Covid

As of this writing, the Covid plague of 2020/21 has infected 75 million people worldwide with 1.6 million deaths, or 0.02% of global population.  The Center for Disease Control admitted that 94% of the USA “victims” of Covid actually had an average of 3 comorbidities, i.e. heart disease, cancer, diabetes, COPD, etc.  So only 6% of that death rate is actually due to Covid.

The media hails the arrival of the Covid vaccine as if the cavalry is coming to rescue the settlers.  In fact, the pre-vaccine recovery rate from Covid is 99.7%.  The lockdowns imposed were unconstitutional, unwarranted, and unprecedented.  Harvard researchers find that 50% of children who were forced to stay home in front of a computer monitor for the past 8 months are now suffering depression and suicide.  The Great Barrington Declaration has 39,000 physicians and 13,000 scientists worldwide agreeing that the lockdown has created astronomical financial and emotional hardships for billions of people.  Harvard, Stanford, and Oxford experts agree “Keeping students out of school is a grave injustice.”

Vitamins Good for the Immune System

Meanwhile, extremely effective nutrition therapies exist to treat Covid, including vitamin D, zinc, iodine, vitamin A, magnesium, and potassium.  Essentially, Covid has picked off the elderly who are infirmed and malnourished.  Hydroxychloroquine is a safe and effective medicine for Covid.  The cost of Covid has been bearable.  The cost of the Covid lockdown has been unbearable for millions in the USA.

As we age the immune system weakens in many people (aka immune senescence), which is why the vast majority of cancer patients and COVID victims are older.  The state of Pennsylvania found the average age of COVID victims to be 80, with 2/3 occurring in nursing homes.  Underlying conditions of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, medications all increase risk factors for COVID mortality.  Both COVID and cancer strike the weakened immune systems.  In a surprise to the aggressive vaccination community, the flu vaccine increased the risk for COVID infection by 36%.  The purpose of this newsletter is to get your immune system up to the challenge of reversing your cancer.

Essential Vitamins to Help the Immune System

There is an abundance of scientific documentation linking nutrient intake with immune quality and quantity.  This is a very crucial issue for the cancer patient.

Many nutrients taken orally can provide pharmacological changes in immune function in humans.  Protein, arginine, glutamine, omega-6 and omega-3 fats, iron, zinc, vitamins E, C, and A have all been proven to modulate immune functions.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A deficiency causes reduced immune response while beta-carotene supplements stimulate immune responses.  Vitamin A (retinol) improves immune response to fungal infections.  In developing countries, vitamin A deficiency causes the blindness of 250,000 to 500,000 children annually.  Oral doses of vitamin A at 200,000 iu (40 times the Recommended Daily Allowance) lowered measles mortality by 80% in children in developing countries with no side effects.  Vitamin A and synthetic derivatives have been used worldwide to treat and prevent various cancers.

Vitamin B-6

Vitamin B-6 has been used to prevent and treat cancer and as a blood marker that determines outcome in cancer treatment. B-6 supplements (50 mg/day) provided a measurable improvement in immune functions (T3 and T4 lymphocytes) for 11 healthy, well-fed older adults.

Various B vitamins have been linked to the proper functioning of antibody response and cellular immunity.

Folate

Folate deficiency decreases mitogenesis, or the normal division of cells.  Folate deficiency increases the risk for various cancers.

Vitamin C

Deficiency of vitamin C impairs phagocyte functions (immune cells that gobble invaders) and cellular immunity.  Intravenous vitamin C is a viable cancer treatment option.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E deficiency decreases antibody response to T-dependent antigens, all of which gets worse with the addition of a selenium deficiency.  Vitamin E succinate is a viable cancer treatment agent.

Iron

While iron deficiency can blunt immune functions, iron excess can increase the risk for cancer.  Iron presents an interesting case: 1)  because it is one of the most common nutritional deficiency problem worldwide, 2)  because low levels of iron will depress the immune system, and 3) because high levels of iron will stimulate both bacterial and tumor growth.  Iron intake needs to be well regulated…not too much, and not too little.

Zinc for the Immune System

Zinc exerts a major influence on the immune system.  Lymphocyte function is seriously depressed, and lymphoid tissues undergo general atrophy in zinc-deficient individuals.  The lymphocytes in zinc-deficient animals quickly lose their killing abilities (cytotoxicity) and engulfing talents (phagocytosis) for tumor cells and bacteria.  Natural killer cell and neutrophil activity is also reduced.  Zinc has become a proven therapeutic agent in treating advanced COVID patients.

Health Benefits of Zinc in Your Diet

Copper Can Boost a Depressed Immune System

Copper plays a key role in the production of superoxide dismutase and cytochrome systems in the mitochondria.  Hence, a deficiency of copper is manifested in a depressed immune system, specifically reduced microbicidal activity of granulocytes.

Selenium with Vitamin E

Selenium works in conjunction with vitamin E to shield host cells from lipid peroxidation.  Humoral immune response is depressed in selenium deficient animals.  Selenium and vitamin E deficiencies lead to increased incidence of enteric (intestinal) lesions.  Lymphocyte proliferation (making more warriors) is reduced in selenium deficiency.  The theory is that selenium and vitamin E help to provide the host immune cells with some type of “bullet-proof plating” against the toxins used on foreign cells.  Hence, one immune body can live on to destroy many invaders if enough vitamin E and selenium allow for these critical chemical shields.

Magnesium

In magnesium deficiency, all immunoglobulins (except IgE) are reduced, along with the number of antibody forming cells.  Magnesium is crucial for lymphocyte growth (involvement in protein metabolism) and transformation in response to mitogens.  Prolonged magnesium deficiency in animals leads to the development of lymphomas and leukemia.

Magnesium Deficiencies and How to Resolve Them

Iodine

Iodine plays an important role in the microbicidal activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes.  Activated neutrophils may use the conversion of iodide to iodine to generate free radicals for killing foreign invaders.  Iodine is one of the more common deficiencies worldwide.  Iodine has the unusual role in nature of being essential to humans and lethal to most microbes, but not your friendly gut microbes.

Boron

Boron prevents osteoporosis, yet is still not considered an essential mineral in human nutrition.  Boron deficiency in soil is a worldwide problem with boron soil amendments dramatically enhancing plant growth.  Boron has shown activity in preventing and reversing cancer.  In a human study, the more boron in the diet, the lower the risk for prostate cancer.

Toxic Trace Minerals

Toxic trace minerals, like mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and lead all blunt the immune system.

The quality and quantity of fat in the diet play a major role in dictating the health of the immune system.  Since fat directly affects prostaglandin pathways, and prostaglandins (depending on the pathway) can either depress or enhance immune function, fat intake is crucial in encouraging a healthy immune system.

There are many foods and supplements that can have a favorable impact on the immune system.  Beating Cancer with Nutrition is dedicated to reinforcing your immune system to recognize and destroy your cancer using nutrition as a key modality.

Your Health, Vitality and Longevity

Your health, vitality, longevity, and ability to prevent and reverse cancer or infections is directly tied to the ability of your immune system to recognize “self” from “non-self”, which is heavily dependent on your nutritional status.

What to Eat to Help the Immune System?

Follow a plant based diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, mushrooms, medicinal spices and seaweed with a sprinkling of animal based foods, such as grass fed meat, wild caught fish, free range chicken and eggs, yogurt, and cheese.  Avoid junk food.  If it will not rot or sprout, then throw the food out.  If you can’t read the label on the package then don’t buy it.

Take supplements in reasonable dosages.  Due to poor food selections, stress, soils depleted of essential minerals, drugs and alcohol, many people are deficient in many nutrients.  Consider ImmunoPower Gold as a “one stop shopping” supplement in pure powder form for those who cannot or will not take pills.

Feed your immune system with the appropriate quantity and quality of precursor nutrients and your cabin in the woods will become a fortress against cancer and disease. Nutrients and vitamins can be very beneficial and help the immune system.

Excerpted from Beating Cancer with Nutrition

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According to Charles Mueller, clinical assistant professor of nutrition at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, “Cocoa beans are not unlike red peppers, green peppers and broccoli and stuff like that. They are full of phytochemicals that are good for you.”

Dark chocolate can help in lowering your Body Mass Index (a measure of obesity) through the following mechanisms:

Reduce Sugar Spikes With Dark Chocolate

Cacao rich, dark chocolate is more like a whole food, which supplies carbohydrate, protein, fiber and heart-healthy fat to your body. The nutritional composition (fats, fiber, and protein) and antioxidants content of cacao has an influence on your body’s metabolism. So, when you eat dark chocolate it reduces digestion and absorption of fats and carbohydrates, and in turn lowers chances of sugar spikes inside your body. As a result you experience a feeling of fullness for longer period of time and lesser food cravings for unhealthy (sweet, salty or fatty) snack foods between meals.  

Foods to improve eye health

Food contains known essential vitamins, minerals, and “sub-nutrients” along with some very intriguing conditionally essential nutrients (like lycopenes and ellagic acid) that can bring us beyond surviving a life of chronic illness into thriving with optimal health and vitality.

Dark Chocolate Helps Controls Appetite

Ghrelin is a hormone produced inside your body to increase your appetite. Even the smell of dark chocolate can cause a reduction in ghrelin.

Some studies suggest cacao has monoamine oxidase enzyme inhibitors (MAO) and coumarin that work as appetite suppressants. Dark chocolate also contains saturated fat but those are not bad for you. In fact, you need healthy fats when you are trying to lose weight, as these keep you full for longer and help in controlling your appetite.

Better Regulation of Blood Glucose

When blood sugar rises inside your body, pancreas secretes insulin to escort extra blood glucose into the fat cells. However, repeated release of insulin due to consumption of high carbohydrate and sugary diet can cause insulin resistance in your cells. Insulin-resistance make people lose the ability to feel full, as these nutrition deprived cells keep on sending signals to get more food.

Additionally, high insulin levels in the blood also turn off the fat-burning mechanisms of your body, which also leads to weight gain. Various nutrients found in cacao significantly increase the insulin sensitivity of your cells. So, when you eat dark chocolate it reduces serum insulin levels and helps in better regulation of your blood glucose levels.

Dark Chocolate May Reduce Emotional Overeating

On psychological level when people feel stressed their body triggers release of cortisol. This hormone causes their body to secrete more insulin, which leads to overeating and a tendency to increase abdominal fat. Cacao has antioxidants polyphenols and other chemicals (phenylethylamine (PEA), anandamide and theobromine) that boost your mood naturally by stimulating your brain to release natural pain and stress relieving chemicals. This feeling of euphoria promotes an overall sense of well-being and alleviates depression.

It’s heartening to know that a moderate amount of dark chocolate can be very healthy for you!

Consistent consumption of moderate amount of dark chocolate also found helpful in reducing excretion of cortisol. So, when you eat dark chocolate you feel more peaceful and contended, which in turn reduce your chances to seek and eat unhealthy (sweet, salty or fatty) comfort foods.

A study in the Journal of Proteome Research looked at the effects of eating 1.4 ounces (40 grams) of dark chocolate every day for two weeks on blood and urine measures of stress in 30 healthy adults. The results showed that eating dark chocolate daily reduced stress hormone levels in those who had high anxiety levels.

Dark Chocolate Stimulates the Mind and Body

Studies show that dark chocolate also have a stimulating effect on your body that makes you more likely to move and burn more calories in the process.

Lower Body Mass Index (BMI)

Research has also shown that people who regularly consume dark chocolate tend to be slimmer. In one study when a Pennsylvania State University researcher looked at the diet, calorie intake and body mass index (BMI) of healthy adult women and men of all ages, people who ate dark chocolate a few times per week were, on average, had lower BMI than those who ate it occasionally. This study suggests that chocolate contains antioxidant compounds especially catechins that have metabolism-boosting benefits. So, when you eat dark chocolate these compounds help you improve your lean muscle mass and favor weight loss rather than fat synthesis.

In another study researchers have found a group of compounds called oligomeric procyanidins (PCs) in dark chocolate that is most effective for preventing weight gain and obesity. In this study mice, who were fed oligomeric PCs had the lowest fat mass, lowest body weight and were least likely to develop impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance, despite eating a high-fat diet.

Nutrient Deficiency or Disease?

Other Reasons Why Dark Chocolate Should be in Your Diet

Dark chocolate is a good addition to your healthy diet plan to lose weight.  “Eat dark chocolate, not white chocolate,” says researcher Mee Young Hong, PhD, associate professor at San Diego State University. She compared dark and white chocolate, looking at health effects, such as improving cholesterol. Dark chocolate was the clear winner, she says.

Exposure to pollution, unhealthy foods and stress release free radical activity inside your body which can cause serious damage in the form of premature aging and chronic degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. Cocoa in dark chocolate has one of the highest levels of polyphenols that exhibit excellent antioxidant capacity to cease this free radical damage.

These antioxidants in dark chocolate help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke by reducing inflammation and plaque formation in the arteries, improving circulation and blood flow to the heart and lowering of blood pressure. Antioxidants in dark chocolate also helps in promoting healthy heart and brain function, slowing down the effects of aging on your skin, improving your vision and may aid in cancer prevention.

So, don’t feel guilty when you indulge in your cravings for this delicious treat. However, moderation is the key to improving and maintain health and receiving the maximum health benefit from dark chocolate. Stick to dark chocolate that contains at least 70 percent cacao and consume it in moderation (an ounce) three days a week and beware of the sugar.

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LaValley got his first experience with traditional acupuncture and Chinese medicine ancient practices in 1982 when he took part in an exchange program with People’s Republic of China.

Curcumin, a natural product has been researched to all possible extents and research found that it has multiple applications in helping us during and after cancer treatment and when seeking relief from many diseases.

“One of the important messages that I learned there was that natural products, natural molecules, from plants and animals that are already available in nature, have been used by the Chinese for at least hundreds, probably thousands of years. That deeply changed my perspective in the world of medicine,” says Dr. LaValley. 

“I came back to medical school, and thereafter, looked at how I could integrate the perspective of conventional pharmaceutical administration as well as natural extract, natural product administration.”

Having devoted over 30 years of my own career to nutrition and specifically beating cancer with nutrition, I cannot advocate enough the beneficial research that has been done in identifying the  biochemical ways nutrition can support our health and help us get healthier.

Curcumin Has Potent Anti-Cancer Activity

In order to deeply involve himself in the molecular biology science, more concretely the cancer molecular biology, Dr.LaValley took sabbatical for 75% of his time during 2005. He spent between 9000 and 9500 hours of his time building a database which shows relations from the literature on the PubMed related to cancer molecular biology.

By understanding molecular biology, you can apply it through the wide range of symptoms and conditions which are documented in scientific literature. One can apply this knowledge by searching PubMed and similar databases and searching for the involvement of significant molecular pathways.

These foods can also help fight against cancer.

“In learning the molecular biology of cancer pathways, and in learning that what the evidence actually shows for the effect of natural product extracts on various relevant molecular targets in various cancers, we see that there’s actually quite a large amount of evidence that supports using various molecules, natural products, and pharmaceuticals that are already approved and that have been around for a long time to affect anti-cancer activity along that pathway at that target. That’s called molecularly targeted anti-cancer treatment, and it’s widely practiced in oncology today.

What’s not widely practiced is the use of the natural products for the molecularly targeted anti-cancer activity. I provide that for my patients because the evidence base suggests and supports the use of these treatment recommendations.”

Vitamins to help the immune system fight coronavirus

Curcumin – A ‘Universal’ Cancer Treatment?

One really odd thing about curcumin is that it seems to be uniquely useful for almost all types of cancer, which is strange since wide range of molecular pathologies are involved in cancer. It’s hard to believe that one plant would work for almost all types. Dr. LaValley summarizes how he concluded this:

“I went back to the literature and looked at how I can support the decision-making process and the recommendations that I’m making for treatment from the scientific literature, including literature that goes from the treatment of humans with oral products like pharmaceuticals or natural products.

This is where I learned about this molecule called curcumin, all the way down to its use in animals and then its use in test tubes or petri dish… One of the amazing things about curcumin is that this molecule has some profound anti-inflammatory activity and has activity in many molecular targets.

There are molecules that are in the cells, and those molecules interact with each other along certain pathways or tracks. The traffic of that interaction, the signals that are transferred in that trafficking of information in the molecules, presents many different targets or molecular-specific complexes.”

Why is Curcumin Successful in Cancer Treatment

Curcumin Targets Cancer Cells

Whether the curcumin molecule acts by increasing the activity of its special molecular focus point, or shows a inhibition or decrease in activity, repeated studies have shown that the ultimate result of these actions are very strong anti-cancer actions. To add to this, healthy cells are in no way affected by curcumin, which would suggest that it directly targets only the cancer-affected cells. There is also research which suggests that curcumin works in synergy with some chemotherapy medications, speeding up the process of removing of cancerous cells and we can then focus on getting healthier particularly after cancer and chemotherapy.  

Curcumin Destroys Cancer

Compared to other nutrients, except maybe vitamin D, the majority of evidence found in literature supports the use of curcumin for fighting cancer. What is also interesting is the fact that other metabolites and derivatives of curcumin also show anti-cancerous properties.

By enhancing healthy cellular functions and by eliminating cancerous cells, curcumin has shown the power to affect both genetic activities and genetic expression. Curcumin also helps in anti-angiogenesis, which means it can help in the developing of blood supply needed for cancerous cells to grow. Once the curcumin gets into the cell, it has effect on over 100 molecular pathways. To be more specific, it’s been proven that curcumin can destroy cancer in many ways:

• prevents the tumor cells proliferation
• prevents normal cells from transforming to tumorous cells
• helps your immune system destroy cancerous cells
• reduces spread of cancer cells in the body
• slows down inflammation
• prevents the proteins essential for tumor formation from synthesizing
• inhibits the formation of blood supply essential to growth of cancer cells

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Medicinal use of apple cider vinegar can be traced back to Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, who used it to treat wounds. In the 10th century, Sung Tse, the founder of forensic medicine, recommended use of apple cider vinegar, also known as ACV, together with sulfur to protect from infection when conducting autopsies. In recent times, popularity of ACV has been on the rise. [1]

Origins of Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is made by fermenting apples for several weeks or months. The sugar in apples is first fermented to alcohol and later to acetic acid, the main active ingredient in apple cider vinegar. During the second phase of fermentation, acetic acid bacteria, also known as acetobacter and some beneficial yeast grow in numbers and accumulate to form a non-toxic layer of slime on the surface of the vinegar. This layer of slime is called mother due to its richness in nutrients and health benefits.

In ACV, we find the concentrated essence of the best of apples coupled with limitless by-products of bacterial fermentation, including acetic acid. Vinegar was probably first discovered over 10,000 years ago, when our ancient ancestors found that some foods  ferment into alcohol, with the next fermentation step creating vinegar. Vinegar was first mentioned for its medicinal value in Babylonia around 7000 years ago.

Vinegar holds a rich place in history and is mentioned often throughout the Bible. It has been said that God is always trying to make vinegar and it’s the winemaker’s job to interrupt the process at wine.

How Acidic is Apple Cider Vinegar

The word acid is derived from acetum (Latin, “vinegar”). Bases were substances that were usually soapy to the touch and that could react with acids in water to form neutral salts. Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, one is a common base or alkaline agent in your kitchen. Vinegar or lemon juice is a common acid used in the kitchen.

Easy herbal medicines to improve your health

pH (potential hydrogen atoms) ranges from one to 14. One is a very strong acid. 14 is a very strong base. Water is neutral at pH 7. Human blood is slightly acidic at 7.41. Vinegar is a strongly acidic solution with a pH of around two, which is why Cleopatra was able to dissolve a pearl in glass of vinegar. I have not tried this experiment.

What Can Apple Cider Vinegar Do

Several studies in animals and humans have found that acetic acid and apple cider vinegar may promote fat burning and weight loss, decrease blood sugar levels, increase insulin sensitivity, and improve cholesterol levels externally for all kinds of cosmetic and disinfectant purposes, and can be used in so many jobs around the house that it merits the name: “panacea”.

What is in Apple Cider Vinegar

A substance known as ‘the mother’ (or vinegar mother) forms during the vinegar-making process. The vinegar mother is made up of proteins, enzymes and ‘good’ bacteria – all things good for you. It may look like strands or cobwebs in the vinegar or it may be like a gelatinous blob. This gives ACV its cloudy-brown appearance. ‘The mother’ can be used to kick-start further batches of ACV because it triggers the fermentation process. ‘The mother’ is recognized as being the primary substance that’s responsible for the health benefits of apple cider vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar is filled with many nutritional elements. While not high in vitamins or minerals good quality products contain additional amino acids and antioxidants.

• Pectin
• Vitamins B1, B2, B6
• Biotin
• Folic Acid
• Niacin
• Panthonthenic acid
• Vitamin C
• Potassium
• Calcium
• Polyphenol
• Amino Acids

How Does Apple Cider Vinegar Work?

The very important but confusing aspect of eating an acidic food, like vinegar or lemon juice, is that it creates an alkaline environment in the body. What happens is the acid gets to the small intestines, where the pancreas detects acid in the gut, then releases a bicarbonate buffer into the bloodstream. The bloodstream of a healthy adult has a pH which is mildly alkaline, about 7.41.

Benefits of “Post Biotics”

Take milk as the “prebiotic”. Add lactobacillus as the “probiotic”. The the resulting fermented milk is yogurt, which is rich in metabolic byproducts of fermentation, aka “post biotics”. Same thing happens with cabbage to sauerkraut. Same thing happens when we eat plant fiber, aka resistant starches, and feed our friendly bacteria in the gut, who then produce a bewildering array of useful/essential post biotics, such as butyrate and hydrogen.

Unpasteurized vinegar not only contains these post biotics in abundance, but a rich assortment of probiotics, primarily concentrated in the “mother”. All of which is good for the gut, digestion, the microbiome, blood glucose, and metabolic pH. Remember “death begins in the gut”. Keep your gut healthy as a frontline defense against diseases and premature aging.

Gut Microbiome For Better Health

Science backed benefits of apple cider vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar is becoming increasing popular as a home remedy and a one-stop medicinal aid. There are many reasons to include it in your daily routine and research shows ACV has many healthful properties.

Known for its ability to control blood sugar

One of the most studied benefits of ACV is its ability to regulate blood sugars for both diabetics and those without diabetes. Some researchers believe that high blood sugar levels are a major cause of aging and chronic disease. A recent study showed vinegar consumption to have a glucose-lowering effect in patients with glucose abnormalities. A mixture of vinegar and olive oil is a common salad dressing used in the Mediterranean diet. The main constituent of vinegar is acetic acid, which gives vinegar its characteristic taste and smell. The consumption of vinegar with meals was used as a folk medicine for the treatment of diabetes before any pharmacologic glucose-lowering therapy [1, 2] Additionally, vinegar ingestion at bedtime has been shown to decrease fasting glucose levels in humans with type 2 diabetes. Apple cider vinegar helps to stabilize blood sugar levels. It also reduces the glycemic index of food. It has been suggested that ACV works similarly to metformin, a drug used by diabetics to control blood sugar level. But because apple cider vinegar is more of a food than a drug, it doesn’t pose the side effects posed by drugs like metformin. [4]According to this study [5], taking two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar at bedtime can reduce fasting glucose levels by 4-6 percent.

This study [6] found that eating breakfast containing vinegar can decrease blood glucose levels by up to 55 percent.

May reduce blood pressure

A study in 2001 found that the acetic acid itself, the main component of vinegar, significantly reduced both blood pressure and renin activity compared to controls given no acetic acid or vinegar. The same study reported a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (approximately 20 mm Hg) in spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats fed a standard laboratory diet mixed with either vinegar or an acetic acid solution as compared with SHR rats fed the same diet mixed with deionized water.

Anti-tumor activity

One of the less known benefits of apple cider vinegar is its potential in fighting cancer. According to a number of studies, consumption of apple cider vinegar could help in the prevention and treatment for cancer.

This study [2] found that acetic acid, the main ingredient in apple cider vinegar, kills stomach cancer cells. While the study involved the application of acetic acid to stomach cancer cells in test tubes, the study seriously suggests that apple cider vinegar has potential as a treatment for some types of stomach cancers.

Additionally, there are other studies that suggest that consumption of vinegar could offer some level of prevention from esophageal cancer [3]

At 40 days post-inoculation, vinegar-fed mice in both experimental groups had significantly smaller tumor volumes when compared with their control counterparts. Vinegars are also a dietary source of polyphenols, compounds synthesized by plants to defend against oxidative stress. Ingestion of polyphenols in humans enhances in vivo antioxidant protection and reduces cancer risk.

It is worth to note that cancerous cells produce lactic acid as they grow. It is also worth noting that the ideal blood pH ranges between 7.35 – 7.45. Deviation from this pH range can negatively impact many functions in the body. In general, the body has mechanisms to tightly control blood pH. Actually, some acid foods, like lemon juice and vinegar, have an “alkaline tide” from their potassium content that helps to stabilize blood pH.

Kills harmful bacteria

Vinegar can help kill pathogens, including bacteria. Vinegar is a food preservative and can inhibit E. coli in foods. ACV has a history of use as a disinfectant.

Supports the immune function

Apple cider vinegar has powerful detoxifying properties including liver detoxification and toning the lymphatic system. Additionally, ACV is rich in antioxidants which help reduce free radicals in the body and ultimately reduce oxidative stress. Detoxification and reduction in free radicals help to improve homeostatic balance. [7, 8]

Studies have also shown that ACV is antimicrobial. This means that ACV can be a healthier alternative to chemical medications. And because it is a food product, it can help keep away various microbes and therefore minimize infections. For instance, ACV can kill mycobacterium tuberculosis which is otherwise resistant to most disinfectants. [9]

ACV can therefore support the immune function by preventing various infections. This is especially helpful in people with compromised immunity.

Helps to reduce weight

Regular consumption of apple cider vinegar can help in losing excess weight. ACV is believed to work by regulating appetite and satiety. [10]

According to a number of studies [11, 12, 13] ACV interferes with the working of some enzymes involved in synthesis of carbohydrates and thereby controls blood glucose levels. ACV also helps the liver to better deal with lipogenesis and synthesis of fatty acids. This leads to healthier cholesterol levels. ACV also helps in detoxification which improves liver functions. All these play a part in supporting weight loss and overall health.

Regulates the body’s pH

A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over research studied tested the efficacy of the organic apple cider vinegar on alleviation of the heartburn symptom related to Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Can prevent heart disease

Studies show that apple cider vinegar can help improve cardiovascular health in a number of ways. Regular consumption of ACV helps to lower cholesterol levels in blood. This leads to a lower incidence of high blood pressure and ultimately heart disease. [14, 15, 16]

Most of the available studies have been conducted on laboratory animals. However, there are human studies that have shown that ACV can control blood sugar levels and therefore help manage diabetes. Diabetes complications can lead to high blood pressure and ultimately, heart disease. Another human study conducted on women subjects found that, eating salads containing vinegar led to a significant reduction in the risk of developing heart disease. [17]

Preserves food

Apple cider vinegar has been used successfully to preserve foods for ages. This method of food preservation is making a serious comeback. And while distilled vinegar is used in conventional home pickling, use of apple cider vinegar has been growing steadily especially with health conscious individuals. The only downside is that ACV can discolor fruits and veggies. [18]

Besides preserving food, the antimicrobial properties of ACV also come in handy when it is used to wash fruits and vegetables. Even the FDA has confirmed that vinegar, besides lemon juice, are readily available, effective household sanitizers. [19]

Reduce pain for insect bite, stinging nettle, poison ivy, jelly fish

Immediate vinegar application at the site of jellyfish stings is practiced at various coastal locations around the world because vinegar deactivates the nematocysts.

Other apple cider vinegar  benefits

While there aren’t reliable scientific studies proving it, according to folklore apple cider vinegar has many more health benefits. From various reports, ACV can help treat heartburn, dandruff, warts, relieve sore throat and cough, and soothe sunburn.

Side Effects of Apple Cider Vinegar

ACV mixed with water, juice, or another liquid is safe to drink, and it’s fine to use it on food. However, with a pH between 2.4 and 3.3, vinegar is acidic enough to erode tooth enamel, inflame the esophagus and stomach, and trigger nausea and acid reflux.

It may also interfere with some medicines, including diabetes medicines and diuretics (fluid tablets). Always check with your doctor before starting any new supplements, especially if you take regular medicines.

Should I Use Apple Cider Vinegar

Vinegar is one of the most versatile, tasty, and health additions to any kitchen. Because of its acid content, vinegar is able to tenderize, meats, add tartness to flavors, curdle milk, and preserve foods· from bacterial infection. Regular consumption and use is good, but don’t expect it to cure all ailments. Always consult with your health professional.

Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar Recipe

You can buy apple cider vinegar, but it’s also easy to make from scratch. It costs next to nothing since apple scraps are typically discarded when using apple in other recipes.

Ingredients

• Apple peelings or cores
• Sugar (1 tablespoon per one cup of water
• Filtered/Non-Chlorinated Water
• Glass jar (a quart is a great place to start, but you can definitely make larger quantities, too, in which case, use a half gallon jar.)

Directions

1. Submerge apple scraps in water and mix in a little sugar.
2. Cover jar with paper towel or coffee filter.
3. Allows to sit for 2-3 weeks.
4. After 2-3 weeks, strain. Remove apples.
5. Allow vinegar to sit at room temperature for 1 month.
6. When fermenting is complete, store vinegar in airtight container at room temperature.
7. Can keep for 6 months. May deteriorate if left longer at 6-12 months.

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