Friday, March 21, 2008

The Amazing Healing Powers of Vinegar - For PETS too!

ONLY USE RAW, UNFILTERED, UNPASTEURIZED, ORGANIC APPLE CIDER VINEGAR.. ANYTHING ELSE IS A WASTE OF YOUR TIME AND BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH.

..... A PINCH OF STEVIA (OR 1 TBSP RAW HONEY), 1 TBSP ACV, 12 OZ DISTILLED WATER (OR TO TASTE)... TASTES LIKE SPARKLING APPLE JUICE WITH A LITTLE KICK.

WE GET OURS HERE, WE DRINK IT THREE TIMES A DAY AND WE LOVE IT!

WWW.BRAGG.COM (We are not affiliated with Bragg - we don't profit even if you do.)
We use and love ALL the Bragg products, btw.

http://www.bragg.com/FAQ/faq_applecider.html

What is Natural Apple Cider Vinegar?
Different from the refined and distilled vinegars usually found in supermarkets, Natural Apple Cider Vinegar is made from fresh, crushed, organically grown apples and allowed to mature in wooden barrels, which boosts its natural fermentation qualities. When mature, it contains a web-like substance, called "mother", which becomes visible when the rich brownish liquid is held to the light. The mother can be used to add to other vinegar to hasten maturity for more Apple Cider Vinegar.

What is the nature of the Mother?

The mother is the dark, cloudy substance in the ACV formed from naturally occurring pectin and apple residues - it appears as molecules of protein connected in strand-like chains. The presence of the mother shows that the best part of the apple has not been destroyed. Vinegars containing the mother contain enzymes and minerals that other vinegars may not contain due to over processing, filtration and overheating.

Why is ACV not pasteurized?

Apple Cider Vinegar fights Arterial Plaque and helps reduce your chances of suffering a heart attack or stroke
...Plaque buildup is a leading cause of Heart Attacks and strokes by blocking bloodflowto the heart and brain. Apple Cider Vinegar not only shows signs of fighting plaque buildup but may actually reverse some of the damage by helping to dissolve plaque. Use the Bragg's ACV Drink regularly to enjoy all the health benefits of ACV (consult your physician or healthcare giver for your specific suitability and use).

Pasteurization is the heating process intended to remove potential problem bacteria from consumable liquids such as milk, juices etc. However, this process will also remove delicate nutrients and enzymes that may constitute a major portion of the food value of that consumable. In the case of Bragg’s Raw Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, pasteurization would eliminate the "mother", a major health giving factor of our vinegar.

Is it okay to eat/drink the Mother?
The mother is the most nutritious part of the Apple Cider Vinegar and is very beneficial to digest. Often the ‘mother’ settles to the bottom of the bottle. We recommend shaking the bottle lightly to distribute the ‘mother’ before dispensing.

Since Apple Cider Vinegar is unpasteurized, is it protected from E.Coli bacteria?
Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar does not carry the E.Coli bacteria as the acidity in the vinegar is effective in killing the 0-157 strain of E.Coli bacteria.

What type of barrels are used during production?
Douglas Fir/Redwood barrels as well as stainless steel barrels are used during the production of our Apple Cider Vinegar.


Does Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar need to be refrigerated?
Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar does not need to be refrigerated. We only recommend that you keep the product out of direct sunlight in a relatively cool location.

What is the shelf life of Apple Cider Vinegar?
ACV has an FDA required "official" shelf life of three to five years after the bottling date (found on the bottle), however, experience has shown that the product is safe, usable and effective for an indefinite period if kept out of direct sunlight.

Where is the expiration date printed?
The Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar expiration date is printed on the upper portion of the bottle, at the shoulder and neck taper area, see photo below. The lower line of the 2 contains the expiration date. The upper line contains the 'lot' number for the manufaturer reference and the time, in 24 hour format, that it was bottled. Bragg's Organic Apple Cider Vinegar has a shelf life of 5 years, although due to its nature, Bragg ACV can be safetly used for many years after the expiration date.

ACV Expiration Date

Is Apple Cider Vinegar safe to take during pregnancy?
Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar is safe to take during and after pregnancy. It helps to rid the body of toxins and may even help with any complications that may arise or have arisen with the pregnancy. It supports regularity and promotes digestion.

Is it possible to take too much Apple Cider Vinegar?
There is no clear limit as to how much Apple Cider Vinegar an individual can or should ingest. However, one should remember that, as with anything in life, one can have "too much of a good thing". It is recommended that an individual take the ACV cocktail three times a day for maximum results. The cocktail consists of 1 to 2 tsps. organic raw ACV mixed with 1 to 2 tsps. raw honey in a glass of distilled water.

Is it necessary to add honey to ACV?
It is not imperative to add honey to the Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar cocktail; just use ACV and distilled water instead. We receive many letters from people who tell us about the many health benefits that they attribute to taking the Bragg ACV without adding honey. Honey is recommended because it has proven bioactive properties and contains the vitamins and enzymes necessary for the proper digestion and metabolism. It does add health benefits to the ACV cocktail, but fortunately the ACV has plenty of health uses and benefits without the honey.

Is it okay to take the Apple Cider Vinegar by itself?
It is recommended that you take the Apple Cider Vinegar diluted with water or juice. Because Apple Cider Vinegar acts like a sponge, drawing toxins from the body tissues, it may cause you discomfort if you choose to digest the vinegar using spoonfuls only.

What, exactly, are the internal and external benefits attributed to ACV?
Following the old cliché, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," apples are one of the oldest, most nutritious foods on earth. They are rich in potassium, a mineral many of us are deficient in, and a deficiency that causes old age to creep upon us sooner. Calcium maintains our hard tissues such as bones, and potassium is the equivalent to the body’s soft tissues, keeping the body’s flesh and arteries soft and resilient. Fresh, organic apples are used to make Apple Cider Vinegar, which contains necessary ingredients, such as enzymes, and life-stimulating minerals, mainly potassium, in a natural state. Besides being a natural stimulant for vitality, Apple Cider Vinegar cleanses and restores nutrients to the body so that the body can heal itself.

ACV:

Helps Remove Body Toxins * Helps Promote a Youthful Body *Helps support a healthy immune system * Helps Maintain Healthy Skin * Helps Control Weight * Improves Digestion and Assimilation * Soothes Tight and Aching Joints and Sore Muscles from exercise * Soothes irritated skin.

For storage, we recommend that you keep the product out of direct sunlight, in a relatively cool location.


The following is excerpted from an article by Dr. Alicia McWatters, Ph.D., C.N.C.:


"Many vitamins, minerals and other nutrients and substances are available in ACV to improve the health of your dog. ACV can provide them with enzymes and important minerals, such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, chlorine, phosphorus, iron, silicon and other trace minerals. The vitamins contained in ACV are bioflavonoids (vitamin P), beta-carotene (precursor to vitamin A), vitamin C, E, B1, B2, and B6. Tannins from the crushed cell walls of fresh apples as well as malic acid, tartaric acid, propionic acid, acetic acid and pectin (fiber) are also contained in ACV. Be sure to purchase organic unfiltered, unpasteurized, naturally fermented ACV for its medicinal features. ACV ranges in color from a light golden to orange. You’ll know you’ve found the right stuff if you see sediment, referred to as the "mother of vinegar" on the bottom of the bottle. Do NOT buy white distilled vinegar, as it has none of the beneficial elements listed above.


I began using ACV as a supplement for my dogs in 1994. Some holistic health practitioners recommend that ACV be placed in a dog’s drinking water. I recommend placing it in fresh food because I believe that a dog’s drinking water should be free of additives, with the exception of an electrolyte solution or a medicinal product that is used on a short-term basis. The dosage I use is 1 tsp. for small dogs and 1 tbs. for medium-large dogs. It can also be given orally diluted in water under the guidance of a vet or holistic health practitioner.


ACV can be useful to your dog’s health in conjunction with feeding it a wide variety of foods, but should never be looked upon as a panacea. Fresh food ingredients, such as raw meat and bones, fruits, vegetables, grains and dairy products make up the wholeness that will effectively help your dog to achieve optimum health.


Often times one looks for the magic ingredient that will miraculously make their dog well. Whether it is an antibiotic, grapefruit seed extract, Aloe vera or milk thistle... there will always be a single popular or trendy supplement of the moment and this supplement will be promoted as the great healing agent. But, if we focus on the part rather than the whole we are not taking a holistic approach to our dog’s health."


MORE INFO ON DOGS AND APPLE CIDER VINEGAR


Excerpt from the About Frugal Living website:


Vinegar for Pets and Animals, Part Two
From Pat Veretto,
Your Guide to Frugal Living.


Fleas, fish and tear stains


We add apple cider vinegar to our goats water all year around. It seems to repel flies in the summer and causes the water not to freeze as fast in the winter. We only add about an eigth of a cup to each 5 gallon bucket. Some people told us that this would give the milk an "off" flavor, but we have yet to find that. Maybe it would if we were giving them white vinegar. Anyhow, the bonus is that our goats LOVE it!


For reducing swelling on a horse (or any animal), wrap the leg in a rag soaked in apple cider vinegar. Wrap in plastic and then bandage to hold it in place - leave on for 4 or more hours.


I got a new puppy just covered in fleas. The store bought flea killers were for older puppies. We used apple vinegar to dip him in and rinsed him off with water. It did the trick.


I had a completely white bulldog with black spotted skin. He had dark tear stains running from his tear duct area down. I tried a few of the tear bleaching products sold for dogs but none worked (besides being expensive). I also tried some suggested home remedies (e.g. hydrogen peroxide, etc.) and those were not effective either. A vet told me the tear stains were caused by the acidity in the dogs system and if I neutralized his system, the stains would go away.


His suggestion was to put vinegar in the dogs drinking water! He suggested putting just a "tiny" bit of vinegar in the drinking water for a few days (I interpreted that as about 1/4 of a vinegar bottles cap full) and then increase the amount of vinegar added until I was adding about a teaspoon to the drinking water each day (I would estimate his drinking water bowl to contain about 5 cups of water.) Each time I changed or added water to his bowl, I also added the vinegar. Within a few weeks, the tear stains were gone for good!


Years ago, I put vinegar in my two dogs drinking water. I had never seen a flea. Start with only a little, so they will get used to the taste. I am now doing it to my Siamese cats. No fleas.


Put a tablespoon of vinegar in your dog's drinking water every day and you will no longer have those brown spots in your lawn from the dog's urine. You can mix 1/3 Vinegar (any type but Apple Cider smells better), 1/3 water, and 1/3 Pine Sol (and scent but I like Orange).


Mix in a spray bottle and it makes the greatest fly spray for horses (and other animals(dogs, goats, etc)) as well as barn spray to keep flies down. I live in Texas where the flies are monsters and this REALLY truly works!!! The three vets I have talked about it with said it was 100% safe and the Pine Sol contains less powerful and harmful chemicals than actual fly spray! The 1,000's of horse owners that have used it (I got the recipe off a very popular horse website) have used it with no ill effects what so ever for years now. This will save you a ton of money and less yucky chemicals!

Love,
David & Patrick


http://thereikimatrix.blogspot.com/
http://www.thereikimatrix.com/

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