Until I found out how well organic apple cider vinegar worked for a variety of ailments, I was the type of person who had over-the-counter and herbal remedies for just about everything. Due to the stress of being a single parent and lifestyle factors, I’ve always suffered with digestive problems and had probably spent thousands of dollars over the years on antacids, and various natural supplements. They’d help a bit, but nothing actually did the trick.
Although I’ve been on a tight budget since my divorce, I decided to change my diet. Searching online I found a wealth of information, though much of it was contradictory. Some websites said I should go low fat, others said low carb. I’ve tried them all, but to no avail.
One morning, after a seemingly innocent breakfast of toast and eggs, I experienced pain like no other. I recognized it as a gallbladder attack. After trying every single home remedy I could, I decided to search one last time online for something that might alleviate the pain.
Before I get into that, you might be wondering why I didn’t just go to the doctor. Although I feel that they have their place when it comes to health and healing, I had been down that route before with my stomach ailments and was simply given prescription drugs that didn’t really work and had side-effects of their own. If possible, I prefer to use natural solutions. Years ago I found the herb feverfew worked better for my migraines than any prescription the doctor had given me, so I hoped to also find something natural for my stomach problems.
While online I found a website that suggested apple cider vinegar as being helpful for digestive problems, gallbladder attacks, and more. I always have a bottle of Bragg’s Raw Organic Apple Cider Vinegar on hand, so I gave it a try. The site recommended 1/4 cup of the vinegar in a glass of warm water. Stevia could be added for sweetness. Raw ACV is best since it has all of the natural nutrients that pasteurized vinegar doesn’t.
After drinking it down, imagine my surprise when the pain was completely gone within fifteen minutes. Since then I always start and end my days with a glass of warm water with a tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar, a packet of stevia, and a tablespoon of fiber such as Benefiber. Since then, my digestive complaints have nearly vanished unless I forget to take my daily tonic or simply over do it with the bad foods.
Of course, I need to watch what I eat. I try to strike a healthy balance with my food, paying attention to the fat and calorie contents. I mostly focus on healthy yet frugal foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, yogurt, and whole grains.
I’ve also made a list of my trigger foods. These are things that set off my digestive problems. Some of the things on my list are no-calorie sweeteners, carbonated beverages, egg yolks, raw onions, mayonnaise, peanut butter, coffee, and too much tomato sauce.
Exercise and plenty of water are also important to health and vitality. I try to drink at least eight glasses of water a day and get in four days of cardio, weight training and stretching in every week.
Although paying attention to diet and exercise are important for overall vitality, I do owe my complete turn around in digestive health to a cheap and natural product: Apple cider vinegar.