How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar to Improve Digestion
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Apple cider vinegar is a powerful natural remedy for heartburn and indigestion. Let’s take a closer look at why this simple remedy works, and how you can use apple cider vinegar to naturally get rid of heartburn, reduce belly bloat and gas, and generally improve digestion.
Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night with a heavy feeling in your gut?
Feel like you have a rock/small baby hippopotamus in your belly hours after eating a meal?
Experience heartburn, bloating, or burping soon after eating?
If yes, it’s very likely that you’re not digesting your food properly.
These uncomfortable feelings were so well-known to me that I used to just let them slide as “normal”.
But there is no such thing as “normal” pain or discomfort: it’s a sign from our body that something is amiss.
There’s no doubt about it: proper digestion is key to a healthy body.
The digestive tract — from your tongue to your tushie — plays a vital role in all aspects of our health.
It’s the mechanism through which we receive the nutrients necessary to sustain life, and is a vital component of the immune system.
But think about it: if we are eating the most nutrient-dense foods possible yet not breaking them down adequately enough to actually get to the nutrients they contain… what’s the point?
… and proper stomach acid levels are necessary for proper digestion and nutrient absorption.
As soon as we see, smell, or think about food, our stomach cells begin secreting hydrochloric acid (HCl).
HCl plays a vital role in protein digestion by converting pepsinogen into the enzyme pepsin, which breaks proteins down into amino acids.
It also promotes the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins A and E by stimulating the release of pancreatic enzymes and bile into the small intestine.
Without adequate stomach acid, food isn’t properly broken down and digested, nor are nutrients properly assimilated.
This is a BIG. DEAL.
Factors such as stress, excess carbohydrate consumption, nutrient deficiencies, allergies, and excess alcohol can decrease HCl production.
And according to Jonathon Wright, MD — author of Why Stomach Acid is Good for You — approximately 90% of Americans produce too little stomach acid.
(Now if you’re thinking “Oh, well I have acid reflux/GERD so I make too much stomach acid”, think again. Contrary to popular belief, acid reflux and GERD – gastroesophageal reflux disease – are actually caused by low stomach acid. While antacids do help to alleviate the symptoms, they do not remedy the underlying cause. To learn all of the details, check our Chris Kresser’s 6-part series on the topic.)
Apple cider vinegar improves digestion by increasing stomach acid production.
It’s as simple as that!
By increasing stomach acid production, apple cider vinegar helps our bodies properly break down and digest our food.
How to use apple cider vinegar to improve digestion:
Mix one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in one glass (8 oz) of water and drink 15-20 minutes before a meal.Be sure to use raw, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar with the mother. If desired, increase to 2 teaspoons.
“Swish” and drink a few more sips of water to prevent the acid from affecting tooth enamel and irritating your throat.
Have you used ACV to improve your digestion?
How did it go!? Please share with us in the comments below!
i made up a recipe with acv that works for me as far as improving the taste: mix 8 oz spring water w/1 tablespoon organic apple cider vinegar, 10 shakes of stevia powder (stored in a spice-container) , 10 shakes of organic powdered cinnamon spice, tiniest pinch of powdered turmeric spice, 4 shakes organic powdered ginger spice, a pinch of magnesium sulfate (aka epsom salt) and a couple quick grinds of coarse sea salt (in a sea salt grinder). i pour that in a glass bottle that i saved from kombuncha, put the lid inn& shake it to mix. . Delish, have been having that two or three times per day, after just two weeks i found it curbs hunger, i have been losing weight, (5 lbs!) and combined with high quality digestive enzymes the bloat and gas i had is gone!!! i am a believer and new Acv lover!!!
This article is bang on.
Thanks so much for this informative article!
I’ve been suffering from a number of digestive system problems for a few years, and recently found out that I most likely don’t produce enough stomach acid/HCl.
Thanks for not only saying “apple cider vinegar helps improve digestion” but for also taking the time to give us insight into *how* it helps with digestion.
Doing so helps me better determine how to best implement it for my needs, rather than using it haphazardly.
I’ve used it before and I noticed it’s helped me feel less sluggish after eating, but I look forward to experimenting with using it regularly.
Thanks again!
I started drinking ACV to cure got flushes about a year ago . It worked! Within a week. I keep taking it intermittently for some months afterwards then stopped. I then went on a fat and carb diet for about 5 months , still no sweats! Then started reintroduced fats. Now am back with the sweats for the past three weeks and am back taking ACV ! I also did my fourth gall bladder flush with tremendous results a few days ago. I’m hoping for better digestion and no sweats again!
Hey Nadia, can I add two-three teaspoons of acv in one litre water and sip it throughout the day as a treatment of super unhealthy gut?? I have this constant bloating, heaviness in my belly and I am gaining weight. I can’t eat. I have met doctors allopathic as well as homeopathic. Zero result. Its only today that I mixed acv in my sipper and sipped it the entire day. And I am feeling so better , I haven’t felt like this in last six months. Should I continue?? Will there be any side effect?
What do the directions mean when it says, Be sure to use raw upasteurized cider vinegar with the mother. What does, with the “mother” mean?
I have often used apple cider vinegar dissolved in water but it always increases pain in my already highly sensitive teeth. I was having a problem with being underweight although I would eat well and enough. So I thought that my body was not absorbing the nutrients properly. Recently I found GNC Apple Cider Vinegar Complete supplement in tablet form and started taking these twice a day as directed. I’ve been taking them for about 3 weeks now, have put on about 4 pounds and I feel so much better.
Hi Nadia
I have been taking ACV with mother in a cup of 8 oz water, 1 tbsp of ACV, 1tsp of raw honey, pinch of cayenne, 1 ginger lemon tea bag . After I drink it why I suffer from bloating as my stomach swells up. Would ACV make this worse as it seems to happen about an hour after I have it.
Regards
Prime
So on and off for past few years I had started to get really bad heartburn and as I had omzeparole in my medicine cabinet I took it to ellivate symptoms which it did. Then a year and a half a go I underwent surgery. Again the doc prescribed omzeparole to take in conjunction with my pain meds. This is when it all started going wrong. I developed a b12 deficiency,constant diarrhoea and crippling heartburn. Eventually I discovered a link to omzeparole & b12 deficiency. So immediately stopped taking it. I also read about low stomach acid and came to the conclusion this was what I had. It made sense. Omzeparole reduced my stomach acid which meant my body wasn’t processing food right resulting in acid reflux,tummy problems and absorption of vitamins. Googling led me to stopping any antacid product, taking ACV with honey in water before a meal and also taking a digestive enzyme with every meal. All I can say is the difference is amazing. The size of my stomach has reduced, tummy troubles easing and heartburn all but gone. It’s amazing!
Hi, Annie! I’m honestly not sure. I would personally opt for a digestive enzyme supplement with HCl instead, though – this is what I use with my Nutritional Therapy clients and it works wonders!
Do a good quality apple cider vinegar capsule have the same benefit as the braggs acv liquid. I have very sensitive teeth and im afraid that it may do more damage to my teeth.
Also I add a tsp to my smoothie in morning and I find it works just as well as taking before the smoothie. I was thinking of using liquid in my smoothie and capsule at night with my dinner.
Thanks for your time and sharing your knowledge.
Hello
My wife is suffering from acid reflux for the past 18 months. The gastroenterologist rcommended omeprozole
She has not recovered from it. But still she suffers from acid reflux and also LPR. I have tried today ACV. Will it help or make worse the situation. please
It sounds like you may something more serious going on like an infection, yeast overgrowth, or dysbiosis. I would suggest getting some testing done.
I have severe indigestion,flatulence, frquent passing of stools, reflux through mouth and less gain on body weight.The doctors immediately categorize it to IBS. Have also noticed that taking wheat products worsen the issue. Is it gluten ntolerance.Also fruits like apple,pineapple intake also makes frequent bloating.Would apple cidar help in this case.?
It just wouldn’t make sense to do that – each would be trying to undo the other.
I DEFINITELY recommend giving this whole article series from Chris Kresser (a brilliant functional medicine doctor) a read: https://chriskresser.com/what-everybody-ought-to-know-but-doesnt-about-heartburn-gerd/
I am taking a acid reducer and it is doing the job of acid reflex reduction. Is it beneficial or destructive to take acv at the same time?
Hi Nadia,
First, thanks for your useful information and responses as reading them helps me gather lots of useful information. I have Crohns and bloating is a huge issue for me. My son has had a lot of gastric issues and has seen four different Gastro’s to no avail and sadly is now very cynical about going to a doctor. One med clinic he visited told him that he had low acid, so he and I have been investIgating that for a while. I will be forwarding all of this information to him as well and suggesting that he possibly consult with you. I also have Hashimoto’s and terrible dry mouth, so I love seeing these comments from people with similar scenarios and I’m anxious to try this remedy.
My question is: can low acid and ACV have any effect on a Crohn’s patients tract? I’m just wondering if you know anything about that. Thank you again for your time and information .
Jo
That’s great to hear!
I have been diagnosed with atrophic gastritis, hiatus hernia and barretts disease and of course been put on a life time course of Omeprazole. I constantly feel as if my food is just sitting in my stomach and I get very bloated and constipated (so bad at times that I sweat and feel faint when I finally go).also struggle to lose weight but that could be a menopause issue. I have just started trying ACV and my stomach feels different as if it emptying at last and I am going to the toilet Also I don’t seem to be running for the pills to stop the pain as much so here is hoping.Have to admit though that I don’t enjoy drinking it so any recipes I could use for its consumption would be gratefully receieved!
Thanks for sharing!