ACV helps diabetic patients use their insulin more effectively. The ACV has also helped them in controlling their blood sugar levels after meals. This is due to the fact that acetic acid slows digestion and reduces carbohydrate absorption in the body. Patients who took ACV before bed were able to reduce their fasting glucose levels too.
- For individuals who could be at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, they may reduce their risk when they take apple cider vinegar.
- ACV may help with problems related to obesity such as high blood glucose and high blood cholesterol.
- ACV may help lower high blood pressure in patients who have hypertension as outlined in this study.
- ACV may reduce one’s risk for cancer because it contains polyphenols which are powerful antioxidants.
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Although ACV is a miracle pantry staple, it does have some side effects. Here are the most common ones:
- Acid reflux
- Burping
- Gas
- Changes in bowel movement
- Esophageal damage
- Acute pancreatitis
If you experience any of these, you might want to cut back on the amount of ACV you take. If symptoms get worse, stop taking ACV completely and consult with your doctor.
What type of ACV do I buy?
Ensure that the ACV you buy is organic, unpasteurized, and unfermented. This ensures that the ACV you buy hasn’t been processed or cooked, and that it still contains the nutrients, minerals, and enzymes needed to control your gout.
The clear ACV found in supermarkets is less expensive and of worse quality than the organic-raw variety. Many of the health benefits of apple cider vinegar have been removed by heating and distilling conventional ACV.
The uncooked type contains what is known as “mother of vinegar.” This is the strand-like structure of living bacteria present in ACV; remember to verify the acetic acid content on the bottle.
5 Reasons to use organic (raw) apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a versatile and nutrient-dense product that we always advocate using organic and raw. This indicates that the vinegar is unfiltered and unpasteurized, retaining all of the naturally occurring qualities, including the “mother of vinegar.”
The mother is a foggy, cobweb-like substance that may be seen floating around in the liquid and is composed of living nutrients and good bacteria. Common/regular Apple Cider Vinegars remove all of this goodness during the filtering and pasteurization processes. What a pity!
Aside from its fascinating history, we can’t get enough of its incredible health advantages. Here are some of the most compelling reasons to use Organic Apple Cider Vinegar:
- Reduces appetite cravings:
Acetic acid, which is found in ACV, has been demonstrated to help reduce the glycemic index of foods. Acetic acid reduces hunger by slowing the pace at which carbohydrates are released into the bloodstream. - Helps balance the skin:
The strong acidity of ACV is regarded to be a key role in achieving attractive skin. When applied externally, it can help regulate skin PH while also having antibacterial and antifungal qualities. It’s even believed to work on warts and acne! Don’t believe us? Just ask Cleopatra! - Boosts the lymphatic system:
The ACV helps the body break down mucus while also cleansing the lymph nodes (which function as filters) and increasing the outflow of undesired bacteria or microbes. Because of its ability to reduce mucus buildup, ACV may help with allergies, preventing sinus congestion and symptoms like sore throats and headaches. - Helps increase energy levels:
ACV’s enzymes and potassium can help you beat weariness and give you the extra boost you need to get through the day. ACV also contains several amino acids that may help reduce the build-up of lactic acid in your body, which can lead to weariness.
- Helps in diabetes management:
One of the most compelling applications of vinegar so far has been in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. High blood sugar levels are a symptom of type 2 diabetes, which is caused by insulin resistance or an inability to make insulin.Apple cider vinegar may reduce blood sugar levels after meals and may improve insulin sensitivity. - Improves the digestive system:
Finally, this is why I drink ACV every morning before breakfast. ACV aids in the reduction of symptoms typically linked with stomach disorders, such as reflux, bloating, and indigestion. When taken before a meal, ACV activates stomach fluids by activating enzymes that prepare the stomach for food breakdown.
Because of its high acidity, Apple Cider Vinegar should be diluted. Simply combine two tablespoons of Organic Raw ACV with warm water, raw honey, or freshly squeezed juice. It’s also a great addition to salad dressings, sauces, chutneys, and marinades.
Other considerations for the consumption of raw ACV:
Also, avoid using ACV as a substitute for other treatments or without first consulting a doctor. This will obviously not work if you are allergic to apples.
ACV has gained popularity in recent years as a result of its numerous miraculous properties. You can buy apple cider vinegar easily on Amazon.com. You also won’t have a hard time finding this at the grocery or health store near you.
Apple cider vinegar can also be used as a topical treatment. When dealing with a gout attack, you can immerse your foot in a bucket with 4 cups of hot water and 1 cup of ACV for around 30 minutes. You can also soak a clean, dry cloth in apple cider vinegar and wrap it around the affected area for about 15 minutes.
Apple cider vinegar can be very effective in relieving gout symptoms for many people. But not everybody will experience the same level of relief with ACV. I personally have used it for many years; I take it daily without fail.
Aside from gout, I used to have an issue with my esophagus, which resulted in excruciating heartburn. Since consuming ACV, I haven’t suffered from heartburn since. I strongly recommend this super-food in your daily diet.
What has been your experience like taking ACV as a remedy for gout? Share your thoughts in the comments below.